Monthly Archives: March 2014

AND SO IT turns out that I’m a descendant of slaves. Of one slave, anyway. I just saw the latest genealogical research by my niece, Sandy Palomo González, and it shows that my maternal grandfather, Dionicio López, is a descendent … Continue reading →

A COOL, CLOUDY morning. Mostly. The weather people promise a high of about 90 degrees this afternoon, but at a tad past 7 a.m., coolness reigns. So do the birds. The grackles, who are just coming to life, the mockingbirds, … Continue reading →

TRAVELING ABROAD, especially in Europe, always serves to remind my how incredibly stupid and ridiculous American politicians tend to be. With every election season, we hear the all-too-familiar boast about this being the universe’s greatest and best nation. As proof, … Continue reading →

AT THE TRAIN station in Milan last week, I was one of the first to board the train that would take me to Switzerland. A few minutes later, an American couple and their daughter, who appeared to be about 9 or … Continue reading →

There is no bad wine in Italy. There is no bad wine in Switzerland, especially when your host knows his wine. A quarter-liter of wine is enough with lunch. A half-liter is too much. Way too much, unless you’re close … Continue reading →

ONE OF THE DRAWBACKS drawbacks of traveling in Italy is that bathrooms in public spaces are scarce. You either have to try to sneak into a restaurant’s facility, risking the wrath of the owner, or you search for a public … Continue reading →