Watertown, MA. August, 2013

Meet my friend Kevin. A gardener. He graciously helped me weed my very much overgrown yard and provided enjoyable conversation throughout. Here, afterwards, our very own déjeuner sur l’herbe, clothes on. Kevin is enamored of Paris and longs to return. It was only recently that I learned his birthday is July 14. Bastille Day. No wonder. Happy birthday, friend. And Happy Bastille Day, friends.

Mykonos, Greece. October, 2011

The narrow alleyways and paths are deliberately convoluted, it’s said, to frustrate invading pirates. In the past, I hope. We followed some of those paths, got happily lost, and wound up here in this tiny square with two of the island’s more famous inhabitants. They seemed to just be out for a stroll as we were. But they knew the neighborhood better.

Off Mykonos, Greece. October, 2011

Lunches on board the Wind Surf are always good. And the selections run from numerous salads and hot dishes on the buffet to burgers and specials from the grill. There is always a fish of the day, which this day was a deconstructed salade Niçoise with fresh tuna. And real Niçoise olives. Delicious, healthy, guilt-free indulgence. With a Greek island just off the port side.

Mykonos, Greece. October, 2011

If the tourists want icons, no problem. Though much was closed on our early morning, off season walk through “downtown” Mykonos, the souvenir shops were open to greet each of the tour boats that docked. There was even a nationwide strike called for this day. A parade of protesters through the town center. The shops were open.

Bodrum, Turkey. October, 2011

My oldest (in a good way) friend in the world, Nick, is not only a bread enthusiast, he’s also a Turkey enthusiast. And so I feel compelled to track down and sample each kind of bread I can find each time I visit Asia Minor. Here in the ancient city of Halicarnassus, I researched two: a rustic cornbread specialty of Black Sea baking offered by a family of bakers who’d emigrated to the southern Turkish coast, and this variation on simit. The sesame seed-coated morsel is usually found in rings, so when I saw this straight-up version, well, I had to try it. (The knife in the photo is simply for size reference and does not comment on the resistance of the bread. Just saying.) Nick recently spent time throughout Turkey, learning to make a variety of doughs, breads and pastries. Does this mean I no longer have an excuse to do my enjoyable research?

Bodrum, Turkey. October, 2011

A lovely stop in the ancient city of Halicarnassus, home to one of the seven wonders of the world, the Tomb of Mausolus (from which we have the term mausoleum.) I saw most of the city and its outlying neighborhoods during my morning run along the seacoast and inwards. This boat caught my eye, mainly because my nickname when in Turkey is Ekmek Kadayif (a rich, syrupy dessert made from bread, sugar, with optional clotted cream on top.) What could this mean on the side of a rowboat?

Gloucester, MA. July 2013

I love blue hydrangeas. When my landscaper friend Nancy was coming up with plants for my Watertown, MA, backyard, I wanted hydrangea. She questioned my choice of blue, wondering if it would be “too Italian.” (Nancy is Italian American herself.) Bring it on, Nancy! And now, every summer, I revel in the glory of these blue blossoms, beautiful enough for a wedding bouquet.  Even an Italian one. (Today marks the one-year wedding anniversaries of both our friends Roberto and Marco...and Jay and me.)