Across from the Jewish Ghetto, across the river Tiber, pass Isola Tiberina lies an area which only Romans know and only Romans visit. It is called Trastevere. It holds for me the most of Rome’s magical secrets, and every time I visit Trastevere, something magical happens. A bit of history: In Rome’s Regal period (753-509 BC), the area across the Tiber belonged to the hostile Etruscans: the Romans named it Ripa Etrusca (Etruscan bank). Rome...
Potts Point
When I first entered the holy grail of Potts Point it was in 1994 – Holiday Inn was on Macleay street, where Icon Building is now. I was supposed to be studying Project Management course there, but instead I was studying Potts Point. For 4 days we had coffee breaks at the hotel with incredibly bitter burnt coffee, and I tried to see the glimpses of the suburb, which has taken my heart since and never let my heart go. There were tree-lined...
Bofinger.
When I first went to Paris on my own for two weeks only, I went to contemplate life, to make decisions, marriage including. It was in August, 2003 – the year when Paris was liberated 60 years ago from the Nazis. Well, Paris was a free spirit and even loved the Americans. My Russian accented English was welcome everywhere. In general, the easiest way to “survive” Paris is to go for the “prescribed walks” during the daytime, the hardest way to...
My Current Affair
The 24th of June, 7pm, Current Affair, Channel Nine: “The Shopping Revolution Heading Down Under”. I am not a Current Affair viewer, but what the heck? The title intrigued me, since I am also waiting for the shopping revolution in Australia. http://aca.ninemsn.com.au/article/8864846/the-shopping-revolution-heading-down-under The anchor announced, that Sephora was coming to Australia and their prices were going to match US prices. Then two...
The Bakery.
I have been in many places in the world – to be exact in almost all of Europe, Asia, North America. I don’t like sweet things, I never eat dessert, but one place completely transforms me into ravenous dessert eating creature. This place is not in Paris, not in Italy, Spain, Vienna – it is not in the best dessert places in the world. This place is in Hobart, and for those, who don’t know, it’s a capital of the smallest state in Australia,...