Month: March 2010

Isabelle S. sent me a nice message saying … “It’s a good news.” That, in fact, sounds a little like ssomething one of the Marx Brothers (or even my grandmother, may she rest in peace,  would have said:  … “Itsa good news …”

Nowadays, we’d probably just say: “Good News!” “What good news!” or “That’s good news!” or “Happy to hear such good news …”  and I am too, Isabelle. Because of the good news you sent along in the message:

Mark, I got a ‘Salon du livre’ ticket  for you … I’ll let you know…

Thanks, Isabelle!

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Société des Explorateurs Français Société de Géographie

184 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris 6^e – Tel : 01.45.49.03.51

“En terminer avec les graves erreurs climatologiques contemporaines” Conférence donnée par Claude COLLIN DELAVAUD, Professeur  émérite de géographie.

Intervenant:  Alain TIXIER, auteur et réalisateur de films sur les sciences de la Terre.

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One of Savannah’s squares … shady, sunny … take a break and feel alive !

more about Savannah’s beautiful squares >

(This is clickable …) Savannah’s squares are colorful, bright, historic oases that cater to pedestrians even as they slow down traffic on the city’s busy streets.

and … I wonder who lives here:

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In discussing the similarities and differences between cultures, one of the concepts that often comes up is this one: success.

In my many years in France, there are those who dream of “success” in the image of the American Dream: attaining wealth and status and whatever you might want to do with it.  There are those who adhere to the “work” ethic and suggest that the path to success is paved with work – usually hard work.

Related to the concept and word success is that of achievement.

Can the measure of success be a feeling of satisfaction? And what about achievement? Isn’t achievement more related to an objective standard: reaching a certain level?

What does success mean to you? Share your comments!!

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When you’ve got a question, you need an … answer.

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Forsyth Park, Savannah. Everyone’s welcome just like in the Jardin de Luxembourg in Paris.

Can you feel it ? Can you feel how s l o w things can be down south?

a summer afternoon in Savannah … I guess

most everyone’s indoors.

or out towards Tybee for a walk

unless you’re fortunate enough to have access to a little boat for some fishin’ or dolphin watchin’

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Sometimes people ask me where they can meet people to speak English with. There are many places – even in Paris – and of course, all over Savannah – but here is a list of … countries where English is spoken, where  English is an official language or is predominantly used.

However, I’m not sure that these countries share any sort of common accent, pronunciation, vocabulary or style in the language .

No need to have a complex when speaking English … It’s everyone’s language!

Ain’t no single owner can claim it!

Some of these places might be really neat places for a visit! Out of caution, check with your embassy first!

• Antigua and Barbuda
• Australia
• Bahamas
• Barbados
• Beliza
• Botswana
• Canada
• Dominica
• Fiji
• Gambia
• Ghana
• Grenada
• Guyana
• India
• Ireland
• Jamaica
• Kenya
• Kiribati
• Liberia
• Malawi
• Malta
• Marshall Islands
• Mauritius
• Micronesia
• Namibia
• New Zealand
• Nigeria
• Pakistan
• Palau
• Panama
• Papua
• New Guinea
• Philippines
• Rwanda
• Saint Kitts and Nevis
• Saint Lucia
• Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
• Seychelles
• Sierra Leone
• Singapore
• South Africa
• Swaziland
• Tanzania
• Trinidad and Tobago
• United Kingdom
• United States
• Vanuatu
• Zambia
• Zimbabwe

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Edinburgh: The Water of Leith must have footpaths on either side of it. One must head east and the other west – or perhaps one side goes north and the other goes south …

Those Scots are pretty shrewd folk.

When you’ve got a few days towards the end of July or the beginning of August … and cool, rainy days are just what you need to head off a feeling of Global Warming,  the Edinburgh Festival is the place to be. And I mean it! Enjoy it. I suggest you have a good (hot) cup of tea in one of the (warm) hotels in this very charming, Georgian city.

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A snapshot taken in the gardens of the Palais Royal, just across the street from the Louvre. A haven of peace in the center of the city.

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Glycine over the pond at Giverny.

Is it still as natural, as authentic as when Monet lived here?

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