Posts by Gin Phillips

Back in Birmingham now, and although I still feel a little fuzzy-brained, jet lag hasn’t been too bad. A long time ago I read something saying that jet lag was largely about dehydration, and I started chugging water before, after, and during flights. And–whether the dehydration thing is true or it’s all in my head–I…

I went for a run around the gardens yesterday, listening to sparrows chirping and pigeons cooing (I like to think of it as doves cooing, but let’s face it—they’re pigeons.) Children were sailing boats in the largest fountain; they seemed to be directing them with bamboo sticks, but the mechnics were mysterious. I found a shaded…

So far, in the middle of museums and cafes and endless walking, my most euphoric moments in Paris have been sitting in the Luxembourg Gardens reading. Along with benches, the park has hundreds of moveable chairs scattered throughout the paths, so you can grab a seat and situate yourself whereever you like. Yesterday the sparrows…

Arrived in Paris, Gare de Lyon, by idTGV train yesterday.  We’re in a great apartment—fairly small like a New York apartment. But it’s perfect for our stay: homey and warm with great hardwood floors and a balcony overlooking the Pantheon. Sylvie, who owns the place, was a friendly woman who seemed to prefer to think of us…

Switzerland has the most amazing rest stops in the history of the world. On Wednesday we drove from Lausanne, through Italy and along the coast, to Villefranche-sur-mer on the Riviera. And the most awe-inspiring thing about the trip was possibly a rest stop about an hour from the Italian-Swiss border. It was called the Rest…

Here are 7 memories from the last 24 hours that transcend photos: 1) A man in a speedo riding a scooter. This opens a whole new avenue of fun on this trip: who can spot the speedo-wearer doing the most interesting thing? Last summer in Spain we saw a man in a speedo doing push-ups on the beach.…

Well, let me amend my opinion of Lausanne. (And let me also say this: never write a blog entry about a place until you’ve walked both directions from your hotel.) We walked to the right this morning: not so impressive. But walk to the left: Wow! It’s a beautiful miles-long promenade along the water with…

We landed in Geneva about 6 p.m. last night (Swiss time.) Took a train to Lausanne–remarkable smooth and easy, possibly because everyone here speaks better English than we do French–and got into town just in time for the the U.S.-Ghana World Cup match. I’m writing at the desk in our room at the Hotel Movenpick,…

Well,  we head to Switzerland and France tomorrow for a two-week trip. I’ve never been to either. My husband is giving a presentation at the Hemingway conference in Lausanne, then we’ll head to Villefranche-sur-mer for a few nights, and then–the best part–a week in Paris! I’ll try to update regularly during the trip. I’ve actually…

I had a reading and signing today at ColdWater Books in Tuscumbia, Alabama. It’s a really beautiful store–dark polished wood floors and banisters and high ceilings–with, I must say, an excellent coffee bar. One thing about writing books–and reading them in public–you become a connoisseur of bookstore beverages across the country. I rarely leave a…