Category Archives: expat
Napoli
After many years, last week I returned to Naples, Italy. Our stopover a couple of decades ago didn’t inspire a speedy return. However, there were Caravaggios I had missed, and the more recent excavations at Pompeii intrigued me. So, off … Continue reading
Le Grinch
Here we are again. Another holiday season. Another year’s end. If I’m honest, I have to say that I have become a massive grinch around Christmas. I just don’t care for it. I was in Milan, Italy for some research … Continue reading
Les Aoûtiens
Summer’s end is rapidly approaching, and for me it is none too soon. Today, August 15, the French celebrate one last hot blast of unbridled seasonal fun complete with fireworks. Like “Ferragosto” in Italy, the mid-month Assumption holiday is when … Continue reading
En Albanie
Shiqpëria (the “q” is silent) is the ancient name for Albania, a Republic since 1993. Before that, it was a brutal, feudal Communist dictatorship, before that a pawn between European powers who dismembered it, before that a colony of the … Continue reading
La climatisation
Finally, I broke down and installed central air conditioning in my rental apartment. It has become indispensable. The landlord didn’t contribute one lousy centime, but after the torturous summer of 2022 I could not face 2023 without help to get … Continue reading