Tag: friendship
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Musee D’Orsay … impressionists
This afternoon I visited an impressionist exhibition at the Museum. It was wonderful telling the story of the beginnings of Impressionism. In 1874 the artists who were excluded from the traditional Salon decided to mount their own … The Salon de Refusees. It was the first coming together of artists we now know as Impressionists.…
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A day in Arezzo
Yesterday evening after a busy day and a 2 mile walk in 30 degree heat from Santo Spirito along the Arno I found Laura had invited Cristina, my host from my stay in Florence in June, to dinner with her friend Gianfranco. Laura and Cristina are good friends it seems. It was lovely to see…
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A night out
Last night “the girls” took me out for an evening at Helsinki’s evening festival. I had first met them on my language course in Florence. They were so welcoming to a random stranger and during the past couple of days had kept me posted with interesting things to see in Helsinki. I didn’t feel such…
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Saint Germain des Pres and l’Odeon
This afternoon Cedric and I had ananother wandering tour of Paris around the 6eme … Saint Germain des Pres and L’Odeon. A bougie area very different from the boho vibe of the 4eme. We did a little shopping at Courreges where we both bought something a little extravagant … then to Hermes and to La…
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I’ve arrived in Paris
After a long and arduous, not to say tedious but exciting, journey I finally arrived in Paris at 2.30am, four hours late because a demonstration on the railway line. Apparently something to do with building a railway line through the mountains. Never mind I’m here and of course when I got to my hotel there…
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Not ready to leave
I have packed and am ready to leave. I really loved it here and will miss Cristina and her family. It’s been one of the best experiences I have ever had. Breakfast on the terrace with the smell of flower and the sound of the swallows in the sunshine I shall always remember and the…
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An Italian evening
Yesterday evening I had a nice surprise. Cristina had invited two of her friends to meet me. We had dinner together and I tried to drag my Italian together and have a conversation. Luckily they spoke good English too. They corrected me when I was wrong which was very helpful. They were very welcoming and…
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Some quotes I’ve been thinking on lately which seem to resonate with me more than ever
Often we allow ourselves to be upset by small things we should despise and forget. We lose many irreplaceable hours brooding over grievances that, in a year’s time, will be forgotten by us and by everybody. No, let us devote our life to worthwhile actions and feelings, to great thoughts, real affections and enduring undertakings.…
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Escaping ….
I’ve called this blog escape to myself and it’s struck me how many people I’ve met are escaping from something… or trying to find a place where they fit. Like me there is a dissatisfaction with their lives and they are consumed with the idea that somewhere there is that place in which they find…
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A lovely day with a new friend
A lovely chilled day in the sunshine with a coffee and walk around the city with Sophy who lives in Devon. We had a relaxing wander and found we had a lot in common. Lunch of polenta, sausage and cheese rosti at a boho restaurant with a relaxed vibe … outside in the sunshine. Then…
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A really unexpected evening …
Friendship is the golden thread that ties the heart of all the world. ….. quote from John Evelyn “Only connect! That was the whole of her sermon. Only connect the prose and the passion, and both will be exalted, and human love will be seen at its height. Live in fragments no longer”….E.M. Forster, Howards…
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Leaving Genova for Trieste
Well I’m feeling better. Not because Cedric and I spent a wonderful day in Genoa … he showed me his favourite spots and Brignole is a really great part of the city but because I feel that I have dissipated the guilt I felt for not helping him out in Verona and he was so…
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Staying in hostels and connections
Hostels So far this has been a great experience. All the hostels bar one have been clean, friendly, great roommates and wonderful facilities. Varied in price and obviously Paris and Rome have been more expensive but between €35 and €50 per night … some with breakfast included. My only real gripe is that Paris had…
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Connecting
My stay in Genoa has been really good. Museums, churches, food, sea and sun. The hostel was good though I’m a little fed up with always getting the top bunk😀. Cedric’s recommendations have been great. It’s a great city. I’ve been trying to use a little Italian wherever I can … and I’ve spoken to…
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A morning in Nervi
Just 15 minutes by train from the centre of Genoa is Nervi. Today it looks fabulous. No tourists so I’m sitting writing this in a cafe by the sea. It’s a pretty little town and I’m practicing my Italian where I can. For €1.50 what a bargain on the train! I think I may be…
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Off the tourist track
Walking with a native Parisian reveals the small corners and unusual sights … a flea market, perfumer that sells coffee, graffiti and some wonderful bookshops dedicated to art, literature, lmanga, fashion and photography
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Paris on a rainy evening
Not a great start to the journey. Eurostar was running but the general strike will mean it will be difficult to get out of Paris so my trip to Nimes looks dicey. The hostel is great. Restaurant, bar, communal space and very clean. Al though the journey made a bad start I was so happy…
Escape to myself 