The reason for the parts? Ah yes, well, there are many photos. So many in fact they fall into different categories. As did our holiday, in a sense. Medieval, Megalithic, Geographic, Folklorish, with the overriding theme of research. Strangely enough I didn’t get a lot of reading done. We did watch the series Pillars of Heaven which tied in with the first section – Medieval. Continue reading How I spent my summer holidays part 1
Category Archives: travels
Holiday reading
One of the most wonderful things about holidays is that I get time to work my way through my TBR pile. Some of these are books I’ve had for AGES, others are new (books tend to shuffle up and down the pile, in a bizare sort of queue jumping, elbowing others aside sort of way) but they are all books I want to read.
The Demon’s Surrender by Sarah Rees Brennan
The Poison Throne by Celine Keirnan (and the next 2 in the Moorhawk series)
The Angel’s Game by Carlos Ruiz Zafon
and hopefully Revelation by C. J. Sansom (if I manage to borrow it before I go)
Plus a book on the Megaliths of Brittany. And a trip to the library before we go.
Hey, last year I took 16 books for a 14 day holiday… and read them too! 😀
Research Holiday
It all started as a bit of a whim to be honest. But then these things often do.
When in Rome
As some of you know when I was in Rome for a library conference in January, we were lucky enough to visit the Vatican library. It’s an incredible place. Of course, photos and videos were right out for us, lowly librarians that we were. So too was seeing the treasures!
But one of the group sent me a link this morning to a video report done for 60 minutes on the Vatican Library so I thought I’d share. It really captures something of the place, its history, its (often bizare) accessions – Henry VIII’s love letters to Anne Boelyn for example, and the breathtakingly beautiful Salon Sistino (pic above). It also shows us the behind the scenes work of the conservators, and the amazing things they do to preserve the most fragile of documents for the future. I can never praise this sort of work highly enough.
There’s an additional video where Morley Safer gets the same tour of the Salon Sistino as we did, but I will never forget seeing an elderly librarian of my group standing there, with his mouth wide open and head tilted right back as he stared in wonder at the ceiling like a small boy.
The extras are well worth looking at as well – the treasures oh, the shiny treasures… – and an explanation of why the library is closed to the public. And of course, if the library was burning down, what would the experts save??? 😉
Libraryland goes to Rome
Or what I did in the first week of January 2011.
Below is a slideshow of pictures from the trip to Rome for the library conference, although not many of the conference itself. Librarians talking… not too thrilling there. But lots of photos of our various walks and tours, our wanderings around, of Christmas trees, lights, fireworks (we were there for the Epiphany which is a huge holiday there), Churches, crypts, a titulus (3rd century church) underneath the crypt and libraries. Lots of photos of libraries. Including the Vatican library from the outside. Continue reading Libraryland goes to Rome
A break in the silence
Yes, I’ve been very quiet. Putting the finishing touches to the edits for MAY QUEEN and generally getting ready for Christmas. I’ll be away in early January, off on a libraryland trip to Rome so hope to have lots of pictures for you all then. May even get into the Vatican Secret Library if I’m lucky. Fingers crossed.
Of course it all depends on the weather which has been less than cooperative so far this month! Lots of snow, lots and lots of snow…
The last one is paricularly interesting for me becuase it shows a view used in GRAFFITI ANGEL, looking from Cherrywood up towards Killiney Hill. The Obelisk is just visible on top of the hill on the right hand side.
So I will be scarce for the next while, but will pop up from time to time. Have wonderful holidays everyone and for those who celebrate it a very happy Christmas.
Photos from France
a photo-slideshow of our holiday. Warning: contains lots of knights, lots of castles and many many fish.
Blame La Rochelle Aquarium!
Oh, but it was fun. If you want to know details about any of the pictures, leave me a comment and I’ll endeavour to answer. Continue reading Photos from France
I am still here, I swear it
Although I am recovering from a weekend trip to Sligo to see Leonard Cohen play in the grounds of Lissadell house. It was a trip in honour of my best friend’s birthday (a significant one) and so we went all out. We flew to Sligo (my first ever domestic Irish flight). Sligo is the dinkiest airport I’ve ever been too (yes, even dinkier than Plymouth!) It has a range of amenites including a bar, toilets and a bar but only before the departure “gate”. It also has the opening hours on the front door. It is AWESOME! Continue reading I am still here, I swear it
Heading off again
It’s all go here!
I’m heading off today to the RNA conference in Greenwich for the weekend. Can’t wait!
I’ve promised a couple of people a full report when I get back.
See you next week!
Back from Madrid with a ton of inspiration
Hi all
got back from Madrid over the weekend with lots of inspiration for future stories. That’s always the way when I travel, even for work. I was there for a weeklong conference but that didn’t preclude some sight seeing, as the pictures below will attest.
A beautiful city (although I would have prefered to visit at a cooler time of the year!!!), lively, friendly and filled with stories, many still to be told I suspect.
What are your favourite places? What cities inspire you and why?
(Soul Fire releases tomorrow so be sure to check back in the afternoon for discussion, excerpts and a competition to win not just a copy of the book but a stunning acorn pendant as well!)
AND there’s an interview with me up at Paranormal Romantics today. Go have a look, see how “Soul Fire” came about and leave a comment to make me look popular! Pleeeeeeease!!!