Tag: Travel

The image is an artistic illustration depicting a man sleeping in a train compartment. He is wearing a suit and is slumped in his seat with his head tilted back and mouth slightly open. Above his head is a thought bubble showing a plate with bread, grapes, and cheese, suggesting he is dreaming about food. On the small table in front of him is a bottle of wine labeled "Bordeaux France" and a glass of red wine. The train window shows a scenic view with a setting sun over a landscape. The interior of the train has wooden paneling, and there is another passenger visible through the door in the background. The borders of the image are decorated with grapevine motifs.

“The Train to Bordeaux” & Other Poems By Mike Lewis-Beck

aromatica poetica January 15, 2025

The Train to Bordeaux left Paris under delays from a Metro slowdown, a Yellow Vest street action, and a heat wave of 42 degrees Celsius that perhaps caused the Arras diversion due to an announced ‘obstacle’ on the tracks, a could-be jump. German newlyweds across from us, red and happy, brimmed with cold beer downed in the station patio sun. As the train passed Poitiers, gateway to the South, I dreamt of a chilled Pineau des Charentes with a …

A collage of Italy photos from Kathleen Fisher: Kathleen’s husband Pete with The Brenta River and the Old Bridge in background, Market in Bassano del Grappa, Aperitivo at Nardini’s Distillery, Close up of Pete with his Aperitivo, The funky bar at Nardini’s, A wall of grappa at Nardini’s.

Grappa Aroma * Nonfiction * Kathleen Fisher

aromatica poetica January 12, 2022

Bassano del Grappa gets one star in the Michelin Green Guide, Italy. It deserves that star for its setting alone which is on the River Brenta in the Veneto region of Northern Italy. I have visited Bassano several times, but my most memorable experience was about 12 years ago when I discovered the Poli Grappa Museum and its room dedicated to the smells of Grappa. On that day, the Alpini (Italy’s specialist mountain infantry) were singing at one end of …

Ghirardelli sign brightly lit and colorful overlooking the square.

“The Whole Entire World Ever” * Fiction * Caitlin Hernandez

aromatica poetica August 27, 2019

*We are delighted to present our first-ever fan fiction! Written in response to “Restoring the Effigy,” by M. Leona Godin. “The Whole Entire World Ever” is a prequel written from the point of view of Effie’s little girl Artemis on their mother-daughter trip to San Francisco. Leona admits to tucking in an embellishment or two amongst Caitlin’s beautiful words* Last year, I had the best hairstyles of anyone in first grade. Mom can do hair a bazillion different ways, …

Old apothecary shop crammed with jars and bottles of herbs and liquids.

James Holman: Son of Apothecary Turned World Famous Blind Traveler

aromatica poetica February 22, 2018

” If you wished to voyage the world in a mindflight instant,” writes James Holman’s biographer, “you needed only to step into the Exeter establishment of John Holman, Chymist & Surgeon, close your eyes, and breathe deep the mingled scents of all known continents. It was an apothecary in the very latest mercantile fashion, selling not only medicinal products but just about anything that could be powdered, dried, or otherwise prepared for transport from afar. Cayenne pepper and soy from …