If you’re looking for a non-scriptural book full of wisdom and spiritual insight, I’d suggest the poetry of the 14th Century Persian poet Hafiz. Amanda gave me this collection translated by Daniel Ladinsky for Christmas and I’ve been savoring it ever since. This poem, for example, is one I need to sit with longer and […]
Today I decided to explore the East London neighborhoods of Hackney and Shoreditch. I work in Shoreditch, so I’m there every day, but I’ve never really taken the time to take a closer look outside of work. The exterior is gritty, not pretty, but it’s arguably the hippest part of town and, on closer look, […]
I didn’t make it to a museum or to any sight-seeing today (and I’m not sure I’m going to this weekend). Instead I had fun with pottery. You see, I’ve been making bircher muesli lately, and I have tiny cupboards, and . . . well, long story short, I needed a small dish with a […]
One of my New Year’s resolutions is to do something interesting every weekend, even if I have to spend the rest of the weekend working or preparing my US tax return or otherwise stuck in front of a computer. This weekend I picked the National Portrait Gallery. I had never visited before because, well, I […]
I wrote a poem the day you left because my heart was breaking and I could not speak only hold you — let you hold me — and weep Gentlest man, so beset by monsters whose selfless love comforts with a compassing arm and nestled head I wish you would stay I wish you could stay […]
Fireworks on the Thames! It was an exercise in wading through massive crowds and standing for hours until the clock struck twelve. A dazzling display of fireworks glimpsed through a forest of phone-waving hands. Then another hour and a half wading through crowds and a long walk back to the flat. Fortunately it was not […]
What a lovely, charming city! We lucked out with clear, sunny weather during the few hours of daylight (sunrise at 8:45am, sunset at 3:45pm) to explore this northern capital of Scotland. Given how limited our time would be, we stayed mainly in the Old Town and soaked up the ancient atmosphere. The castle dominates the […]
What do you eat on a food tour in Scotland? Well, haggis, for one. Served with neeps and tatties (a.k.a. turnips and potatoes). We Americans may look askance at a sausage made of sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs mixed with oats and wrapped in stomach lining — but it was actually quite tasty (and as […]
The ancient city of Edinburgh nestles among the rocky crags of extinct volcanoes. The castle sits atop one of them. The other most prominent crag is known as Arthur’s Seat and it rises above the city some 800+ feet. Its name colorfully evokes Arthurian legend but the origin is actually unknown. It could also be […]
Left London’s sleety weather at Kings Cross station and traveled to Edinburgh where it’s sunny and FREEZING! The journey took most of the day (certainly all of the daylight hours in this northern clime) but we had a cozy dinner, a chilly walk around town (spying the castle and the street that inspired Harry Potter’s […]
A More Gentlemanlike Manner 