Languages

Being monolingual is like having a disability. I find myself apologising for not being able to express myself in any other language, as shop keepers and strangers look impatiently at me while I struggle with Charade-like gestures (first word, sounds like...).

Cathedral Bells

There’s something reassuring about a city with an hourly tolling cathedral bell.

Sagrada Familia Cathedral; Barcelona, Spain

Never mind your electronic devices, alarms and reminders; a tolling bell is the city’s authority as it chimes unmistakably through the streets. It’s the wordless consensus that everyone in the city is on the same page, and has been for centuries.

Losing things on holidays

There's something profoundly upsetting about losing things on holidays. Realising you left something in a hotel room hundreds of kilometres later feels more depressing than not knowing where you left it. All hope of getting it back is gone.

For adults only?

No, this is a normal regular grocery store.

How to drive in Europe

1.     Pray. If you don’t have any religious affiliation, develop one (preferably the God who saves). There ain’t nothing gonna save you but a higher power on the streets of Europe.

Planes vs Trains