The Phaestos Disc is a round clay disc of roughly 16 cm (6 inches) in diameter. It was discovered at Phaestos (in Crete) in 1903. It’s inscribed on both sides with pictorial symbols that spiral from the circumference into the center. Spiral themes are a huge design element in Minoan art and writing, featured on everything such as sarcophagus’, [...]
The Food. I didn’t expect to like, let alone love, the food in Turkey. I tend to love mediterranean cooking and though there’s no pasta or risotto, I couldn’t help see the similarities to Italian cuisine. The olive oil, the grilled veggies and the baklava found all over Istanbul held a striking resemblance to my family holiday [...]
What are you looking for,” asked the Turkish stranger on the street. “We’re looking for the Church of Chora,” we replied. “Let me show you our carpets,” he said. “Why? Do you have a magic one to take us there?”
1. There are a lot of bridges in London. And none are falling down. My travel partner, TravelMarx, dragged me around this city 13 hours a day. So we walked most of them, including Tower Bridge (above), Westminster Bridge and the footbridge to Tate Modern. By far, Tower Bridge is the prettiest.
In May Mr. Wild Dingo, a friend and I all visited Chateau Gruyères (entry to the chateau above photo) in the canton Fribourg. I expected a very long drive so I took my iphone for entertainment. About 30 minutes into the drive, I looked up and saw the beautiful rolling green hills and blue skies. ”Damn! I feel [...]
Les Baux-de-Provence was one of my favorite visits on our trip to Provence. It was a gray day so I shot in mainly black and white and sepia-nostalgic modes of the camera. In processing the shot above (Les Baux Chateau), I played with the shadows, highlights and exposure filters. But it was originally shot in [...]
While I appreciated the ruins we visited in Provence–no, really I did–I desperately wanted to take in some art, or at least the landscape that inspired the artists in this area. I love art. I especially love the work of tortured artists. Paintings, drawings and sculpture by prisioners, neurotics, psychotics or just plain loopy people fascinate [...]
When I think of Provence, I envision fields of lavender, cute cobbled-stoned villages and plenty of small homes with brightly painted shutters. Not Roman ruins. But that’s all we saw. All because Mr. Wild Dingo is whack-a-doo about Roman history. Even Juno is quite aware of his fascination for all things Roman. I’m beginning to think he only [...]
Now that I made you all envious, I’ll share this with you: Il pleuvait tout la voyage en Provence. Not just a light dreary drizzle that just dulls your photos with a gray sky, but a clapping thunderous downpour. Brilliant bolts of lightening lit up the chateau while we slept in the evening and winds rattled the [...]
Provence. I know all 12 readers are waiting for a report. Although I’m pretty sure you just want to see the pictures. Do you guys actually read my posts? Because if you do, I’ll try to think of something clever to write. I’m not an experienced traveler so I struggled for a week deciding on [...]
Meet Bernard, our kennel keeper. As I drove to Bernard’s to drop off the dogs on Wednesday, I had a knot in my stomach. But it vanished as soon as I stepped out of the car to greet Bernard. Bernard’s calm demeanor and soothing voice, “Ca va,” immediately comforts me and I know my dogs are [...]
One of the favorite places for the Swiss to getaway is Lugano, one of Ticino’s most beautiful natural features. The striking thing about it is that the lake surrounded by the mountains right on the shoreline. The hotels are literally built into the mountain in some cases and right on the lake. I had heard about it enough to put it [...]
A few weekends ago, Mr. Wild Dingo and I visited Chateau d’Aigle, a museum of vine and wine that featured a renown collection of wine labels dating back as far as the 1800′s. Unfortunately, that exhibit was closed due to relocation, but the chateau and museum did not disappoint.
Before we go, Loki and Juno would like to share some memories of their adventures in a town named for cats. “Hey Handsome, how about you and me paint this “cat” town a little canine before we blow out of here?” “Cupcake, you crack the whip, I’ll make trip.”
”Princess, if we’re working dogs,shouldn’t we help the movers load the truck?” “It depends. What are they offering to satisfy my taste buds?”
The dogs at Wild Dingo got tanked the other day. For reals. I slipped them the ‘ole mickey in their morning snack. The big move to CH is now days away and I’m busy preparing. I don’t plan on narc-ing them up for the plane ride over the east pond. Airline regulations do not permit it and [...]
I sold the Mini Cooper this week. I cried like a baby. I’m not the kind of person to get attached to things. I can easily give away clothing, shoes, jewelry that I haven’t worn in a year. I can even easily leave this home. But that Mini had sentimental meaning to me. For one [...]
… have pillow fights. “Nothing says “I missed you” like pillow entrails. I cared enough to shred the very best.”
After 6 long weeks, Mr. Wild Dingo returned home, err… back to Casa Wild Dingo, or in Mango’s terms, “The Wild Dingo Estate.” Though Mr. Wild Dingo is married to Wild Dingo, he’s no longer an official resident of California or even the U.S.! His company broke his residency for tax purposes and he’s now officially a Suisse [...]
Two Monday’s ago, Mr. Wild Dingo and I went to get our Visa’s stamped at the consulate in the city. We were informed that they were approved and simply needed the stamp. We expected the process to take about 30 minutes, but when we got there, the Visa officer informed us that it would take 5 days [...]
