I GO SOMEWHERE, I TAKE A CAB
BACK IN 1995 I researched a story contrasting taxi cabs of London, Stuttgart and Tokyo. I saw this as a companion to “Three Subterranean Transportation Systems,” R&T, April 1994, to … Continue reading
IN FRANCE, ITALY AND GERMANY
EUROPEAN TRAVEL at the beginning of the twentieth century wasn’t nearly as straightforward as it is today. There was no European Union and, of course, no euro. Borders mattered. Frenchmen … Continue reading
JAPANESE FOLK ART
I AM a souvenir hunter. And, if our home bookshelves are any indication, I’ve been successful in this hunting. Though I’ve not been to Japan recently, I certainly have lots of stuff … Continue reading
IRON BRIDGE—CRADLE OF THE INDUSTRIAL AGE
SHROPSHIRE, IN the West Midlands of England, had rich deposits of coal, iron ore and limestone. The shire also has the Gorge, cut through it by the River Severn, at … Continue reading
FAMILY-STYLE DINING
WHEN I say “family-style,” I’m not just talking about food “like mom used to make.” I mean classic eating establishments where everyone is served communal meals at shared tables. It’s … Continue reading
HAPPY DOG
THE UBIQUITOUS Hello Kitty and other happy cats are familiar bits of Japanese culture, but dogs are highly regarded there as well. I have several examples of canine folk art … Continue reading
WHAT’S THAT IN FRANCS? BUT WHICH FRANCS?
THE EURO took a lot of fun out of European travel. This less than profound thought came to me recently when sharing a tale of currency exchange with friends Kathy … Continue reading
THE UNITED STATES—1909
WE LEARN a lot about our country through foreign eyes. And the views are particularly striking when written more than a century ago. Thus it is with one of the … Continue reading
THE ORACLE OF DELPHI—ON HIGH TEST
THE GREEK Oracle of Delphi was vaguely known to me. Like so many other things, I knew I could learn more if I wanted with a quick Googling. But how … Continue reading
SPEAKING UP-COUNTRY SWAHILI
WHAT WITH Rosetta Stone© and related foreign-language learning methodologies, there are multiple paths to Swahili. However, for those into Karen Blixen’s Out of Africa, Kenya’s Muthaiga Country Club and the … Continue reading
