On their first night in Paris, the Gamaches gather for a family dinner with Armand’s godfather, the billionaire Stephen Horowitz.
But the evening ends in horror when Stephen is knocked down and critically injured in what Armand is convinced is no accident, but a deliberate attempt on an elderly man’s life.
When a strange key is found in Stephen’s possession it sends Armand on a desperate search for the truth that will take him from the top of the Tour Eiffel, to the bowels of the Paris Archives. …
East of Edenis a novel by American author and Nobel Prize winner John Steinbeck. Published in 1952, the work is regarded by many to be Steinbeck’s most ambitious novel …
Steinbeck stated about East of Eden: “It has everything in it I have been able to learn about my craft or profession in all these years,” and later said: “I think everything else I have written has been, in a sense, practice for this.” …
I liked it less well than the author, but am still pleased to have made it through the lengthy, rambling saga.
Steinbeck was born in Salinas, California in 1902. In fact, he appears as himself as a small boy in this novel.
Racism is a fact in this era. But one of the two smartest and best characters is Lee, an American born Chinese servant.
The other character you want to spend time with is Samuel Hamilton, the patriarch of one family.
Steinbeck books frequently explore the themes of fate and injustice, especially as applied to downtrodden or everymanprotagonists. For example, Of Mice and Men.
The female characters are not nearly as important or well drawn as the men and boys.
The title comes from Genesis, Chapter 4, verse 16. The story of Cain and Abel.
Two sets of brothers are the main characters in this book. And one of the four is named Adam.
There are weird love triangles complicating both sets of brothers.
There’s something of a reimagining of the biblical story woven into a history of California’s Salinas Valley.
My two highlights reflecting back on this epic:
the STORY telling is memorable and entertaining
the philosophical discussions
James Dean played in one of the movie adaptations.
I’d first tried to start in Porto — but couldn’t find a bike to rent on short notice.
In Santiago itself I found Cycling the Camino, a shop that pretty much NEVER runs out of rentals.
I took the train to León, picking up the rental there. They will deliver almost anywhere you want to start — charging additional shipping to mainland Spain (30€/bike), Portugal (37€/bike) and France (65€/bike).
The cost of the bike itself is around 30€/day.
Inexpensive, in my opinion. And WAY easier than flying your own bike.
I booked 7 days to make the 300+km return which I assumed would be EASY. I did make it in 6 days, finding the adventure more challenging than expected. I was on the bike about 6-7 hours each day.
My short video includes a LOT of drone footage as that’s the easiest way to show the landscape.
Compared with most long distance cycling routes, this one is very civilized. Regular folks have been walking it for over 1000 years. The infrastructure very well developed.
It’s very social with both walkers and cyclists meeting up each evening.
Folks of all ages and fitness levels are pilgrims on The Way.
Though no book, map or app is needed, I did carry a paper copy of the newest Cicerone guidebook.
Turns out almost twenty of his books have been turned into films and TV series. But not all have been translated to English.
The pacing is slower than a typical American or British whodunnit.
But mathematician Tetsuya Ishigami and Manabu Yukawa, a physicist who often consults with the police, are two of the best fictional characters I’ve read in a long time.
Menú del día, or menu of the day, is a menu served by Spanish restaurants during lunch, one of the largest meals of the day …
… typically between 1:30 to 4:30 p.m.
This is a cheap, economic meal, typically with good food.
Problema for ME is that it includes all-you-can-drink wine. They leave a full bottle on the table for you.
I’m pretty much buzzed for the day — at lunch.
Typically they come with soup, bread, drink, dessert and main course. I paid 12 Euro for this feast.
Seafood soup appetizer on the Santiago Camino
HEY – the Interterritorial Health Council, made up of doctors and other health professionals, had suggested that alcohol be dropped from the menús del día. I highly doubt that’s going to happen.
Rick McCharles 