May 23, 2023 – Barcelona

Returned the rental car but it was closed so left the keys under the back wheel and left a voice message – hopefully they understand it. Uber didn’t work for a ride to the train station (“No cars available”) so asked at a nearby fitness place if they could call a taxi. Laura patiently understood …

May 20, 2023 – Naverre, Rioja and Castile, part 2

Made it to Burgos, the former capital of Castile. Arrived to a very nice apartment (care of Booking.com) right downtown. Lots of walking ensued. In Chaucer’s day, Burgos was the capital of Castile (Madrid eventually supplanted it as capital) and many, many Castilian kings and queens were crowned in Burgos Cathedral. It was here that …

May 19, 2023 – Navarre, Rioja and Castile, part 1

Bordeaux to Pamplona via Donostia-San Sebastion The bus left Bordeaux just after 6am and drove south to Bayonne (just before the France-Spain border), then after a brief stop carried to Donostia-San Sebastion on the Atlantic Ocean. The dual name reflects the Basque culture and history in Spain, a heritage very much alive in the names, …

May 15, 2023 – London, and the research journey begins, finally

I had planned to start this research trip in 2021, and was so very glad to finally be back in London. It’s a lovely, somewhat unique feeling. Every time I land I feel a little bit like I’m coming home, as my first memories are of London (Battersea, then Kensington) where we lived for 3 …

May 14, 2023 – Was Chaucer a spy in Navarre helping win a war?

I am excited to finally head to Europe to follow Chaucer’s footsteps leading up to the Battle of Najera (northern Spain). It is the largest battle of the Hundred Year’s War, with some sixty thousand soldiers fighting, yet one many have not heard of. Chaucer may have helped the English allies of King Pedro the …

October 27, 2022 – Back in person at SiWC 2022

It was so great to return to the Surrey International Writers’ Conference last month and see old and new faces. The first thought was, wow, how well organized it was, with the in-person and virtual versions seeming to come off without a hitch (and knowing how hard the many volunteers were working to make it …