In 2008 we spent six short weeks in Europe visiting France, Italy and cruising on the Mediterranean and decided there and then that we would return to the beautiful regions of Provence in France and Tuscany in Italy for a extended time once we retired. We loved it there. On returning to our home in …more

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Have you ever wondered how it feels to dig up and then hold a piece of pottery in your hand that hasn’t been touched by another human in hundreds or thousands of years? I’ve had the privilege of doing just that! Taking a trowel in hand, plunking down in the hard hot dirt and carefully …more

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The experiences that come with being a retired expat mean that, very quickly, we are put in a position when we learn more about ourselves. Characteristics that we learn to associate with those from other nations are usually quickly dispelled and, hopefully, we begin to learn more about people of other faiths, cultures and those …more

It’s funny how a holiday destination becomes the place you want to move to and spend your foreseeable future when you least expect it. Arriving in a new country and spending a vacation there can either blind you from the imperfections and struggles of daily life or make you want to grab them and call …more

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One Saturday night earlier this year I waited backstage muttering “l’allodola” under my breath, while a young jazz musician with a bright white satin tie covered in musical notation chatted to me, clearly trying to cheer me up. “I’m really English,” he said in Italian, “aren’t you impressed by my Italian?” Applause drifted back stage …more

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When I first moved to Paris, it was all rainbows and unicorns. Or maybe more specifically, red potted geraniums and French wrought iron balconies. My rose-tinted vision of the City of Light was hopelessly romantic, the stuff that dreams were made of. That was almost two years ago.   Sometimes that moment feels like a …more

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As an expat and a dog lover, the way that dogs and other animals are treated in Spain often distresses me. As far as dogs are concerned, with the help from expats from other countries, much has been learned about animal welfare, and although the number of dogs abandoned each year remains at appalling high …more

It all started when I fell in love with Spain while spending my junior year in college in Madrid. I had talked so much about Spain over the years that at one point my husband asked me “When are you taking me there?” So we saved a bunch of money and in May, 2010 my …more

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