Tag Archives: The Grand Tour

The Mature Flâneur

Posted on February 21, 2025 by smellincoffee

While rooting around for books for The Grand Tour, I spotted ‘flâneur’ and immediately went for the bait. I know this word from back in 2012 when I was an ardent Francophile and was reading books like French Women Don’t … Continue reading →

Posted in Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light

Posted on February 20, 2025 by smellincoffee

Lisbon is a history of how Portugal’s president-dictator Antonio de Oliveira Salazar carefully navigated between his own Scylla and Charybdis, attempting to keep Portugal out of the Second World War despite its longstanding alliance with England, and the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Reviews, World Affairs | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

Thinking About 2025

Posted on December 23, 2024 by smellincoffee

2024 is winding down, and blogwise it feels like it’s already crashed into bed, has covered itself with comforters, and has no plans to stir until spring has come. I’ve been oddly busy with Christmas merriment, and don’t see any … Continue reading →

Posted in General | Tagged , | 8 Comments