From early childhood I was an early riser, I still am. Awake at 5.00am has been normal for me all of my life. My parents made it clear that they did not share my propensity for such an early time, and I quickly learned that waking them at that hour was not a good thing…
This week in The Pearl – July 24, 2026
This has been a food heavy week so that makes it a good week. We have walked almost every day, which is good considering how we like to eat. One of my current reading objectives is to read French authors. Try as I might, Dumas’s serial style does not work, so I have started Peré…
TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – Joie de Vivre
“Joy became for me not only a natural need, but a moral obligation.” André Gide The café culture of France is a frequent topic in my blogs and I have emphasized that it is more than just stopping for a coffee or glass of wine. Café culture describes much of what makes all of French…
This week in The Pearl – July 17, 2026
With our unwelcome viruses finally dismissed, we got back to doing the things we enjoy – food, friends, and getting out. Friday afternoon I took my Guerrilla Pochad box to The Fields Park, sat at a table and painted, even got a bit of sun on my arms, it was great. Tricia met up with…
TheTravelsketcher’s Tuesday – July 14, 2026
One of the pleasures of travel is to savor the little things. An extra benefit of packing light is not just to carry only the things you need; the things that are important, but to take items that you will use and enjoy using because they enhance the moment. Most of us have more possessions…
theTravelsketcher 