Across Southern England and Wales in the Summer of 1983 Last fall, I wandered around New York. I came across McSorley’s Old Ale House nearby. Supposedly the oldest Irish pub in the city.Sitting in McSorley’s, I suddenly found myself back in England — or perhaps Ireland. The same low light, the same stubborn wood, the…
Month: May 2026
Moroccan Chicken Tagine
Morocco! In the 1960s and 1970s, Marrakesh was for some Europeans a kind of nearby version of the great road to Kathmandu — less distant, but with the same promise of difference, spices, slow time, and the feeling of having arrived somewhere far away.At a time when Western musicians were looking for new sounds and…
Ortaköy Mosque
Lost in Istanbul Whenever I visit Istanbul, I have three absolute must-visit spots. First, a morning Turkish coffee at Hafiz Mustafa in Taksim. Second, the Süleymaniye Mosque, simply because it was designed by the legendary architect Sinan. And third, a walk down to the Ortaköy Mosque—mostly because it’s a bit further out, which helps me…
Late Night Strolling Down Manhattan
A short nostalgic essay about experiencing New York In the middle of summer, I was already making plans for what I would do for ten days in New York. Nothing dramatic, nothing touristy, nothing that would excite me too much. Something for the soul, as they say.Reminiscing about the years before, when I wandered those…