“He hopes we'll visit again soon. Perhaps in June, to see the emerald-colored frogs that stick to the stalks and attend Gion Matsuri, a festival where women dress in summer kimonos and the shops are decorated with art. There are floats in the evening and music spills onto the streets.”
Source: Tokyo Ever After
“Ah, summer! The season when worry steps aside, delight takes over, and every day is as good as the amount of time spent outdoors.
It's a chance to swim past the breakers, take outdoor showers, hold court from a pool float, or rely on nothing but your wits, a pineapple, rum, and a blender to make the most of an afternoon. When the only imperative is to unwind, unplug, and open up to a day of possibilities, you know you're going to have fun.”
Source: Summer: A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights
“We hope to inspire a communal kitchen, where one person makes the salad, another readies the grill, others set the table, more run to the fish shop, and someone dozes off on the beach and emerges around dessert time with renewed enthusiasm for margarita making. (That's an important role, too.)”
Source: Summer: A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights
“... or literally stake your claim with a tiki-torch perimeter (aggressive, but effective).”
Source: Summer: A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights
“10. maritime mail service
When you're keen on sending a message in a bottle but dubious about the delivery mechanism, consider the following factors from science-minded seafarers: choose a dark bottle, roll the message inward to avoid the ink fading in the sun, drop the bottle in a place with a steady current, and wait a loooooong time. (As of this book's publication, the world's oldest message in a bottle was discovered 132 years after it was sent.) Is this the wrong time to mention that the greatest predictor of survival is hope?”
Source: Summer: A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights
“3. burn, baby, margarita burn
Avoid phytophotodermatitis, aka margarita burn, aka what happens when you gallantly make lots of gin and tonics on a sailboat, inadvertently squeeze citric acid on your skin, and spend the day in the sun, inviting a low-grade chemical burn. You can skip this very specific seasonal hazard by always washing your hands after playing beach bartender.”
Source: Summer: A Cookbook: Inspired Recipes for Lazy Days and Magical Nights
“The empty block at the end of my street is probably the best hang-out spot of the lot. While these places aren’t that exciting, they’re all we’ve got, and we make the most of them. It only takes a little imagination to navigate Merri like it’s our own secret
world and only we have the keys. The empty block isn’t just a dusty patch of land; it’s a meeting place, a safe haven to share secrets among the tall grass, a blank canvas for whatever projects Claire forces us into next.”
Source: All the Little Tricky Things
“Tip: Like everywhere else in Europe (except the UK and Switzerland), the Netherlands uses the euro.
What is up with you, UK and Switzerland? Euros are super cute! The bills look just like Monopoly money, plus they have coins instead of one- and two-dollar bills that accumulate in your pocket and can be used to buy a pair of wooden clogs. Kidding! Don't buy a pair of wooden clogs. You'll never wear them, and they are way too heavy to carry around in your bag.”
Source: I See London, I See France
“The Basics: Monaco is a city-state on the French Riviera. It's known for its casinos, wealthy people, royal family, and yachts.
Look, there's Princess Alexandra! Just kidding. You're not going to see any royals up close. And you probably don't know who Princess Alexandra is anyway.”
Source: I See London, I See France
“The Basics: The canals of Venice are a wonder to behold.
There are no cars in Venice. There are no roads. Want to get somewhere? Walk, take a boat, or swim. Just kidding. Don't swim. The water's disgusting.”
Source: I See London, I See France