Thursday, December 25, 2014

Another Poem that I like: about John Kennedy


[I do not know the name of the author]

It wasn't what he was,
But what he represented.
It wasn't what he did,
But what he inspired.
It wasn't who he was,
But what he made us think we were.
It wasn't how he lived,
Bur how he changed the way
We lived.

2 Poems by Paul Verlaine


“Chanson de l’Automne,” Paul Verlaine
Listen to this song in French by Marlène Dietrich for perfection of sound. (Scroll down for translation.)
Les sanglots longs
Des violons
De l’automne
Blessent mon coeur
D’une langueur
Monotone.
Tout suffocant
Et blême, quand
Sonne l’heure,
Je me souviens
Des jours anciens
Et je pleure
Et je m’en vais
Au vent mauvais
Qui m’emporte
Deçà, delà,
Pareil à la
Feuille morte.

Spoken by Marlene Dietrich at  http://www.ina.fr/audio/P12118715

-----------

La lune blanche luit dans les bois by Paul Verlaine

La lune blanche
Luit dans les bois ;
De chaque branche
Part une voix
Sous la ramée1...

O bien-aimée.

L'étang reflète,
Profond miroir,
La silhouette
Du saule noir
Où le vent pleure... 

Rêvons, c'est l'heure.

Un vaste et tendre
Apaisement
Semble descendre
Du firmament
Que l'astre irise... 


C'est l'heure exquise

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Brunch in Southern Morocco


Once upon a time, two Peace Corps volunteers took a trip through the anti-Atlas mountains. On the third day they found themselves very hungry having not eaten since the day before. As they left the mountains and began to cross a broad valley toward the city of Taroudant, they spied a shack by the road with a Coca Cola sign. As they approached the shack, a car speeding along from the opposite direction stopped. Six men in the car descended, greeted the volunteers and insisted on presenting them with a meal of chicken, bread and dates. This delicious, generous gift they shared with two fellows who were just hanging out there. Alas, they had no Coca Cola to go with it.


Monday, December 1, 2014

Sunday, November 30, 2014

a few favorite sunsets and sunrise shots


Sunset near Arches National Park, Utah

Sunset at Beirut 

Sunset, Georgetown, Maine

Sunrise over the Casamance River, Sedhiou, Senegal

Sunset at Sedhiou

Sunset on Boulder Mountain, Utah

Sunset at Waikiki Beach

Sunset at Temento Samba, Kolda, Senegal

Monday, November 3, 2014

Our Time in the Department of Lot, Midi-Pyrénnées

 Exhibit at the Musée des Augustins: Jorge Prado, American artist

 St. Cirq la Popie

 Our lovely gite, Liberté at Cremps, France

 Part of the grounds at Liberté

Enjoying a local wine at Escamps

 Countryside on the way to the Tarn-Garonne area

 A beautiful medieval village on the Tarn: Bruniquel

 Baba au Rhum

Monday, January 27, 2014

Relaxing Away From The Cold In Savannah


At Clary's Cafe, Savannah

The biggest and best eclair I have had the pleasure of sharing with Janet. We managed only one half.

The sayings go: In Charleston SC they ask What is your Family. In Atlanta they ask What Do You Do. In Savannah they ask What Do You Drink.

Drinking seems to be allowed in the streets, at least where we were. If you have not finished your drink in a bar, they will pour it into a paper cup, and you can go on to the next place.

We recommend reading the book and/or seeing the Clint Eastwood movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil as a precursor to your visit to Savannah.

We loved our stay at the Presidents' Quarters in the historic district. Right behind it was our favorite go to Pub called the 1790 Tavern. Sit at the bar and order Fried Green Tomatoes and Crab Cakes and chat with the locals. The tavern is also well known for its Planters Rum Punch. which we loved.

We went to the evening Compline at the local Anglican Cathedral.

We had tea at the Gryphon Tea Room owned and operated by students of the Savannah School of Art and Design, a very famous art school. Do not fail to browse in its shop across from the Tea Room.

Another great place to eat is the Crystal Beer Parlor where I recommend the deviled crab and sweet potato fries. Lots of locals.

Savannah is built around 24 squares. We walked through most of them from one end to the other. Charlton Street and many other streets have magnificent mansions which you can visit. It is also fun to take the Pedicabs or bicycle rickshaws if you are tired of walking. Apparently, the fee is whatever you wish to give.

We walked by the Mercer House where Jim Williams lived. He was a well known antiques dealer and was tried for murder. There are many silver shops in the historic district. 

We had Sweet Tea, a southern drink, at Clarys Cafe which also figures in the book and is a great place to go for breakfast or lunch (especially if you like eclairs).

For a really delicious and gracious place to eat, I recommend Alligator Soul. The shrimp and grits are to die for. Lovely service. 

We walked Bay and River Streets and had a morning cappuccino at the Paris Market. We bought pecan pralines, a southern specialty.

Do not miss the Jepson Museum. Incredible modern architecture and great gift shop. It is part of the Telfair Museums of which there are three. At the Jepson, there is a nice cafe, too. We visited all three.

Another place that we ate at was the Olde Pink House. A bit touristy but it is said locals eat here, too. We liked Alligator Soul better.