Italian summer

5 weeks of trawling through the south of France and Italy...

Here are parts of the cinque terra and portofino...

[click for larger photos]

Karen Hitchcock

We have returned from our gruelling 5 week tour of the Pyrenees, Provence, Tuscany and Sardinia.. We're safely back in Paris and there will be photos to come.

In the mean time - for those of you who haven't, you must buy this recently released book of short stories:

Little White Ships - Karen Hitchcock

Karen is a great friend of mine and a brilliant writer. You can read the Australian or SMH reviews for all the superlatives, but I just say - read it!

Poppies and Paris

The spring poppies were special, but the light in Paris just keeps on giving...

Parisian stories

Paris is full of tourists, Parisians and stories.

Lumière

Well they don't call her the city of light for nothing.

The sun now sets around 10pm so we have gorgeous light all evening...

Men and Machines

I'm no great fan of motorsport. I've always preferred a good book, and have even been known to spout the cliche: 'how interesting can it be watching a car go around in circles?'

Well I'm now in a position to answer. It is incredible. Even my vegetarian, 'save the planet by driving an Echo' better half had a smile a mile wide when the cars first passed. Then we put in our earplugs.

The machines are really a triumph of engineering and the sensation of standing 2m from them passing at truly unbelievable speeds is just exhilarating. I've posted a little video from where we were standing to give you a feel.

The Monaco Grand Prix is definitely something to experience once. There is something for everyone - even the leathery speedo clad 80 year old gent flanked by 4 amazonian women on his rather large yacht was enjoying himself.

Ile Saint Louis

Here are some happy snaps from (and of) our little island. Quite a convenient location for those who may be coming to crash on the couch...

[click on photos to enlarge]