Fairfield, Connecticut Another Day Spent with Doctors, Some Food Shopping, Business Meetings, More Shopping and Dinner at the home of Close Friends

Friday, October 2, 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut

Another Day Spent with Doctors, Some Food Shopping, Business Meetings, More Shopping and Dinner at the home of Close Friends

Time is flying, but we are packing so much productivity into our days that we feel very satisfied at the end of each day. Breakfast was in our apartment—bagels with cream cheese and orange juice. And then our round of doctors’ visits began.

Pre-Colonoscopy Visit for Llew:

Our first port of call was at Fairfield Circle at Gastroenterologists of Fairfield County. I dropped Llew off there and ran a couple of errands across the road at the Circle Stop and Shop. When he called me back to tell me he was done, I went across to pick him up. After we heard what the pre-op prep involves, we had to cancel all our plans to meet our friends in New Jersey as those visits were scheduled for Sunday and Llew’s coloscopy procedure would be on Monday. Of course, we were really disappointed as we did want to see our friends and spend some chill time with them—but this was simply not meant to be. We called and cancelled all our appointments with them.

Off to Stratford for my Bone Density Test:

Our next port of call was Stratford, Connecticut, where I had my bone density test scheduled at Advanced Radiology. These drives turned out to be the most pleasant part of these visits as they took us into the prettiest parts of Fairfield such as Trumbull, Milford, Stratford, etc. where the color on the trees at this time of year is so spectacular. It took me back to all these years we had spent in these parts and how much we had enjoyed living here and seeing our doctors in all their various clinics. Truly, we are blessed to be able to come back once a year and we do make the most of every second.

My bone density test went well. I had a really competent technician who put me through the paces with courtesy and efficiency and before I knew it, it was done. No stress, no fuss, no fear. I will always come back here to get my medicals done (as long as I physically can and as far as it is possible through insurance).

Meeting with our Contractors:

Although I would have liked to have lingered in Target (which we passed on our way back), we had an appointment with our new home contractor and interior designer at our home on Pequot Avenue. Llew had met both of them previously, last week, but I would be meeting them for the first time and it was interesting. They were both nice guys and as they put us through the paces, going from room to room on the ground floor of our home to tell us what was involved in the job, we received a possible timeline for start and completion of the project. At the end of it, after we’d asked all the questions we wanted, we were far more confident. We think we will enjoy working with these guys who will stick to a budget and give us a brand-new ground floor which should make it very attractive for us to find new tenants for our home in the spring.

Shopping in Southport Village:

Llew returned home to our apartment at this point, but I took the car and told him that I would like to spend a couple of hours in Southport Village and so, left to my own resources, I went first to the Pequot Library. Sadly, my friend Leslie was not there but Christine was; and I spent a few minutes with her. I also went downstairs to our basement sorting room for old times’ sake and there I met my buddy Linda (who used to sort the cookbooks with me)—she still does. It was truly good to be back there again and I was so glad I went.

On the way back, I stopped at some of the stores that I used to frequent in Southport Village—Kasson Jewelers, The Carousel Thrift Store at the Congregation Church (I actually bought back the same Chinese soup bowls that I donated two years ago) and a couple of other fall decorative items that are light enough for me to carry to decorate my flat in Bombay for the season. I also stopped in the Fairfield Womens’ Exchange and browsed at their exclusive collection there before I went into their antiques’ section at the back. When I think of the number of things I have bought from these stores, over the decades they could fill another store—honestly! Still, this time I was being very choosy and I bought almost nothing. I also went to the Goodwill at Westport to look for fall décor and I did find a few trinkets—nothing grand, but I was pleased with my buys. I felt I had done some of my favorite things in Southport and Westport.

Back to Dr. K’s for Bloodwork:

We had a salad at home before I had to go to Dr. K’s clinic right next to the Cricle Stop and Shop to get some blood and urine tests done. Jody was just wonderful as was Dr. K. I also used to opportunity to go to Stop and Shop and buy a few more items that I do not get easily in India (olives in oil, yeast, parchment paper for baking, etc.).

Dinner with Art, Bonnie, Halle, Anthony and Little Calvin:

And then, it was time for us to go back home and get dressed for our evening’s dinner appointment. Our friends Bonnie and Art had invited us to dinner at their place and because I am closely in touch with Bonnie all year round, I was keen to meet her new grandson, Calvin. She very kindly invited her daughter Halle, her son-in-law Anthony and Calvin to her home too on the same evening so that we could all meet. So we were really thrilled to see them all when we entered Bonnie’s place.

And, needless to say, Calvin is just adorable—so I could see why Bonnie and Art are so excited about this new addition to their family. We amused ourselves fully with Calvin who kept us fully amused and entertained with his antics as he crawled around at speed, had his own dinner, played with his favorite toy, etc. It was also great to see his parents, Halle and Anthony, whom I had last seen at their wedding, two years ago. How wonderful to see what doting parents they are and how proud they are of their gorgeous baby boy!

Bonnie provided us with drinks and many nibbles on which we grazed as the evening passed. Then, Art stepped outside, on the deck, to grill us some steaks and he brought them inside in time for our dinner. Bonnie had also made a vegetable Tian and a superb salad and for dessert, there was a strawberry-rhubarb pie with ice-cream. Bonnie’s table was beautifully decorated and with all of us (and Calvin) seated around the table, we had such a companionable evening. It is amazing how quickly and easily time passes when you are among friends with whom you do not have to worry about what you say or how to say it. That level of comfort which comes from long cherished friendships is such a vital part of my life that I am always conscious and very grateful of this blessing in my life.

And, on that happy note, with Calvin and his parents having to return back to Brooklyn where they live, we bid our friends goodbye and thanked them profusely for treating us to such a lovely evening, for taking so much trouble to give us such a good time. It was truly an evening to cherish with so many happy memories stored for the future. We do not know when we will see Calvin again but no doubt, he will be unrecognizable, even if we see him just a year from now.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Fairfield, Connecticut: A Date with Dermatologists and Dentists and Meals of our Choosing at Favorite Spots--Duchess and Senor Salsa

Thursday, October 1. 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut: A Date with Dermatologists and Dentists and Meals of our Choosing at Favorite SpotsL Duchess and Senor Salsa

Our day began as it has been doing for the past few days. We awoke in our little Southport apartment and had breakfast at home: bagels with cream cheese and orange juice.

Visit to our Dermatologist:

Then, it was time to get into our car and make our way to Trumbull to see our dermatologist, Dr. Jeremy Moss. It was a lovely drive as the mornings are delightfully crisp and the nip in the air (after the heat and humidity of Bombay) is welcome and appreciated.

All went well with our visit. Dr. Moss looked at items that concerned us (a lump in my back is a lipoma and only to be ignored as it is nothing—thank God) and told us that all was well. And with that we left.

Food Shopping at Trader Joe’s and BJs:

Then, as we had some time to kill before our next medical appointments (which were annual cleaning visits to our respective dentists in Fairfield), we decided to go and get some shopping done. It was hard to believe that we’d had no time at all to visit any of the shops or buy any of the items on our List until this morning. So, off we went, first to Home Depot as I needed to buy a pair of secateurs for gardening and for cutting flowers for arrangements at home. This was very easily done and off we went next to Trader Joe’s on Black Road Turnpike. We bought a huge number of things from there: cheese, nuts, smoked salmon, favorite snacks (chocolate covered pretzels, Thai flavored nibbles, chocolate-covered cherries, etc.). With all these items in our car booth, we went on to BJs and there we were able to buy a few items on our list (Ranch Dressing powder, Sensodyne toothpaste, Downy Fabric softener, loads of Halloween candy that we bag into smaller packets and give away as gifts in India—and so it went on. We then went on to Marhsall’s as we needed to buy ourselves a big suitcase (and, of course, while there, I do take a look at the Home Section to look for treasures and ended up buying a few small, light autumn decorations). Yes, we did find a London Fog suitcase that was the perfect size for us and we bought that too and put it into our car.

Lunch at Duchess:

Then, since Duchess is just across the road and I love eating there, Llew and I went there for lunch. I found out that they were serving Clam Chowder and since that is one of my favorite things in the world to eat, that was what I ordered. I also ordered the Chicken Parmigiana Burger (called a Sandwich here) while Llew got a regular double cheeseburger (I was surprised he did not get the Philly Cheesesteak which he usually gets it here). And so we had a lovely lunch as well as ticked off another item off my To-Eat List!

Off to the Dentist:

Luckily, our dentists too were right across the street and literally one building away from each other (Dr. Kosha Shah for Llew and Dr. Jessamyn Fiorella for me). Maureen was not at Reception today (as she had the day off) but the person there was just as sweet and friendly and gave me a toothbrush and toothpaste so that I could brush and floss my teeth before my visit. Tania, who is my regular hygienist, then took over with Dr. Fiorella coming in to take a look too and letting me know that nothing required any further attention at the moment. I made my next appointment for another year from now and I was off. Llew had finished by this time and had just walked across to my dental clinic where he stayed waiting for me. At this point, they realized that I had last had my oral X-rays done a year ago and so they recommended that I do them again—which I then did, as Llew waited outside for me.

A Visit to my Optometrist:

It was time then for me to drive to Bridgeport to see my Optometrist, Dr. Scott Seo, whom I was seeing after almost three years as I have gone to other eye-doctors in-between. As Llew was free for the day, he asked me to drop him off home so that he could get some rest. I did so and then swung upon the highway to get to Bridgeport. I arrived there in time and spent the next hour getting my eyes fully dilated and tested by Dr. Seo. He is aware of the fact that I now live in India. I told him about my compromised retina and the fact that I am seeing Dr. Daniel Rossberger in New York City for it. His job is basically to check for glaucoma, cataract, etc. and also to see if my prescription has changed much since the last time. It turns out that the prescription was virtually the same (hence, I did not need new glasses) and that neither glaucoma nor cataract need to be addressed right away. With this clean bill of health, I left his office to drive back home and realized that I could barely see. My eyes were so badly dilated that everything appeared blurred. Thankfully, the GPS lady led me back with the power of her voice and although I was quaking behind the wheel, I must say that I managed to make it back in one piece.

Coffee at Starbucks in Westport with Leslie and Sunil:

We had enough time to keep our 6.00 pm appointment with our Westport-based friends, Leslie and Sunil Mahtani, who had just returned from their daughter’s wedding in Upstate New York and couldn’t wait to share all the details with us. Over coffee, we sat down at the table and chatted nineteen to the dozen and at the end of it, we felt as if we had been there too. It was a really lovely wedding that in true Indian style went on for three days with much rejoicing and festivity. I only felt sorry that I forgot to take any pictures with them.

Dinner for Just the Two of Us at Senor Salsa:

After about an hour and a half with them, Llew and I drove over to their place as Leslie wanted to gift me a box of the N-13 masks that she had recently ordered online herself. Accordingly, we followed them in our car to Trader Joe’s parking lot where Leslie ran up to bring them and I was able to buy a couple more things I needed (mainly Lemon Curd). When she got back, I thanked her for them and we left.

We drove straight to Senor Salsa at Fairfield as we really do enjoy an occasional Mexican meal (and we had not eaten one in a very long time). Llew and I shared a plate of chile rellenos which came with rice, refried beans, salad and chips with salsa. They made a really wonderful meal that we thoroughly enjoyed with Diet Cokes. We thought we’d stop at Dairy Queen to have my favorite Chocolate Blizzard but both of us were simply too full and we decided to pass it over for another day.

And with that, we were home after another deeply fruitful day.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

Fairfield, Connecticut: Meetings with Doctors, Friends and Family

Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Fairfield, Connecticut: Meetings with Doctors, Friends and Family

Another day dawned in Fairfield, Connecticut. We woke in our two-storey apartment and went downstairs. I toasted a bagel and had it with cream cheese and orange juice; Llew would wait until after his blood work at Quest to eat.

By 9.00 am, we were at Advanced Radiology for Llew’s preliminary procedural work. Our next destination was Trumbull, giving me a chance to drive on I-95 again and take the Route 8 connector, one of my favorite parkways. It is gorgeous in every season, and the first touches of autumn gold on the trees were a delight.

Visiting Delyse and Marcus in Trumbull

Our next stop was Middlebrook Farms in Trumbull, where one of my closest friends, Delyse, had recently moved with her husband, Marcus. Long-time Trumbull residents, they were happy to settle in a familiar town. The grounds were extensive and beautifully manicured, with well-maintained buildings and plenty of space for walks.

It was fabulous to see Delyse and Marcus after a whole year. Although Delyse and I speak on the phone every other week, nothing compares with being in the same room, deep in conversation.

Upstairs, their cozy apartment was filled with their own belongings, bringing familiarity and comfort to a new way of life. They had moved in only two weeks earlier and were still finding their way around. Both looked happy and well. After showing us their apartment, they took us on a little tour of the building and its impressive facilities. Then we said goodbye: I had another doctor’s appointment to keep.

An Appointment with Dr. Glenn Rich

My next appointment was with Dr. Glenn Rich, my oncologist of the past 18 years. He monitors my calcium levels and bone density, thyroid health and ongoing medication. This continuity of care is one reason Llew and I return to the States for medical testing. Our doctors are known us for close to 20 years or more, understand our histories and, in many cases, have become friends. I was pleased that the preliminary examination looked good overall. Later in the week, I would have a bone-density test and thyroid testing. Dr. Rich confirmed that I have osteoporosis and advised me to continue calcium and vitamin D and undertake weight-bearing exercises at the gym, which I planned to do on returning to Bombay.

Before my mammogram and breast ultrasound, I needed to collect my records from Dr. Neil Specht, my radiologist of almost 20 years. He was retiring and no longer taking on testing, so I had arranged to pick up my plates, films, CDs and other records for the new imaging provider. His office was just across the main road in Trumbull—a short drive from our previous stop.

Saying Goodbye to Dr. Neil Specht

As I parked, I could hardly believe I might never return to this office, where I had been cared for by Dr. Neil Specht for almost 20 years. The waiting room was full of boxes as the practice prepared to close, so different from the cozy, welcoming space I remembered. I was fortunate to meet his wife, Dr. Evangeline Specht, at the reception desk. When she realized I was the patient who had come from India, she immediately retrieved the file I had asked them to set aside. She said her husband would come out with the CD containing my films and say goodbye. Before long, Dr. Specht appeared and gave me a bear hug. I became emotional as I thanked him for taking such wonderful care of me over the years. There were tears of gratitude and sadness on my part. He and his wife were moving to Florida for retirement, and I wished them every happiness and many happy family times ahead.

Further Testing at Diagnostic Imaging of Milford

Back in the car, we headed to Diagnostic Imaging of Milford for my mammogram and breast ultrasound. Llew waited outside while I went through the tests.

I value the courtesy, patience and professionalism I have experienced during testing in the US. The surroundings are clean and reassuring, and the gown provided for me was sealed in a plastic bag before use and sent to the laundry afterward. These details helped ease my nerves. Sandy, who performed the mammogram, was competent and patient, as was the person who carried out the ultrasound. Despite having had these tests for years, I still find medical appointments unsettling. I was relieved when it was all over and I could rejoin Llew.

Annual Physicals with Dr. Catherine Kumaradas

There was more medical business ahead: our annual physicals, scheduled one after the other with Dr. Catherine Kumaradas, our GP of the past two years, known to everyone as Dr. K. The drive back to Fairfield gave me another enjoyable spell on the highway. At the office, we caught up with Jody, her assistant, whom we have known for at least 20 years. It is always lovely to see these familiar faces; they know how far we travel to keep our appointments.

Dr. K examined me first, then Llew, and gave me a flu shot. Her follow-up advice for me was to: Continue taking calcium for osteoporosis, See a pulmonologist after returning to India, Repeat the cholesterol blood test in four months because my cholesterol was high; I planned to do this in Bombay in January. She also gave Llew follow-up advice. Knowing that he would have a colonoscopy in a few days, she asked him to keep in touch with his other doctors and let her know the results.

A Welcome Bite with Cynthia

By then, we were starving, having had no time to eat since breakfast. Our friend Cynthia, who divides her time between Southport and the Hamptons, had suggested meeting at the village’s new coffee shop at 3.00 pm. We arrived to find it closed. A quick call redirected us to Artisan, the upscale restaurant nearby.

Outside the coffee shop, we had the good fortune to find our dear friend Butzi Moffit sitting in the sunshine. Almost a hundred years old, she still walks around the village with her aide. We were delighted to see her and took a picture together before driving to Artisan.

We left our car with Artisan’s valet and found Cynthia already inside. After an affectionate reunion, we spent more than an hour catching up and talking about the renovation of our home. She ordered coffee, while we had lattes, bread and a nibbling tray of cheese, olives, cold cuts and other bites—enough to tide us over until dinner.

It was a lovely, unexpected catch-up: I had made no plans to meet Cynthia before leaving Bombay. After saying goodbye, we returned to the apartment for a little rest.

Dinner with Roger and Family

The last item on our agenda was dinner at my brother Roger’s home in Fairfield, where we arrived at about 6.30 pm. After a hectic day of driving between medical appointments, we were ready to relax over a good meal. We were delighted to see Roger, his wife Lalita and their son Arav, who had just graduated from university. Their daughter Anaya is now a college freshman, so we missed seeing her.

We spent the early evening on the deck overlooking their back garden, catching up over drinks, fried chicken and nibbles. I had a gin and tonic, Llew chose red wine, and Roger and Arav had beers. We talked until the fireflies came out to play. It was already a little chilly, but I was warmly dressed; Llew borrowed a thicker shirt from Roger and settled in comfortably. Inside, a delicious home-cooked dinner awaited: spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread and a wonderful salad, followed by Arav’s panna cotta with macerated fresh strawberries. We were hungry and did full justice to the meal.

With full tummies and plenty of conversation to savor, we said goodbye and drove back. Twenty minutes later, we were in our apartment, ready to call it a night.

Until tomorrow—see ya’…

New York City in a Nut Shell: Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, St. Thomas Anglican Church, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

Tuesday, September 29, 2026

New York City in a Nut Shell: Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, St. Thomas Anglican Church, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)New York City in a Nut Shell: Saks Fifth Avenue, St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Rockefeller Center, St. Thomas Anglican Church, Museum of Modern Art (MOMA)

It was another day of promise and when we awoke in Southport, Connecticut, in the Homs’ apartment, we had no idea what the day would hold. We had intended for it to be spent together, but, as it turned out, we were apart from each other.

Picking up our Rented Car from Budget in Fairfield:

But first…we had a car to pick up. It would be the one that would keep us on the road for the next nine days. We called an Uber and went straight to Budget on Black Rock Turnpike and within a few minutes, we were chatting away with Faiyaz who runs the place. He was able to give us a Toyota Corolla (which is the car we had requested as Llew is aware that I feel very comfortable behind the wheel of that car). I would be doing almost all the driving for the next few days and although Llew drove the car out of the rental place, it was not long before I felt comfortable enough to take the wheel—and once I did, I never left that driver’s spot. I realize how much I miss driving in India, what a pleasure it is to drive in the US and how easily I took to the wheel again, despite a whole year of not driving—because, as I said, I am really familiar with the car and it felt like a duck taking again to water after a long spell on dry land.

By this time, I had received word from Apple in New York that my new laptop had all my data transferred to it and was ready for me to pick up. I called Amy, who was spending the night in Mary-Lauren’s place (after our Book Club meeting last night) but who had intended to return to Manhattan this morning. We coordinated our schedule so that we could both take the same train into town and have each other for company. So the 11.15 am train it would be from Fairfield.

Meanwhile, Llew and I went to the Stop and Shop supermarket at the Fairfield Circle and picked up breakfast items—a Danish for him and a pistachio muffin for me—with orange juice for both of us. It made a breakfast that would tide me over until lunch time in the city. We also bought a dozen bagels, a pot of cream cheese and some salad—so that we’d have breakfast items at home daily (we had a little fridge in our apartment).

That done, Llew dropped me to Fairfield Station where I bought a return Seniors Discount ticket, met Amy on the platform and was off. Llew would be spending the day getting some tests done at Quest and then seeing his cardiologist, Dr. Ari Pollack, later in the afternoon. I would have a bonus day to myself in the city and I decided to go to places we had not covered the day before yesterday.

Train Ride to Manhattan and Return to the Apple Store at Grand Centra Terminal:

As expected, Amy and I continued our chinwag of the previous day, all the way until Manhattan. She got off at 125th Street as it would work better for her to get to her apartment. I carried on till Grand Central Station and went straight to the Apple Store to make sure all was well. When I arrived there, I found that my data had been transferred to my new laptop. I was asked to check and make sure that everything looked like it was in order---and indeed it did. My documents, my photographs—they all looked good. However, I realized that there was a problem with the software which was still registered to NYU. As this machine was my own purchase and not related in any way to NYU, I soon realized that I would need to purchase new software and to install it in my new laptop. This seemed like a long drawn-out, complicated process and one for which I would need the help of a techie. The guys at Apple were unable to spend much time with me and I have to admit that I started to lose my nerve at the daunting realization that I probably would not be able to start using my laptop right away. Still, as I had already spent almost two hours there and I needed to get going as my stomach was rumbling with hunger, I told them that I would leave my laptop there and return to pick it up in the evening—as I still wanted to salvage some part of my day out alone in Manhattan. They agreed and I left.

Lunch at Shake Shack:

I decided to have lunch in the basement of Grand Central Station at ‘Shake Shack’. A couple of days ago, I’d had a chocolate milk shake there. Today, I decided to have the Smoke Shack burger for which I have a fondness. I ordered it and then sat down to enjoy it at the eatery itself together with extra Shack sauce which I really like. Of course, it was delicious as the pickled red peppers in it give it a very special flavor. Lunch done and another item on my List of things to do ticked off, I decided to move on.

Exploring Fifth Avenue:

I walked out of Grand Central Station (after using the facilities there) and found myself on Lexington Avenue from where I made my way to Fifth. As I walked uptown, I stopped first at Saks to spray myself with some perfume samples. I loved the way Saks was decorated inside—a burst of exuberant color.

Outside, I stopped to admire the beautiful store windows that are always show-stoppers. And then, as it was just opposite, I strolled around Rockefeller Center thinking of the many Christmases that we have come to this spot to see the lights and the Tree and the ice-skaters. Yes, Christmas in New York is special and we were so blessed that we were able to enjoy these treats for so many years.

Next, I entered St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral and paid a prayerful visit. The place was filled with tourists, but they had the good sense to stay in the back and take a few pictures—nothing more. I went right up to the altar and knelt there in prayer before I was able to walk around and take a few pictures too. The Rose-stained glass window behind the organ is also pretty sensational.

This done, I crossed the street and walked up to 53rd Street. My aim was to enter St. Thomas’ (Episcopal) Church as I had never been inside it (although I had passed by it countless times over the decades). I first heard about this church through Dean Robert Willis, whose daily Morning Prayer session I follow as part of his “Garden Congregation’. He had talked about being associated with this church and spending some lovely times here. And so, there was I, climbing up the few steps leading to the main entrance and entering the church. It was rather dark inside and somewhat stark. There were also fewer people in here than at St Patrick’s Cathedral; but what truly drew me to the church and really struck me was the gorgeous marble reredos (altarpiece) which is the focal point of the church. It is a massive marble structure that is intricately carved with a huge crucifix in the center and a vast number of carved saints climbing to almost to the rafters. Right at the top are three small stained glass windows that let in some light—enough to illuminate the details in the carvings. I prayed here too and took a few pictures before leaving.

Spending Time with Some of the World’s Best Modern Paintings at MOMA:

I had enough time then to make my way towards Sixth Avenue and 53rd Street to spend the afternoon with Modern Art. MOMA is the receptacle of some of the most recognized and well-loved 20th century paintings and it was with pleasure that I showed my Met ID Card for a free pass into the Museum. I decided to take the elevator directly to the fourth floor to see the gems of the permanent collection. Then, for at least the next two hours, I was on my feet as I took in the sights of some of the most stirring Abstract paintings. Here are the ones with which I spent the most time:

1. Hope II (Gustav Klimt)

2. Les Desmoiselles D’Avignon (Picasso)

3. The Sleeping Gypsy (Rousseau)

4. Starry Night (Van Gogh)

5. Embroidery (Edouard Vuillard)

6. Boy Leading a Horse (Picasso)

7. I and the Village (Marc Chagall)

8. Dance (Matisse)

9. Birth of the World (Joan Miro)

10. The Persistence of Memory (Salvadore Dali)

11. Gas (Edward Hopper)

12. Christina’s World (Andrew Wyeth)

13. Marilyn Monroe (Andy Warhol)

14. Open Hand--La Main Ouverte (Le Corbusier)

15. Canyon 1959 (Robert Rauchenberg)

16. Flag (Japer Johns)

17. Campbell Soup Cans (Andy Warhol)

Yes, I wish I could have spent some more time in the rest of the Museum, but I did a thorough job of the third and fourth floors and I was exhausted by the time two hours had passed. It was time for me to think about taking a bus downtown and getting back on the train to Southport. I jumped into a bus going downtown, got off at 42nd Street, walked across town to Grand Central Station. I returned to the Apple Store to pick up my laptop but despite spending more than one hour there, they were unable to get me to use Word to edit or create documents. All I could do was read them. I was thoroughly frustrated and very dejected before I called Llew to tell him that I was stuck at Apple and would reach home later than expected. That done, the guys at Apple wiped out my old laptop completely, asked for my credit card to credit me with $400 for my trade-in. This offered a small ray of sunshine after what had been a really nail-bitingly nerve-wracked evening for me. Hopefully, I would be able to solve my problem soon. I badly needed some comfort and headed for Shake Shack to buy myself another chocolate milk shake which I would relish on the train. Then, I found my train and platform, sat down inside and was on my way home. I told Llew what time I would arrive, and he was there to pick me up at Southport Station with our rented car. Meanwhile, we had informed our friends, Mimi and Shayon, with whom we would be having dinner, that we were running late. We postponed our meeting by an hour (to 9.00 pm instead of 8.00 pm) and off we hurried to meet them. While en route to Black Rock Turnpike for our dinner appointment with our friends, Llew told me about his meeting with Dr. Pollack which went well.

Pizza Dinner at Rikko’s Pizza in Fairfield:

Mimi and Shayon are friends of ours from Fairfield, Connecticut. Mimi had been very helpful to me at the time of our move to India and I will never forget the amount of help she rendered when we were in the midst of our estate sale upon leaving the country. They have twin kids who have just left home for their first year—both getting into Ivy League schools. Meeting them is always a pleasure and when they suggested Rikko’s for pizza, we were delighted.

Rikko’s is, apparently, very popular with kids in Fairfield and our friends are frequent visitors to this spot. They suggested we try the Buffalo Chicken Wings which were really good with crisp celery and blue cheese dressing and they went on to order pizza. Both of them preferred the Hot Honey and Pepperoni Thin crust pizza which was very tasty indeed and we enjoyed them with Diet Cokes. Of course, we did spend a lot of time talking about their kids and Mimmi kept us in peals of laughter as she narrated so many instances of the vagaries of dealing with computer-related issues (especially with her kids). The laughter allowed me to look at the funny side of my own laptop predicament and on that happy note, we bade them goodbye, returned to our car and made our way home. It had been a delicious dinner and a very companionable meeting between old friends who miss each other and are always happy to be in each other’s company.It had also been their treat—which was so generous and unexpected of them..

Until tomorrow, see ya’...

New York City and Fairfield, Connecticut: Grand Central Station, the Apple Store, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library

Monday, September 28, 2026

New York City and Fairfield, Connecticut: Grand Central Station, the Apple Store, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Public Library

It was curious to wake in our neighbors’ apartment—the Homs’—with our own home in view across the fence. But there was no time to linger in bed: we had plenty to do!

Breakfast with the Pintos:

So after washing, showering and getting dressed, our former GP Dr. Ed Pinto and his wife, Dr. Marguerite Pinto (also close family friends of ours) came to pick us up from our driveway and off we went with them to the Southport Diner. This too has become something of a ritual for us (as we have done this for the past couple of years too). Because I decided that I was going to eat healthy, I deprived myself of my usual much-longed-for breakfast: waffles with strawberry compote and whipped cream. Instead, I ordered a sedate two-egg omlette and an Americano and with Llew giving me some of the hash browns that he had ordered, I had a handsome breakfast. Of course, it is always fun to catch up with the Pintos and apprise them of what is happening with our own state of health as well as talk about our family members (they particularly enjoy talking about their three brilliant grandsons). Time flew and after a very lovely couple of hours together, we had to leave. They dropped us off to Southport Station and we were able to begin our day.

Off to New York City:

We had dedicated this day to New York City as we had a huge priority that needed to be addressed immediately. I needed to buy a new laptop as my current one had started to play up. So, after we purchased Senior Discounted tickets for the Metro-North train from the vending machine, we spent some in the station itself. Of course, it brought back old memories for me of commuting to work via this station, and I recalled those early mornings when I would be at the platform awaiting my train. Yes, it did come soon enough, and we enjoyed the ride into the city as we took in the beautiful landscapes and seascapes of Connecticut (with some color already on the trees) and then the beginnings of the skyscrapers that make up the city’s skyline.

Buying my New Laptop:

It is at Grand Central Station itself—that fabulous monument for which I have a special place in my heart—that the Apple store is located. Of course, service is excellent when they know you have come to buy a new computer. We had very efficient guys walk us through the process. We told them that we wanted to trade in my current laptop (which was certainly possible, they said) and they informed us that I was entitled to an educational discount (which was great). And so, before you could say Jack Robinson, I had bought and paid for a new laptop—they pretty much had in stock exactly the model I wanted with the same storage capacity I needed, etc. A credit card changed hands and they told me that they would transfer all my data from my old computer to the new one and give me a call after two days when it would be ready. That big errand carried out, we were ready for the next item on our agenda.

Lunch with Llew’s Colleague, Amy:

Llew had made plans to meet his former colleague, Amy, at Grand Central itself (as she still worked nearby). She was there at 1.00 pm, as planned, at the clock. While Llew awaited her arrival, I browsed around Grand Central as I took in all the new stores that have popped up in the arcades leading in and out of the station’s precincts including Grand Central Market where I always used to find a few sample nibbles before I boarded my train (in days gone by)!

Amy and the two of us decided to go down to ‘Shake Shack’ (one of my favorite places in the world to eat) but because we’d had big breakfasts that still sat heavy in our tummies, we all settled on Chocolate Milk Shakes and that was what we sipped as Llew and Amy caught up by talking shop. It was an enjoyable time and by the time, she was ready to return to work, we were ready to move on.

The ‘Costume Art’ Exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art:

Of course, I cannot leave New York City without paying a visit to my favorite place of them all—the Met—which is like my second home in the city. This gave us the opportunity to ride the subway and, of course, this brought back tons of memories too for me. On entering the museum after walking along Madison Avenue—always a joy (for free, I might add, since I have my Emerita Docent ID card), we discovered that there is a special exhibition on ‘Costume Art’ which combines art and fashion—two of the things I love best! So, of course, we made a beeline for it and discovered that it was an attempt to bring together the various sections of the museum’s collection with famous designers who were invited to create clothing that was in some way related to an item in-house. It was a very clever idea indeed and it brought out the creativity of a number of designers from people one had never heard of (aspiring designers, perhaps) to big names like Dior, Alexander McQueen and Ralph Lauren who interpreted the work of artists such as Winthursthaler, Seurat, Van Gogh, Picasso and Kusama. It was all quite fascinating if very extensive and time-consuming but with this done, we had the time only to browse through the various galleries on the main floor. I was struck by the number of spatial changes that have taken place at the museum over the past one year—entire sections have been moved, new ones added, etc. The Medieval Hall, for instance, is filled with sculptures that have been brought over from the Cloisters in the Bronx—they are clustered together quite strikingly in the Hall and bring an understanding of the kind of clothing that people wore in the Middle Ages. Yes, I did have a chance to look at some of the objects that used to be on the Highlights Tour that I used to give (the Dogon Couple from Mali, the Kouros, the Asmat Bis Poles, etc,) before I took a picture at the main Information Desk. Truly, the sense of belonging I feel when I am at the Met cannot be described in words. I am very pleased to say that on the ground floor gift shop, through which we browsed, I found a beautiful silk scarf in a variety of colors and Llew promptly bought it for me. I was very pleased to have a little souvenir of our visit to the Met.

Taking a Bus to the New York Public Library:

After our visit to the Met, we decided that the best was to see the city would be to take a bus downtown (instead of the subway from which you see nothing except dark tunnels). We were also happy to note that our OMNI Seniors cards worked beautifully, and we were very proud of this Seniors perk! Once we arrived along Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street, we realized that we still had some time to kill as our next appointment was only at 8.00 pm in Fairfield, Connecticut. Hence, we made the completely impulsive decision to visit the New York Public Library on 42nd Street.

‘Treasures’ Exhibition at the New York Public Library:

Inside, we discovered was a special exhibition on ‘Treasures” of the Library, curated to coincide with the 250th Anniversary of America’s Independence. Of course, we simply had to see it and inside we were. There, in two spacious galleries, we saw such a variety of fascinating items, including the original copy of the Declaration of Independence with the signatures of all the statesmen who were present to sign it in 1776. It really was a wonderful way for us to mark the 250th birthday of our country and I felt very proud to able to see this. Among the items that were on display that caught my eye are: Charles Dickens’ desk, chair and oil lamp (these have traveled from his home in Gad’s Hill in Kent, UK); Arturo Toscanini’s special shoes, ordered from Sak’s Fifth Avenue that were custom-made to be slip-resistant (so that he would not fall off the podium while wearing them and conducting); the entire collection of Christopher Robbins’ stuffed animals (soft toys) that he owned and that had inspired his father A.A. Milne to create the ‘Winne the Pooh’ stories with those of his animal friends; the original work of Audubon (a massive tome containing his illustrations and his notes—with a stained glass window right behind featuring one of his artistic works); the First Folio of Shakespeare’s Works dating from 1623; and a drawing by Albrecht Durer featuring the ‘Triumphal Arch” commissioned by Holy Roman Emperor Maximillian I. It was a thoroughly enjoyable exhibition, and I have to say that we both enjoyed every minute of it as well as our little tour of the library itself which is an imposing Neo-Classical building with loads of interesting interior features that caught my eye including dentil crown molding.

I have to say that walking along the streets and avenues of Manhattan again was a lovely experience and I felt like a bit of a tourist as I took it all in.

Traveling Back to Southport, Connecticut, with Amy:

We had made plans to meet our friend, another Amy (Tobin) at Grand Central Station’s clock as she intended to travel to Connecticut with us on the train. She too would be attending the Book Club Meeting as she too was once a member of the same book club. In fact, I was extremely grateful to Amy who had especially traveled from her second home in Florida to her Manhattan home in order to make sure she would meet me.

We traveled on the commuter train together and used the hour-long journey to chat nineteen-to-the-dozen and catch up. Then, we walked from Southport Station to the Homs’ home along Pequot Avenue, passing by all the shops in the village that I had once frequented and enjoyed the crackle of dry leaves underfoot as Fall is well and truly with us. And of course, when we passed our own home at the end of Pequot, we had to take a picture. Not much later, our friend Amy de Lannoy came to the Homs’ place to pick us up and off we went with her to the home of our friend, Mary-Lauren off Bronson Road.

The Joys of Attending a Book Club Meeting:

Needless to say, attending my Book Club Meeting again after exactly a year, was truly the highlight of this day. It was brilliant to see the six current members (most of whom, except Helene, Amy and I have known for at least 30 years). Mary-Lauren, whom we both love dearly, welcomed us warmly at her door and, as always, was a terrific hostess. We were all assembled around her kitchen island as we laughed and joked. Yes, there was wine (and other potables) and nibbles and as each member entered, there was the uproarious lovely to see you again whoops.

Mary Lauren served us a delicious dinner and a crumble for dessert and, of course, we did full justice to it. Before we knew it, it had turned very late at night—Amy was spending the night at Mary-Lauren’s (who sent me home with a huge packet of tea bags—and boy, was it generous of her!). Then, with Bonnie giving me a lift back to the Homs’ place, I was able to call it a night. I must add that Llew had joined the spouses of all these friends at Boys Night Out (which has also become part of the traditional ritual of the guys). They go out for pizza and beer and this night, they had chosen ‘Brew Port’, a popular place in Fairfield. Llew was already home when

I reached and on the happy note of having spent a really wonderfully productive and fun day, we fell asleep.

Until tomorrow, see ya’…

AUTUMNAL TRAVELS IN THE WEST TRAVELOGUE: US, UK, BELGIUM

AUTUMNAL TRAVELS IN THE WEST

TRAVELOGUE: US, UK, BELGIUM (SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2026)

By Rochelle Almeida

My travels in the autumn of 2026 were a three-week whirlwind of exhilarating activity that left me winded but highly gratified. Do join me now on my trip as away we go….

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Bombay-London-New York

Enjoying a Great Flight:

My flight from Bombay to the US (via London) was scheduled to leave at 9.00 am. As I needed to be at Sahar airport at 6.00 am, I called my Uber at 5.00 am to give myself a whole hour to get there at leisure. I need not have worried. Not only did the driver turn up on time, but in the pitch darkness, with barely another vehicle or person on the streets, I literally reached there in 20 minutes. It took me another 10 minutes to get inside the airport precincts and then I was all set. I would be taking British Airways flight (BA 134) and as it was on time and all formalities went off well (I had one large suitcase inside another and a small strolley which I also checked in, all I had with me was a small backpack). In fact, I had more than two hours to kill before boarding began. Hence, I made my way straight to the Adani Lounge (which I am entitled to use by my bank—SBI). I was already hungry (go figure!) and helped myself to a small croissant, scrambled eggs and sauteed mixed vegetables together with a cup of coffee—a handsome pre-breakfast, if ever there as one, wouldn’t you say? I knew I would be served another meal on the flight, but that was at least three hours away and I was grateful for this sustenance.

My flight took off on time. I have to say that I absolutely loved the fact that the screen in front of my seat featured a rather detailed map of Central London—which definitely put me in a London state of mind! I tried hard to find my own flat at Holborn and did zero in on its general location. I had a nice Goan young man named Jonathan seated near me—he had just returned from his grandmother’s funeral in Goa. As we were three passengers on a four-seater aisle group, I found the seat right beside me empty and I was pleased. That said, there was ample seat and leg room (I had an aisle seat—so although I missed the thrills of the window, I knew it would be a very comfortable flight.

And I was not mistaken. In no time at all, the drinks trolley came around. I had a gin (Tanqueray) and tonic with ice and a slice and a packet of pretzels. I realized then that our next meal would be lunch (good job I’d eaten breakfast in the lounge!) and as I sipped, I finished watching 500 Miles, a film with Bill Nighy that I had actually begun on my last British Airways while returning from Malta in August. Well, I was able to get to the exact spot where I had left off and within an hour, I had finished watching the movie which turned out to be (spoiler alert!) very sad indeed. Lunch followed and it was piping hot and delicious. I chose the Indian meal and ended up eating Jeera Rice with Chicken Tikka Masala, Dum Aloo, Grated Carrot Salad with Peanuts, a warm Bread Roll with Butter, a pot of plain yogurt and for dessert, a superb Chocolate Mousse Cake. I also asked for a glass of sparkling white wine with my meal and the crew readily obliged. So, I can tell you that I was really impressed and very pleased with the service on board. Also, there were large trays of snacks and drinks at the far end of the aircraft and we were encouraged to help ourselves. I did pick up some chocolate bars and a few Caramello Bars (like Kit Kat bars) and some orange juice. I think I then dozed off for about a couple of hours and when I awoke, I watched another movie, The Outfit starring two of England’s finest actors (Mark Rylance playing a tailor during the Second World War in Chicago) and Simon Russel Beale playing the head honcho of a band of gangsters. Yes, it was a mafia film and it was a nail-biting thriller alright. I found it to be the perfect in-flight movie as it kept me enthralled and the hours passed by swiftly.

A lighter meal was served just before we landed in London’s Heathrow airport. I opted once again for the Indian meal and received a mutton korma with steamed rice, a warm bread roll with butter and a kala jamun for dessert (again, no fault to be found with the food at this meal). As I craned my neck to look out of the window, I could see that we were flying over Central London (and I felt sorry that I did not have a window seat), However, I actually managed to click a couple of pictures from my aisle seat and I did get a skyscraper (which I cannot identify) and the Wembley Stadium arch (which, of course, I can). So, in a word, the flight was fabulous and I really did enjoy every second of it. By the time, we landed in London, I was excited to be back in my favorite city and although I would not be getting outside, it was good to be on British soil again. I had a three-hour layover in London which would leave me enough time to browse in the duty free shops and generally stretch my legs and while time away fruitfully.

Making My Flight Connections—A Huge Adventure!

Ha! Little did I know what lay ahead! Turns out (in my enthusiasm to change Terminals—I had to go from 5 to 3), I missed one of the signs and instead of staying within the airport, I actually took a wrong turn and went through Immigration. Of course, I realized my mistake within seconds but, by then, it was already too late. One of the officers told me that I would actually have to leave the terminal and re-enter. He instructed me as to what exactly I had to do and you will never believe what that was! Long story short, after I passed a sign and took a picture by it saying, “Welcome to the United Kingdom”, I had to take a lift to get to the 4th floor. From there, I arrived at another large check-in hall. But here, I had to take another lift (across the wide room) to go down again! Once I was down, I saw a ‘Marks and Spencer’ store staring me in the face. I had to pick up some gifts for my brother and his family (as they were the only folks for whom I had not brought anything from India as I believed they would prefer to have something from the UK) and so I entered it, browsed around and then decided I had better find my Terminal first and then look for something suitable for them.

Accordingly, I followed instructions for the Underground (!)—if you can believe it…for I was told that I would have to get to the Underground Station, take the Elizabeth Line, get off at Terminal 4 stop and then proceed. Of course, by this point, I was a bit hot under the collar for about an hour had already passed since I had landed! Anyway, I took an elevator underground, arrived at the station, was told that the transfer could occur without my purchasing a ticket for the Tube and then I was off! On the Elizabeth Line! Can you even believe it? So, although I had not intended to, I had indeed left the airport and entered into the wider life of London!!!

Well, about three stops later, I got off and followed signs to Terminal 3. This was no picnic, let me assure you, but eventually I did get there. And yes, there were a bunch of shops there too including M&S and W.H. Smith and I did find my brother’s family a few edible gifts that I thought they would appreciate. And when that was done, I could actually find my Gate (it was clearly marked) and make myself comfortable while awaiting my connecting flight.

On an American Airlines Flight Onward:

This was an American Airlines flight to New York, that left at 6.00 pm (local GMT) and hence, they’d be serving us dinner on our flight. I did order a gin and tonic on the flight before the meal was served and opted for the Indian meal once again. It was Chicken Masala with Pullao Rice and sauteed broccoli and beans. There was a bread roll with cheese and a cookie bar as well as fruit (a whole tangerine and some grapes). There was also a chocolate cheesecake for dessert which made for a very handsome meal—no complaints at all.

Then, just before we landed (at 9.00 pm), local New York time, they served another lighter meal: it was a vegetable pie with a serving of mashed potato, a packet of cookies and a Coke. On this leg, I did sleep for a full four hours and then worked a bit on my laptop—so that I did not watch a film on this sector. I have to say that it felt good to be back in New York City again (although not as great as it feels when I am in London!) and within a short time, I had my baggage with me and was wheeling it out of the airport. Llew had organized a private Uber for me (as it was too late to take one of the shared shuttles) and with the driver making contact with me, I was able to find the car in the Passenger Pick up Area outside the airport and was off and away. I was in the USA after about 20 hours of being airborne and I was really pleased that I had arrived sans incident.

About an hour later (we had a bit of traffic when leaving New York City), we were going over the Throg’s Neck Bridge and I felt suddenly fully at home. It is uncanny how quickly one can shake off that feeling of newness and feel familiar about one’s environment again. In fact, I became conscious of the smoothness of the roads—like silk. The Uber seemed to glide over them effortlessly—so different from the bumpy, pothole-ridden roads of Bombay I also noticed the utter silence around me. No blaring horns, no impatient drivers making idiots of themselves. I felt thrilled to know that soon I would be driving again on these roads and enjoying the sensation of being behind the wheel in a world where driving is a civilized activity.

Soon, I was pulling into the driveway at our former neighbor’s home. It was just past midnight but Llew was awaiting my arrival and gave me a warm welcome. I was still full of beans (adrenalin high, I guess), but after chatting for just a little while, we called it a day.

It had been an eventful journey moving across continents, oceans and countries but eventually, I had reached my destination, none the worse for my long travels. I looked forward to what the days ahead would bring and it is about those days that I shall now tell you all.

Until tomorrow, see ya...

Goodbye Holland and Finally! Namaste India…

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Goodbye Holland and Finally! Namaste India…

Both Llew and I awoke much later than we had hoped. It was 8.15 am before we got out of bed, knowing that we had to board the free hotel shuttle to Schipol Airport at 9.30 pm. This left us very little time to wash, take showers, dress and get to the restaurant in the Corendon Hotel in the next building for our free breakfast.

I really must say a word about our lovelyt studio. It was luxury itself. Of course, we had a massive flat screen TV which we were unable to use for want of time. Our bed was super comfortable. We had a lovely sitting area and a fully-serviced kitchenette with every necessary appliance. In fact, I had placed some cheese in the fridge, the previous night, and then left a note on the door to remind myself to take it before leaving. There was a separate toilet and a separate shower cubicle with the wash basin outside. This place, the Residence Inn by Mariott, was so well located—just 10 minutes on the shuttle from the airport and there was such a convenient service to and fro that we did not feel stressed in the slightest.

Breakfast of Champions:

Of course, we had to hurry through breakfast, but then we had already packed everything away, the previous night. So all we had to do was pack up our night clothes and we picked up the cheese from the fridge (the reminder on the door did help!) and we were off. We found the restaurant on the first floor in the hotel opposite and were amazed at how sumptuous it was—and that too free

So, as usual, I started with muesli with strawberry yogurt. I then picked up a hard-boiled eggs and some sausages that were in a skillet. Next, I cut myself a long, thin slice of dark brown rye bread and picked up ham, salami and cheese to place on it, together with herbed cream cheese to make myself an open sandwich. Next, I went to the coffee machine and made Americanos with hot milk for Llew and myself. Llew got pretty much the same breakfast except that he left out the muesli and toasted two slices of bread instead. He too thought it was a splendid breakfast and I couldn’t help but wish we’d scheduled more time for it.

But at 9.25 am we left, grabbed out stuff and went down to the hotel lobby to wait for the shuttle bus which arrived, on the dot, at 9.30 am. We had booked our tickets online while eating breakfast—5 euros each to get to the airport. Within minutes, we were in the coach and headed off to the airport which we reached in 15 minutes. We headed straight for the Departures Board and found our gate without much ado. Schipol Airport is beautiful and it actually has an art gallery with Flemish Masters paintings—and had I more time, of course, we would have gone to see it. But time was of the essence and we had none to lose. We were whisked through Security and Immigration as Priority passengers—which was lovely.

We found our gate easily enough and were boarded. Once on board, I discovered that Llew and I did not have seats together—he was two rows behind me in another aisle. Both of us were shocked about this as the clerk who had made the change, the previous morning, had not informed us that we would not be seated together. I took our boarding passes to the steward and he told me that he would try his best to keep us together. It took a bit of juggling among the stewardesses and the steward but eventually, they did manage to request another passenger to change her seat with me and, presto, we were together. This made a big difference as it was a very long flight (9 and a ½ hours)—so we really did want to be together through it.

b>A Most Comfortable Flight:

Other than this slight hiccup, I have to say that the flight was totally delightful. We had the best and most helpful cabin crew and they were nothing but lovely from the very first minute to the last. We had wonderfully comfortable seats, more than adequate leg room, really delicious food (I meant they served sparkling wine, a BOLS Negroni cocktail, which was just delicious), a good red Shiraz for Llew, a smoked salmon salad, an Asian Chicken Salad, Cherry Cheesecake Ice-cream—what was not to love? Plus, they had stations at several points offering cake, chocolate, Biscoff cookies, etc. throughout the flight. It was awesome. As if this were not enough, their in-flight entertainment was first grade. I chose to watch Mary Poppins Returns and believe me, I could not have watched a more entertaining and moving film. I loved it. After the film, I walked about the aircraft--in fact, Llew and I did quite a bit of walking about. And then I sat down and finished one blog post—so overall, it was a very productive flight for me and I was absolutely delighted. Before I knew it, we were preparing for landing. Immigration, as always, took more time than we would have liked…but clear it we did. To our utter joy, our baggage had actually arrived (much to our surprise after both of us had experienced losses through Air France) and with that, we grabbed our stuff and were off. It was just past midnight when we landed and we were out of the airport at 1. 15 am. We took an Uber and got back home by 1.45 am, ready to crash

Conclusion:

At the end of a trip like this, it is so hard to say exactly what was the best part. Each day brought a new adventure, an exciting delight, an unexpected journey. Llew and I loved our time together and enjoyed ourselves fully. Among the many sights and sounds that will stay with us are:

. 1.The wonderful New York Writer’s Workshop at the Delada Institute where the ghostly emptiness of Oristano in Sicily, after Bombay’s teeming hordes felt like Armageddon had arrived.

2. ⁠The incredible shades of blue in the Mediterranean Sea: azure, jade, acquamarine, turquoise, cobalt, navy—I saw them all in distinct bands of vivid color that mirrored the sky in waters whose crystal clarity was breathtaking

3. ⁠In the above context, the Blue Grotto in Malta (actually a series of six caves whose shades of blue reflecting off the waters were simply mesmerizing).

.4 ⁠The Baroque interior of the Cathedral of San Giovanni (St John the Baptist) in Valetta, Malta. Spectacular does not even cut it.

5. ⁠The Palatine Chapel in the Royal Palace in Palermo, Sicily—entirely encrusted in Byzantine mosaics—devotional artistry pushed to the max.

6. ⁠The entire Valley of the Temples in Agrigento, Sicily—whisked me back to Greece in 500 BC—walking along a street constructed when men wore togas was a completely surreal experience for me.

7. ⁠Gazing upon the hilltop hamlet of Ragusa in Sicily from a panoramic viewpoint (on one of our endless mountainous treks) and wondering how human beings could have created so curious a habitation after an earthquake in 1678 had leveled the entire township…

8. ⁠Photographing the thickly-walled bastions of Valetta in Malta and thinking of the Crusading Knights of St John (besides whose headquarters in Farringdon, London, I’d once rented a flat) who’d built them with such enormous Christian zeal.

9. ⁠Savoring an exquisite meal at DOBA, named after chef Dominic Basile, who served us raw langoustine on Pistachio Pesto Pasta and Porchetta (Pork Neck braised in beer for 12 hours) with the best caponata I’ve ever tasted as an amuse-bouche. A wedding anniversary gastronomic celebration.

. ⁠Sardinia’s rich archeological finds in the Sinnis Peninsula (from excavated land and centuries-old shipwrecks) seen at the museum in Cabras midway between Oristano and Cagliari.