Les Estivales - Montpellier, Fr.

Three-glass wine tasting...4 Euro.

Six oysters...5 Euro.

Plate of unparalleled delicious fresh cheeses...3 Euro. 

Live, outdoor, communal music and revelry plus streets full of artisans and all of the above... Priceless. 

And all completely unexpected, in a city I had never heard of, after a train-scheduling faux pas! Goes to show that, when we are grateful and willing to actively engage, the world's wonders unfold (thank you, William James.)

Check out one vendor with enticing dried fruits, caught turning his back amidst angry French mumbling about l'Americaine. 

There is my favorite fromagier- see the image behind of him with his goats? 

And last, the largest pot of paella I've ever encountered, beating out Barcelona. 

Venetian Juxtaposition

Anachronistic? Splendid? Quite.

One of my favorite photos from Venice. And 2 clicks away from my camera dying, too.

Neo Rauch at Munich Pinakothek der Moderne

One of the best exhibits I have seen, by one of the most genius artists of our generation. 120 of his paintings were on display at Munich and Leipzig. I was moved enough to buy the gallery companion book, toting it in my backpack for the next three weeks of travel.
Neo Rauch, German painter, Pinakothek der Moderne, Munich, July 2010.

Arrive in London

Alright Liza, Emily, and all those who prompted me to keep a blog. Here it goes. Safely arrived in London. Longest sustained sunny weather they've had in a while, I hear! G&T's last night by the Thames, Tate Modern, lunch at a plaza near Russell Square and nice long walks through the city. Camera battery dead for now so pictures will come later. Staying at the Generator, a great hostel in a pretty central spot. Eurostar to Paris tomorrow morning. I've got to admit, I'll miss london. If anyone has hostel recommendations for Prague, Vienna, Venice, Florence, Rome, Genoa, or Nice, please let me know!- Got to book some :)
Hope all is well back home!