Two Different Girls welcomes new contributor Kate Holden-Laudig, who tells us a story about her family and its friends. Unlike other people’s friends. It was 1931. My grandmother (Shel, age 12) and her parents (Robert and Dolly) were living with… Read More ›
History
Visting the Pont du Gard, Southern France
The Romans built a 31-mile system of canals to bring water from springs near Uzes to the new town of Nimes, where they built the Arena and the Maison Caree, the latter a remnant of a temple built for Apollo… Read More ›
An Afternoon in Arles
My friends and I took a short walk around central Arles one afternoon. This beautiful town was founded on the Rhône River around 800 BCE and eventually conquered by the Roman in 123 BCE. The site was a popular vacation… Read More ›
Les Baux de Provence, France
Les Baux-de-Provence gets its name “baux” from a French word meaning cliff, and gives its name to bauxite, the aluminum ore that was discovered here in 1841. The lords of Les Baux ruled the Provence region during the Middle Ages,… Read More ›
Reading on a Theme – The Black Plague
Probably like many people, I get on specific kicks in my reading. I read a book, and that leads me to be interested enough in the subject that I start reading more on the topic, and then before I know… Read More ›
Don’t Drive in Nimes! But the Arena is Great
Nimes was founded by the Romans in 30 BCE, who named it after the river god Nemausus. Casaer Augustus (27 BCE – 14 CE) built the city into a flourishing trade center, and establised the old wall, the gate of… Read More ›
Chateauneuf du Pape (the place or the wine)
On my trip to Provence, we spent each day at a different location, driving out from our rented house in St. Quentin. One day we took in Chateauneuf du Pape. The Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace) is a gigantic (over… Read More ›
Finding the Ark in Texarkana – More Crappy Places to Be From
This is an edited version a piece I wrote for my personal site a few years ago. I’m sitting in Outback Steakhouse, eating king crab legs as I type this. Yes, that’s right… I drove nearly 2000 miles to Texas,… Read More ›
Ford’s Theater Memories
Unlike Lincoln, my memories of Ford’s Theater are happy, if thoughtful, ones. I was born in Washington DC and lived most of my childhood and teen years in the general area. I had a terrific friend, Maryanne, that was able… Read More ›
London Museums Rock
On my trip to London this week, I made short visits to museums that I’ve been to before: The Museum of London near the London Wall, and the wonderful British Museum. The British Museum is one of the great wonders… Read More ›