THE CRUZ-ALMODOVAR DREAM TEAM TAKES VENICE BY STORM »
The Spanish movie PARALLEL MOTHERS, directed by Pedro Almodovar and starring Penelope Cruz, elicited a nine-minute standing ovation at its screening on the opening night of the Venice Film Festival. Predictably, Cruz bagged the Coppa Volpi for Best Actress. That done, the Dream Team now sets its sights on the New York Film Festival and -- why not? -- the Academy Awards. It won't be the first time for the Team to win an Oscar either.
HIT THE ROAD TO THE PYRENEES — IV: NOW ANDORRA! »
"Time was running short and Andorra was still on our schedule. Travelers in Spain often dash to the seacoast without stopping inside the peninsula to explore and even less to go to the Pyrenees during the summer. Perhaps the Pyrenees are not the ideal place to collect postcards of exotic villages or to be able to show off photos to like-minded friends. But for us it was an ideal vacation, and we remember the people, landscape and food with gusto."
STATESIDE STORIES–The Wildfires in California: Devastation in Paradise! »
Homes have been leveled, as have businesses, schools, retirement centers in a community of some 26,000 people. It will be a week before residents will be let back in to go through the devastation. Thousand Oaks, besides fighting fires, has been in the news because of the horrific shooting of 12 young people in a country-western nightclub called The Borderline Barri and Grill. California has seen its fair share of disasters and even the rich and famous have been affected this time.
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH »
Amazon, Antartica, Canada, Damascus, Syria, Istanbul, Turkey, Los Angeles, California, New York city, Rome, Italy, Sahara Desert, Spain
A Second Opinion: In the U.S.A, The West fights back at The East! »
It's Spring. Would someone please send a bouquet of dandelions to the White House de mi parte?
THE NAVY LEAGUE LIFTS OFF TO OUTER SPACE »
The Leaguers came away newly and deeply conscious of the awesome beauty of space exploration
RONDA AT A SNAIL’S P(L)ACE »
At the next table a young fellow sat picking some succulent little morsels out of their shells. “Can I also have some snails,” I said
STATESIDE STORIES: Earth Day is a World Affair »
“Senator Gaylord Nelson, shocked by the 1969 oil spill in California, started the Earth Day movement that soon became a world-wide phenomenon”
PEPE & LOS ROMEROS, the Royal Family of Guitar »
There’s nothing like a savvy and passionate fan to capture the true essence of Los Romeros, bigger than life virtuoso guitarists, in a vivid blog. Read!