I have never learnt to ski. I’ve been to the snow a few times since living in the Northern Hemisphere but have just never gotten around to having lessons. So here I am at a friend’s 70th birthday celebrations in Zermatt, Switzerland, and I’m the odd one out. Everyone in the group is European and …
An off the beaten track tour of a township…travelling in South Africa
I’m visiting friends in Cape Town for Christmas (2013.) It’s been a difficult year and I’m yearning for a change of scenery and some adventure. Staying in the impressive shadow of Table Mountain, my South African hosts and friends from Australia are not at all impressed when I announce that I am off to visit …
Italian Food Tour…Gourmet Treasures of Emilia Romagna.
Alessandro Martini was born to inspire people about Italian food. From the moment his Italian Days tour begins www.italiandays.it he oozes enthusiasm about the region of Emilia Romagna and it’s artisan food products, waxing lyrical about parmigiano reggiano, balsamic vinegar, prosciutto and organic wine. It’s a very early start to get to the cheese factory in time to …
All Work and No Pay…Volunteers for Melbourne’s ‘Ring Cycle’ worth their weight in Rheingold…
It’s difficult to imagine what a Dental Technician, a Bid Manager, an Art History Lecturer, an International Hotel Consultant and an ex Politician turned High School Teacher could possibly have in common. This diverse group of individuals, and over one hundred more like them, are all volunteers in Opera Australia’s current ‘Ring Cycle’ production …
Backstage Banter…a behind the scenes look at the Melbourne ‘Ring Cycle.’
She sashays down the corridor, a sideways glance in the mirror confirming that her spectacularly bejewelled, sequinned costume and feathered headdress is perfectly in place. Two more silver shoed, fish net clad beauties appear alongside immediately conjuring up visions of the Moulin Rouge. But we’re not in Paris. And the girls aren’t dancers. They’re opera …