Author Archives: The Wife of Bath
Centennial Hall, Wrocław: every landmark Modernist building should have an erupting Wagner fountain
By the time we got to Wrocław, a college town in the western side of the country, we were full on loving Poland. Usually we make up a local name for HOB: in Poland he was Józef Burlequeski. I decided I also needed a Polish name, so I was Pani Slutski. Well anyway, Józef Burlequeski and I were […]
Nope, no one’s having any fun in Kraków
Just kidding: Krakow is a fun zone all around, especially for students. The night we arrived the street in front of our apartment was shut down for a rollerblading party. When not rollerblading these lucky students are busy snacking. Belgian fries from food trucks are a big hit. And whoa, ice cream (lody in […]
We’re in Zamość full of Renaissance joy (and kluski)
Okay guess where we are right now: Okay, you’re thinking “Looks Renaissance-y, bet you WOB and HOB are in Italy”. Nope. This is Zamość, in Poland. Yep, we’re in Eastern Poland. Here’s how we got here: ate breakfast at our hostel in Warsaw this morning and took a train to Lublin. Jumped off the train […]
An all true and terrifying list of crimes committed by my immigrant and refugee neighbors
The 45th president of the United States recently created a new homeland security department called VOICE (Victims of Immigration Crime Engagement Office). VOICE launched a hotline last week specifically for Americans to report crimes “committed by criminal aliens”. On learning that many concerned citizens have been calling the VOICE hotline to report aliens of the flying saucer […]
Indigenous food at the night market of Hualien
Hualien is one of those charming interstitial cities, a place we visited not for its own sake, but as a means to reach Taiwan’s famous Taroko National Park. Hualien, a mid-sized city in Eastern Taiwan, doesn’t have any jaw dropping tourist attractions, but this ended up being the city that solidified my growing envy of […]
The forecast is Wind Gods with a strong chance of Thunder and Lightning Gods
There was this guy I used to run into at parties and before concerts who loved to humblebrag about all the celebrities he knew. He referred to these celebrity acquaintances, without flinching, as Boldface Names. As in “I was having coffee with a dear friend recently, well, I can’t tell you who but let’s just say […]
Travelers Among Mountains and Streams
If you have the chance to visit either Taiwan’s Taroko National Park or to tour the National Palace Museum, try to see both. At the same time. HOB and I have a friend named Paul. He’s the best sort of friend: an Art Friend, a friend whose eyes sparkle when he talks about art, live performance and books. […]
Song, sculpture and huggy-huggy trees at the Bunan tribe’s farm
As soon as the man with the top-knot hairstyle dropped us off at the entry to the Bunan farm he took off to join in a performance. We left our bags and followed close behind, where other members of the tribe, wearing similar embroidered outfits, began a program of traditional Bunan singing and dance. The Bunan […]
Stinky tofu and coffin bread: sampling the street food of Tainan
Here’s the formula for a excellent city; a strong engagement in cultural heritage, great transportation connections and superior street food. Tainan, on the Southern end of Taiwan, is one of the very best cities. Tainan is just bursting with vitality, beautiful art and architecture, and an intense snacking culture. Realizing we were in a street food mecca, HOB and I got down […]
Is that broken crockery on your pants or are you just happy to see me? Jiannian temple décor in Taiwan
The next time you’re in Taiwan find a temple and look at the roofline: dragons! There are always dragons on the Taiwan’s temple rooflines and they are fantastic. Go ahead and click on this beauty (I put a high res shot in just so you can appreciate the detail.) Notice the dragon’s dynamically twisting form, […]
Picnic at the Cathedral 