January 11th, 2021 We have been here in Casa Blanca for almost one month and it is likely that we will stay for yet one more. The reason is that Beirut is, again, under lock down; a severe lock down with all business closed. It seems the Lebanese partied hard during the holiday season and … Continue reading Casa Blanca: good times, delayed return
December 20, 2020 Natalia, Marina (who came from Washington DC), and I are back in Casa Blanca. We arrived Tuesday early afternoon after a 5.5h drive from Quito. The journey from Beirut was long but uneventful. This is supposed to be the rainy season yet we haven’t experienced much rain and the hills surrounding … Continue reading Casa Blanca – Same – Ecuador
December 6, 2020 We had a fine Thanksgiving with a few friends who came over for lunch (the lockdown started at 5pm so we couldn’t do dinner). I was in charge of the Turkey, gravy, the stuffing and the selection of wines. This time I cooked the stuffing separately, in a casserole. I filled the turkey, … Continue reading TG, Arm, Shouf Biosohere (Cedar Forest), Deir El Qamar, Mast, Fiestas de Quito
November 8, 2020 The last several weeks, particularly after October 12, have been very difficult; a struggle. And not because of the situation in the country, not because of the explosion and personal losses. I will only say that relationships are sometimes complicated and require infinite patience and perseverance to make them work. Things … Continue reading Beirut: A new place, a new beginning, the start of the race, update
September 5th, 2020 Yesterday marked the first month since the day of the explosion in Beirut. It seems longer, not because the memories are starting to fade but because of all the things we've done, or had to do, since that day. After Corsiga we “had to” spend a few more days in Paris to … Continue reading Washington DC after a Short Stay in Beirut
August 15, 2020 Natalia and I are discovering parts of Corsica. It was never a place I had planned to visit but now it could become a potential sailing destination. From Paris we flew to Bastia, a charming town, ocher color, on the north Cape, built on a cliff in the middle ages by … Continue reading Bonifacio Corsica, Near the End
August 6th, 2020 Natalia and I could have died two days ago in Beirut. By chance, we traveled to Paris the morning of the day of the explosion. We were walking through the city when the news reached us. Our building and apartment are completely destroyed and several people died. If we had stayed in … Continue reading Paris: Alive after Beirut´s Explosion
July 27, 2020 I landed in Beirut on Thursday afternoon after an ordinary 4 hours flight from Paris. Upon arrival at the airport I had a PCR test. They told me that if I didn’t hear back from them in two days it meant the results were negative. I haven’t heard back from them. … Continue reading Anfeh
July 21st, Sofia and I landed here this morning. I love Paris, but the final outcome of my trip has been quite disappointing. The last blow was the cancelation of the flights from the French islands to the US; we didn’t know when Sofia would be able to go back. Natalia also informed me that … Continue reading Paris: sailing trip aborted
July 15, 2020 It had become improbable, but it happened. Flights from the US to the French Leeward islands are suspended until, maybe, august 1st. I was about to give up and return to Beirut, but I found a loophole. By chance, I learned from a friend that flights in WinAir from Antigua to St … Continue reading St. Martin…
