We say we'll never forget, but we do. When I look back at my 2012-13 Letters from Asia www.dianarchambers.com/passages.php (written for Sisters in Crime www.sincnorcal.org), I'm grateful for the memories. So I wrote Europe By Train, a dozen posts in all, one per city.
Please hop aboard for the entire journey or join me for a leg or two. "What's your favorite place?" I'm always asked. Paris is my old love, but London and Amsterdam made me wish for two more lives. Then we reached the Eastern Europe capitals, Prague, Budapest, and Vienna, and it was magic, like slipping back through the cracks of time. Italy is timeless and yet so intimate. I was seduced.
First stop, London where Mystery Playground sent me to search out the mysterious "book benches." dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/07/reborn-again.html
More London: On "meeting" one of the book bench artists, Mandii Pope (with her Agatha Christie/Poirot piece). dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/07/lovehatelove.html
Paris: On how some things never change. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/07/europe-by-train-3-my-paris.html
Amsterdam: On Anne Frank and Vincent Van Gogh. And bicycles. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/07/europe-by-train-4-amsterdam-going-our.html
Night train to Prague (via Munich): On a long night's day. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/07/europe-by-train-5-night-train-to-munich.html
Prague: On walking the streets of time. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/07/europe-by-train-6-prague-walking.html
Budapest: On finding the past. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/08/europe-by-train-7-budapest-finding-past.html
Vienna: On moving on. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/08/europe-by-train-8-vienna-moving-on.html
Venice: On secret backwaters. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/08/europe-by-train-9-venice-through-her.html
Florence: On seduction. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/08/europe-by-train-10-florence-city-of.html
Tuscany coast: On family and celebration. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/08/europe-by-train-11-tuscany-paradise.html
Rome: On being swept away. dianarchambers.blogspot.com/2014/08/europe-by-train-12-monumental-rome.html
Arrivederci, Rome!