rickshaw ramblings

For you Francophiles

2010-03-03T06:35:00.014+01:00

AMERICAN FRIENDS OF CHANTILLYThe spankin' new website for the American Friends of Chantilly is up and running. The "archives" section features the writing of yours truly.As some of you know, the AFC is a non-profit based in Nashville and started by Francophiles. The group supports the arts in the Domaine (town) de (of) Chantilly. I had the pleasure and great fortune of living and working in this

US Cities

2010-02-20T18:59:00.003+01:00

As we're talking about where to move, Forbes just came out with this list of the most miserable cities.A lot of obvious one: Detroit, Flint...Some I'm going to have to disagree with: Memphis, St. Louis, Chicago, NYCHow can a city with amazing BBQ, great weather and MUSIC rank so low? Memphis has a soul and a lot of US cities just can't say that. (Atlanta?!) And St. Louis- I went there this past

best news Friday

2010-02-20T00:22:00.004+01:00

Birmingham, Alabama, the South. Should I stay? Should I go? Should I stay? Should I go? repeatI have a family in Birmingham, a gorgeous boyfriend in Paris and a soul riding a rickshaw somewhere in India. Kolkata, we'll say. And a head that is in outer-space.And while I am, perhaps, "too open-minded and international" for Birmingham (as a friend recently said), the one thing that is truly exciting

being accountable

2010-02-02T06:52:00.002+01:00

What I will be blogging about this week:1. My new year's resolutions. (Yes, I go by the Chinese New Year). Not every goal has to do with weight loss!!2. The three books I've read in the past two weeks (and reviews)3. Style advice and wine recommendations from across the globe4. "International Birmingham" as in...who to know, organizations to be involved in, business outlookThis entry serves as a

right foot

2010-01-13T02:51:00.004+01:00

it´s not broken. but that x-ray tech was questionable. evidently sometimes broken bones don´t appear in an x-ray immediately. which sounds crazy. i really don´t feel like icing down right now.also, i´ve decided that hurting my foot is my punishment for being a lousy traveler. when my foot was in sound condition, i didn´t take advantage of it (in a good way). instead, i slept in, didn´t work out,

lastly

2010-01-12T21:11:00.001+01:00

if you think you are a flexible person, try flying standby.

my bad karma

2010-01-12T20:18:00.003+01:00

I don´t think I was meant to be alone in Argentina. Last night I´m pretty sure I broke my foot outside my hotel in Palermo Hollywood, Buenos Aires.Thanks to my wearing high heels on cobblestone roads and uneven pavement.I´m bruised, scabby and my foot is swollen, almost unmovable, wrapped in an ACE bandage. I blame the pavement...and my significant other who has convinced me that I should wear

Argentina Updates

2010-01-06T16:17:00.002+01:00

Last night marks the second time I have been in a cab where the driver has passed out multiple times. The first time wasn´t as scary because we were in slow stop and go traffic. This time I was sharing a hot, foul-smelling, mosquito-infested car with a nice older couple, and our morbidly obese driver had evidently not slept in a very long time. We were speeding down the interstate at 1 a.m. in

more fun in Colonia, Uruguay

2009-12-30T18:07:00.001+01:00

these are so out of order

black and whites of Estancia Tierra Santa

2009-12-30T17:54:00.002+01:00

hanging out in paradise

2009-12-30T05:01:00.001+01:00

out to pasture in Carmelo, Uruguay

2009-12-30T04:54:00.002+01:00

Fran fell in love with Phoebe the dog at Estancia Tierra Santa. He also fed his first pig, Colette.

2009-12-30T04:17:00.003+01:00

1. Recoleta Cemetery, where Eva Peron is buried2. Enjoying the vineyards of Mendoza3. The gang post excrutiating bike ride, wishing we had taken the surrey. There is nothing like trying to steer an ill-fitting, top-heavy bike along busy intersections after four wine tastings, all the while feeling a constant breeze as dump trucks almost graze your left shoulder. Funny now...painful and scary then

found in San Telmo

2009-12-30T04:09:00.004+01:00

We wondered around the San Telmo markets one Sunday and had the pleasure of hearing this man/fellow restaurant patron sing some tunes at the neighborhood's French brasserie, La Pétanque. According to our waiter this guy played with Elton. He looked like a pirate of the Caribbean to me.

Man purses are all the rage in Tigre, Argentina

2009-12-29T18:35:00.000+01:00

Sunset in Colonia del Sacramento, Uruguay

2009-12-29T16:18:00.002+01:00

They are known for their sunsets but the ones we experienced were a bit subpar due to the rain clouds. The Frenchie is fried.

Our mode of transport in Colonia.

2009-12-29T16:06:00.001+01:00

Fran was a daredevil and is convinced these can't flip...

Another favorite small town/city

2009-12-27T13:09:00.003+01:00

François and I arrived two days ago in Colonia, Uruguay via Buquebus (this is the ferry that crosses the Rio de la Plata and who happened to lose our luggage) from Buenos Aires. After over a week of traveling, this is my first post...that's what I get for traveling light and leaving my computer at home. I've just downloaded the first batch of pictures and don't even know how to retrieve them on

New Birmingham Blog of Note

2009-12-12T18:57:00.002+01:00

I met a fellow New Collegian last night who has recently moved to Birmingham from Charleston, SC.Her blog shows the Magic City from the perspective of a total newcomer- with a new family and on the job hunt- and is full of quaint neighborhood discoveries and great photos. I look forward to following her journey and think you should check it out, too. Sometimes all you need is a fresh set of eyes

Indian Ambassador visits Alabama with stops in Huntsville, Birmingham and Montgomery

2009-11-19T19:31:00.003+01:00

Yours truly with Indian Ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar. Tuesday at Innovation Depot. Her visit was sponsored by the Alabama India Business Partnership and Computer Technology Solutions. She spoke to the AIBP and guests at the Space and Rocket Center Monday night and paid a visit to Governor Riley Tuesday morning before a dessert reception at Innovation Depot and lunch at the

La Capitale du Cheval: Chantilly

2009-11-19T17:54:00.003+01:00

Birmingham fashionista Meg Larussa gives a shout out to Chantilly and the Birmingham International Center. Tonight we'll be drinking some newly-arrived Beaujolais Nouveau and hear from Steve Sirls of the American Friends of Chantilly ( a non-profit based in Nashville.)Check out her blog here

Jai Ho: Diwali Pics from Friday night @ Alys Stephens

2009-11-16T19:35:00.002+01:00

Click on title.

Mardi Gras

2009-11-14T22:59:00.005+01:00

Today I received in the mail...1. My Brazilian visa2. The new Economist magazine whose cover proclaims "Brazil takes off"Is this coincidence?!I just happened to track my passport that I sent off November 4th, and it happened to say "available for pick up."So I rushed out to the mailbox, still in my bathrobe at 4 p.m. (hallelujah) and THERE IT WAS. My lovely express-mailed package bearing my

Vino Veritas

2009-11-13T21:14:00.001+01:00

Malbec from Mendoza is amazing. I'll be there from Dec. 17- Jan. 14 (unless I don't come back.)Who has Argentina stories, travel advice, contacts down there, etc. to share?

Durga Puja

2009-10-23T21:41:00.003+02:00

Some of you may remember my pictures from the Kumortuli neighborhood of Kolkata. The Kumortulis are the potters that make the Durga and Kali sculptures for the religious festivals. Recently, I've gotten involved with the Indian community in Birmingham. Here are some pictures from the recent Durga Puja that took place a couple weeks ago. This Durga was flown in from India.