As I was returning home this afternoon I stopped to take photos of this building, located right next to our metro station. The station has three exits but this is my favorite sortie. I get out of the tunnel, see the sun light and these elaborate statues salute me, time after time. One of those moments that makes one’s day. Hence this photo, a tribute to the 19th century architects and workers. Bravo.
I know I am very late with this post. And I apologize to those concerned. But how do you write about people who are not here any more? It is a difficult task and a big responsibility.
***
I don’t remember how I met Maurizio but the expat community is small in Sudan, so it was probably through a common friend or at an expat party. Maurizio was an outgoing and charming Italian gentleman, who spent his life on a boat sailing between the Mediterranean, Yemen, Djibouti and Sudan. I met him in 2001, by when he had been based in Port Sudan repairing his boat for almost one year.
Following Maurizio’s invitation, I flew to Port Sudan for a long weekend and he came to pick me up at the airport on his motorbike. I was properly dressed, as one needs to be in Sudan, but we were stopped at the exit gate of the airport by a young boy pointing his gun at us. To be precise, the gun was pointing at my head. Apparently it was too sexist that a man and a woman sit on the same motorbike. While I kept looking at the gun, hoping it will not explode by accident, Maurizio talked his way out of the situation. Off we drove, to the harbor where Boreas of Katharina, his boat, was waiting for its first guest.
What a holiday I had! What a pleasant time we shared! It was one of the happiest weekends of my life and I am sure it was for him too. Maurizio was the captain, and in addition he had two Yemeni assistants. And then there was me. A young girl from Finland. Out in the big sea with strangers. With strangers who treated me like a princess. And that’s how everyone called me, The Princess of Katharina.
Every morning after breakfast we had our first dive. Turtles, wrecks, sharks, big fish. One of us always stayed on the boat to prepare food, which was usually sushi as Maurizio called it. Fresh raw fish from the Red Sea. Delicious. After a siesta we continued diving. One time we went very deep. Very, very deep. It was to watch hammerhead sharks. An other time we descended to the bottom of the sea and stayed still. A dozen of sharks were circling us. I will always remember those eyes looking at me.
Maurizio was a very happy man. He loved his boat and his life. He knew how to live. He appreciated every sunrise and every sunset. Every sushi meal was a blessing. He dived as I have never seen anyone else dive. Skillfully, carefully but fearlessly. He loved the Red Sea and the Red Sea loved him. At least that is how it seemed. 
Eventually my weekend came to an end. And a bit later, my work contract finished, too, and I left Sudan. Maurizio and I stayed in touch by email and telephone, and he would always tell me stories about fishing and diving trips. He sounded very happy. Like a man who lives as he always dreamed of living. Until The Storm came.
Last year I started noticing something strange on his Facebook page. I don’t speak Italian but I could sense that something is wrong. Eventually, I got in contact with Maurizio’s sister who told me about The Storm.
Like in 2001, Maurizio was again returning to Port Sudan to have his boat maintained. The Storm came and his boat lost a mast. Maurizio kept diving very deep to find it and during one of the many attempts, the bubbles stopped. And that’s it. The bubbles stopped, period. Difficult to believe, even more difficult to accept.
Until today, Maurizio has not been found. How awful and haunting that sounds like. But as his sister wrote to me, “he died in the way he would have chosen”. I know it brings little comfort to his family and loved ones, but I agree with this sentence. I have rarely met a happier person, and I will always be thankful to Maurizio for that amazing long weekend I spent with him, his team and precious Boreas of Katharina. Good bye Maurizio. I am sure you are a happy man wherever you are now. 
PS If you read Italian, you can find articles here:
That blue hour before it gets dark. When the lights turn on and the boats go to sleep. Paris tonight.
PS Summer is definitely not far away (or at least spring). Such a lovely, sunny day.
This post is about sharing my experiences about Venice, the city so rich in history and culture that everything else seems bland in comparison. Join me to discover Venice!
WHEN TO GO? My visits to Venice have either been in October or in January. At both times I enjoyed clear, blue skies and crispy cold winter weather. I loved it! There is a lot of humidity in Venice but I prefer the humidity in winter than in summer. Additionally, even if Venice is a city that always attracts masses of tourists, there are much less of them during the winter time. Furthermore, there are nice hotel promotions during January-February. 
WHERE TO SLEEP? We had hard time finding accommodation in October (it is considered a very busy month), but finally found a nice, quiet and clean B&B called Antico Portègo (http://www.bbanticoportego.com) in Cannaregio. It is conveniently located within a walking distance from the railway and bus station. The house was built in the 16th century, and charming rooms are decorated with antique furniture and frescoes. We paid just over 100€ per night. 
ln January this year, we slept at Palazzo Stern in Venice, located in Dorsoduro. It is a very lovely four star hotel right by the main canal. I think my post (see the link) says it all. We paid around 150€ per night.
In my opinion Cannaregio and Dorsoduro are the best neighborhoods to sleep in in Venice, because they are less touristic areas compared to for example San Marco. Both areas are where the locals live and therefore authentic, with excellent less touristic restaurants. Dorsoduro is particularly interesting for those who are interested in visiting museums and art collections. Cannaregio is convenient because of its proximity to the stations and therefore the airport.
Just remember that wherever you end up sleeping defines pretty much (I think) where you will be having a dinner every evening. Unless you want to pay rather expensive transport costs to travel to the other side of the city, the easiest way is to stay in your own sestiere (neighborhood).
HOW TO GET AROUND? We have never purchased any of the available public transport passes but it may be a good idea if you don’t want to walk all the time (see http://www.veniceconnected.com). You can buy the pass at the airport (with or without museums and other visits).
However, as often, the best way to experience the city is by walking. Venice is relative small and you can walk from one end to the other in one hour. Whatever you decide, you will be doing a lot of walking so have good shoes!
I also think investing in a good map is important (Venice & The Veneto by Eyewitness guide book includes a very good one). I am not saying this because I think you should obsessively follow the map every meter you walk, no. I just think that if you know how to read a map, you will find some interesting places: nice canal walks, tiny bridges, cute corners.
WHERE TO EAT AND DRINK? I think my previous posts say it all!
Small snacks and lunch: Easy breakfast and lunch snacks in Venice
Drink: Cicchetti e l’ombra in Venice
Dinner: Where to dine in Venice?
WHAT TO SEE? I have not seen everything in Venice, far from it, but these are the places that I have particularly appreciated (in no particular order):
I am not done with Venice and will try to return as soon as I can to report more. Meanwhile, do you have a favorite sestiere, restaurant, hotel or museum in Venice? What do you like doing in this city of romance and canals? Please let me and the other followers know!
This is not your usual guide to India, which directs you to Taj Mahal, the Golden Triangle and Goa. I am not saying these places are not worth visiting -they are- but my goal is to show the richness of India by introducing diversified, less obvious places to visit. Namaste! 
My Top Ten of India (in alphabetical order):
1. Badami (Karnataka). Why? The capital of the Chalukya Kings during the 6th-7th centuries. Stunning cave temples dedicated to Hinduism and Jainism. Badami is also a small, pleasant and rather green town.
2. Chettinad (Tamil Nadu). Why? Chettinad is a region and its capital is Karaikudi. It is the home to Nagarathars, people renowned for their financial and banking skills, who migrated to South and Southeast Asia in the 19th and 20th century. With the money they made abroad, many splendid mansions were built in Chettinad, making the region an architectural pearl. Moreover, Chettinad is famous for its distinctive, delicious cuisine.
3. Ellora (Maharashtra). Why? A group of rock-cut temples devoted to Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism. A UNESCO World Heritage site. The most famous temple Kailasanatha, built in the 8th century, was carved from one rock, hence a true architectural masterpiece.
4. Hampi (Karnataka). Why? Another UNESCO World Heritage Site. The capital of the Vijayanagara empire in the 14th-17th century. Impressive Hindu temples scattered around a huge terrain. Do not miss the Elephant stables!
5. Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). Why? A crazy, noisy and polluted city. Closest I have been to Pakistan (what I imagine Pakistan to be like). At the same time, Hyderabad is amazing and fascinating!! The world’s Biryani capital. Excellent Biryanis.
6. Kannur (Kerala). Why? Not many people have heard of Kannur, but if you want to see the famous Theyyam performance-ritual, this is the town where you will be based. Theyyam is more than 2000 years old and a definite must see. (Note: I had hard time choosing between Kochi and Kannur, but chose Kannur because Theyyams are less known than Kochi)
7. Mamallapuram (Tamil Nadu). Why? Built in the 7th century by a Pallava King, Mamallapuram is an other fantastic UNESCO World Heritage site. Elements of Dravidianism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Stunning monolithic rock carvings and sculpted reliefs. For elephant lovers. 
8. Shekhawati (Rajasthan). Why? Located on an old trade route, Shekhawati region is another architectural pearl, full of spectacular merchants’ and industrialists’ houses. These houses are real storyboards and their frescoes tell a story of the late 19th century industrialization. Read more: Shekhawati: the Haveli Hub
9. Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh). Why? Tirupati is your base for visiting the Shri Venkateshvara Temple located in the Tirumala Hills. One of the most important Hindu pilgrimage site in India. In the league of Vatican and Mecca in the global context. Talking about the power of religion.
10. Udaipur (Rajasthan). Why? The Venice of the East. Probably the most romantic city of India. Sleep in an old palace and you will see why.
What is your favorite place in India and for what reason? And if you haven’t yet been to India, then what would be your top three places to go to?
PS Join Pearlspotting on Facebook!
I have spent nearly three months in India, during three different trips, and I still haven’t written much about it. Why? Because India is overwhelming.
It has an extraordinary density of historical and religious sites. Its food varies enormously from one home to another. People look different. Languages change from one state to another and even inside. Hundreds of different gods are worshiped. There is an abundance of colors one has never seen before. How could I ever write anything coherent and compact about India? It is a challenge, but I am going to try.
I am aware that I have a few posts that I have promised to write (Italy, Southeast Asia etc.), but I am also making a promise to start writing about India. Maybe once a week. Sounds like a reasonable promise?
PS Already following Pearlspotting on Facebook?
It has been a long time since we had a full-blown cheese platter for dinner. Last Saturday it happened again, and this is what we did: seafood for the first course (What is a whelk?) and cheese with salad for the second course. It does not get better than this, does it?
This time we did a bit of experimenting and did not stick exclusively to French cheese. 
Clockwise from the top right:
As there are hundreds of cheeses in France (some say 500 different types), I guess I will be posting many cheese platter photos!
PS What is your favorite French cheese?
“If It’s Chili, It’s Personal” runs the title of a recent article by The New York Times. And this is exactly what I was thinking last Thursday when I was home alone, preparing Chili con carne at 10 pm. Make it personal, use your imagination.
My chili con carne:
1. Saute two large sliced onions until they get nice brown color. Add garlic, cumin-coriander powder, Indian chili powder, lots of dried marjoram, paprika powder and Jamaica pepper (also called “allspice”). Add minced beef meat (about 600g). Keep stirring.
2. Add slices of raw carrot (I used two medium-size carrots).
3. Add slices of celery (I used an entire celery stalk, about 20cm, not forgetting the leaves).
4. Add 2dl of tomato purée.
5. Add about 2dl of Slow-roasted cherry tomatoes.
6. Add two large cans of red beans and one can of white beans. 
7. If you are in a hurry, the meal is ready. If you can wait, let it simmer for 30 more minutes. Add salt to your taste, if necessary.
8. I added one glass of Cahors red wine in the end.
Lastly, serve hot with crème fraîche.
And as a meal like this would not be complete without a glass of wine, I had some very lovely red Bordeaux 2006 from Château Thieuley. Recommended in the 10€+ category!
The NY Times article: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/12/dining/if-its-chili-its-personal.html?_r=0
The wine: http://www.thieuley.com
A whelk looks strange. It is slimy. It smells like sea and mud. Some call it ugly. Just look at this photo!
But a whelk is also delicious! Especially with homemade mayonnaise! Moreover, it is rich in protein: around 20g of protein per 100g, which is more than what lamb contains. Would you have believed? In addition, a whelk is rich in vitamin B12, copper and zinc, making whelks more than ten times richer in B12 than beef. Impressive how good these slimy creatures are for us!
You can buy raw whelks and boil them for a few minutes with salt and black pepper, but supermarkets in France sell them ready-cooked. This is what we did yesterday: we purchased shrimps and whelks and ate them with mayonnaise. Afterwards we had a cheese platter with salas. Such a perfect dinner. Easy (no cooking needed), affordable, tasty, healthy. And as a bonus, gluten free. 
If you are interested in whelks, maybe you would like to read this article by the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/19/dining/whelks-are-coming-out-of-their-shell-and-onto-your-plate.html (December 2012). Apparently the whelk has surfaced on cutting-edge menus in the US, and chefs are creating some very interesting-sounding dishes of them. Why not to try when you next time see them on the menu?
Tip number 1: The only thing you really need to be aware of when eating whelks is that little tiny “lid”. It is the thin top part of the whelk, and should be removed by your fingers and thrown away.
Tip number 2: You need special equipment to eat whelks with. A normal fork won’t do it. Tiny forks or pins are the only efficient ways to pull the whelk from its shell, believe me.
PS Have you already tasted a whelk? What was your impression? How was it prepared and eaten? Did you have red or white wine with it? We had biodynamic red (Côtes du Roussillon, Marie Gabrielle Cazes, Languedoc), creating a nice match.
If you haven’t yet tasted the whelks, do you think you will one day?
This afternoon I had a talk with one of my followers, Kirt D Tisdale, who is an artist. We discussed the photos I have taken from the balcony (for example Paris prepares for the sunset and Autumn leaves), and how stunning the colors of nature can be. How quickly the sky can change, what reflections the rising and falling sun give to buildings, etc.
In the end of this chat, I suddenly looked outside, and there it was again: the most beautiful sky. Of course I had no choice but to grab my camera. Once again. 
Well, I hope you like this photo and I promise to try not to post more photos of this view for at least one week…
Meanwhile, have a great Saturday evening everyone!
pearlspotting 