Sprawled across an ancient lake bed 2,200 metres above sea level, Mexico City is a pulsating behemoth of a place, teeming with variety, mystery, filth, wonder and alleys full of lovely little morsels called tamales, amongst many, many other things. It’s a hulking, diverse animal, and I had the good fortune to smell its fur, feel its pulse and hear its cacophony of cries during … [Read more...]
Glebe Point Road
There’s a handsome road in Sydney, with a few scars and scrapes, that’s home to a division of classes. At one end the road is darker, eclectic, while a journey towards its northern end gradually becomes lighter, greener, more upscale. In between - strolling, sipping and snacking - are a multifarious bunch of Sydneysiders, from the welfare recipient to the affluent professional. … [Read more...]
Guadalajara City, Mexico
Arriving at the Festival International Cervantino, in Guadalajara city, Mexico, was like a dream. Colonial-esque buildings forged from large sandstone blocks rested on cobblestone streets, in a dry, savanna-like landscape. It was as if a European town, housing an eclectic culture of old and new worlds, had been tossed into the desert. On this particular weekend, the town was … [Read more...]
Montmartre, Paris
Montmartre, Paris, is a bit of a rock star as far as Parisian towns go. Attractive and famous with a rebellious past, it lured me, I admit, because it was the setting for the movie Amelie. However, a visit with my local friend Carole revealed a very different world (unsurprisingly) than the one created by Jean-Pierre Jeunet. Situated about three kilometres from Paris’ … [Read more...]
Barcelona City, Spain
“It’s like a dream”, a girl told me in Mexico prior to my highly anticipated sojourn to Barcelona city, in Spain. While I later understood what she meant, my initial impression of the city was how much faster the Spanish was than in Mexico. In fact, the whole city is pulsating - an international, cultured hub thriving with travellers, artists, academics and anyone with a … [Read more...]