Life as a liveaboard
When life becomes a struggle, emotions move at their own pace. I was grateful to live aboard our sailboat MADI back in 2010; it changed my life.
Excerpt from “A European Odyssey”
“As far as I was concerned there were two projects to complete. The first was to get our boat into ship shape and the second was to make sure I followed her lead. From the moment I moved aboard Madi there was the promise of transformation. I wanted to like myself again, and find some inner peace. This was of vital importance, and like my attitude, Madi’s bright work was in desperate need of attention. Most days were spent sanding, scrubbing, and varnishing her railings. The cockpit required a lot of work and eventually she received an entire new coat on her teak deck. Madi got the full treatment and I even had her hauled her out of the water so she could receive a proper scrub underneath.
I moved from winter in Geneva to spring in Lignano and the weather was only going to get better. I began to feel rejuvenated for two reasons; I had serious work and it felt like I was making progress. After a full day’s work I sat aft deck with Colette and Godot at my feet and began the exercise of repairing myself. As she had in the past, Italy acted as a balm, and she was ready to do it once again. There was no reason to compete with her because she was more of a hedonist than I could ever be and the world often looks most attractive when viewing her from a boat. Especially when it’s stationary.”
Bohemian and its ideals, including truth, love and beauty
Pic from Prague, a place that really allowed me to open up my mind and spirit.
Headless statues or women in repose
“On a regular basis Colette and Godot were taken past the American Academy where I fantasized Gore Vidal was studying at the library doing research for Julien. This weekly sojourn took us to the seventeenth century Villa Pamphili located in the quarter of Monteverde. This is where Via Aurelia begins with her dramatically high, dark grey walls stretching up to the sky until a tiny world opened up for us alone. We’d enter the gardens and stroll by the pitch where Italians kicked a soccer ball around with their kids or Indians played cricket.
Villa Pamphili is one of Rome’s largest landscaped parks but I felt destined to roam far beyond the manicured bits, below the glamorous gardens and gazeboes. Once we reached the shady area where dozens of giant pine trees with extra long trunks provided shelter from the heat, I let Colette and Godot off their leads. There were numerous paths and I took a less traveled one to our secret garden. I never saw anyone here. We were surrounded by headless statues, or women in repose on low beds of ancient marble, forgotten long ago. It was so quiet. Everyone appeared to have gone to sleep leaving the air clean and serene.”
Excerpt From A European Odyssey: How A Boxer’s Daughter Found Grace Bailey Alexander
Restaurant with a view
In Agliano, Piemonte, located in northern Italy you can enjoy the spa - and the view isn’t too bad either.
Finding your elixir
“Expectations were exceeded on a weekly basis in Prague. A neighborhood store confirmed suspicions that elusive Bohemian ideals might be hidden behind patterns of another kind. I found a retailer where I could mix my own elixir of scents and oils with various olive oils, specialty liqueurs, brandies, and whiskies of all kinds. After making a purchase the young saleswoman wrote the name in cursive with a large white pencil on the artisan styled clear bottles."
Excerpt From A European Odyssey: How A Boxer’s Daughter Found Grace Bailey Alexander
Why I named my dog Godot.
Godot did arrive. Post party.
When I’d do the dishes, think about people’s stories, relive the memories…
Godot did arrive.
Once upon a time in Europe
W/Yumi Katsura, the doyenne of Japanese wedding dress; once upon a time. I went to her couture show, then to dinner at a night club in the Marais, in the 4th in Paris. She sat at the head table, alone, everyone else, her designers, choreographers, sat around her, it was surreal. I asked if she’d take a photo - she was so cool.
Prince had performed at this venue the night before.
There was the fin de siècle, then there was another time, long gone, that I think I captured in my book, an interesting twist on the travelogue. Once upon a time in Europe….
“A European Odyssey; how a boxers daughter found grace”.
This mist is lovely for the wine and eyes
The nebbia, the fog of Piemonte is atmospheric and everywhere.
