Time Vacuum that is the Summer of 2017

Hello!

Sometimes you leave it too long and you don't know where to start...

Well I saw some coliseums in June that gave the one in Rome a run for its money.

I went to Provence in June.  

I did Avignon, Nimes, and Arles.

In a nutshell, I didn't like Avignon the first day, then got used to it.

Fell in love with Nimes from the moment I arrived and now want to move there.  But I think I just stayed at one of the most fabulous hotels I have ever been to and ate one of the top 50 meals ever had a lot to do with it.

I hated Arles initially - it was an energy thing - but then I got into its different vortex on the last day.

Then when I went back to Avignon, I was so happy to be back.

It made me realise that emotions are silly and fleeting and one really needs to let thing rest and all things and people deserve a second chance. 

But not the third.

Last year I had decided to grow snow peas on the railing of the terrace.
It was going well until we had a massive heat wave in June.
But I was still happy with the results.

Forget Frieze.
It used to be amazing the first few years but now it has become a bit banal.

Go to Masterpiece.

It has got art, antiques, furniture, restaurants - the lot.
It would be a top rated museum if things weren't mostly sold by the end of the fair.

Duncan Grant series at Philip Mould gallery at Masterpiece

It is at the end of June and there are so many art previews and auctions going on.
It was one of those times where I feel so thankful to be in London.

For those not interested in art, Wimbledon is on at the same time.

I hung up my Korean straw handmade bird hut out my house.
No birds yet but invitation is still there.

Do you have a hotel that you always have a great time staying?
Mine is the Principe di Savoia in Milan.
I have stayed there a number of times and I have always just had the best memories there with friends. My trip there for a few days in July was no exception.

Plus I love how they tie ribbons to the most mundane item to zhush it up.

The service in the U.K. isn't great and in some ways it would be lacking compared to Italy.

But in Italy they have their own quirks.

I ate at this restaurant every night in Milan because they serve great local cuisine but they wouldn't give lemon for the milanese cutlets because they said it would ruin the flavour. 

Customer not always right.

I rediscovered this chickpea dish called - farinata.

It is the northern version of the fried chickpea fritter they have in Sicily except the northern version is baked.

This was a very popular snack snack and wish London would open a branch selling this healthy food.

I hadn't been to Venice in decades.

It is a lovely city but I was always put off by the excessive tourism.
I felt almost guilty to partake in its sinking.
I didn't want to be evil eyed by the local residents because who needs that?
Plus there are horror stories like the one where my husband paid 8 UK pounds for a cappuccino in St Mark's square back in 1991. 

Did a lot of being a cultural peeping tom in Venice.

I think they must be trying to remedy this because I asked for a cappuccino and was ready to be ripped off - just the once - but I was only charged 1 euro 50 cents. 
That is cheaper than London!

Funny because Heather in Lost in Arles did a blog on this very exhibit today.

I'll keep it short.

It was one of the most wonderful exhibits I think I have ever seen hands down and those of you who read this know I go to a lot of exhibits and museums on a regular basis.

That is seating by the very Axel de Vervoordt if you are wondering if it looks like something he would do.

The Palazzo Fortuny not only is a wondrous space but each floor held something wholly unique.

So much so I am determined to go to Venice again just for this exhibit because let's face it, you don't go to Venice for the food.

I loved how Venetians are people too and they hang laundry like everyone else!

After I got kicked out at closing time at the museum, I went to this rug exhibit which I nearly hesitated doing.

I mean, I like a rug, wouldn't mind a nice one, but if it wasn't for the fact everything else was closed I shudder in horror how I might have missed this.

The rugs were amazing and of museum quality but it was held in the piano nobile on a building on the grand canal.

It normally is a private apartment but as the owner lives upstairs he used his connections to rent this space out for his rugs.

It has majestic Venetian proportions with a terrace at the rear.

Venice is truly all about art.
Once again, the food sucks.

I saw a gondolier yell at an American who went for a dip in the canal and threatened to call the police. 

He said, "Venice is art! You don't swim in art!"

But of course it is amazing.

But then I found a section of public housing.

Mostly elderly people seemed to live there.
I saw as I wanted to have a morning coffee away from the crowds and I randomly picked this side street on a canal leading out to the lagoon.

I do hope that Venice doesn't go the way of Atlantis.

Then I took the 3 hour bus ride to my favourite lake in Austria.

I love Worthersee lake.
It is where I used to do my detox retreats.

But I bored of that.

So I took in the lake through the prism of beer and schnitzels instead of hunger.

wild deer!

I discovered so many new foods and Austrian food is so under rated I feel sorry for it.

 I shared my rations with the ducks and fishes.

I met Raina from the blog, If the lampshade fits, this past weekend.

We went to the Colony Grill Room which is my new favourite because they do old table side flame desserts.

I thought how I would have never met her if not for the blog which reminded me to do a post.

Hope you are all well! xx