A short sojourn

Today we drove to Intramuros for a mini tour and for the most part had a lovely time. The sun wasn't too bright, the cobbled walks were pretty, and the La Pieta replica at the Manila Cathedral was enthralling. Some buildings in Old Manila, however, were terribly restored and still some others merely feigned antiquity. A few blocks from the Cathedral, too, the sidewalks were desecrated with garbage and reeked profusely.





But a walk in Intramuros is a walk of nostalgia. And so, as when we are leafing through the pages of our memory, we trekked only the paths which led to those which were beautiful.

Today was sort of a run-through for a 2-day trip we're planning this Christmas break. We intend to make a documentary film of it.

I'm quite excited. :)

According to Woody

The things that make his life worth living:

Groucho Marx, to name one thing; and Wilie Mays; and the 2nd movement of the Jupiter Symphony; and Louis Armstrong’s recording of “Potato Head Blues”; Swedish movies, naturally; “A Sentimental Education,” by Flaubert; Marlon Brando; Frank Sinatra; those incredible apples and pears by Cézanne; the crabs at Sam Wo’s; Tracy’s face…

Now, my turn. The things that make my life worth living:

A Moveable Feast; Fitzgerald's short stories; watercolor; Paris; pastel-colored pastries; Woody Allen's movies, of course; classic Hollywood films; notes from my students, Moon River; lavender essential oil; flowers, and tons of them; Ice's curls

My Paris

Christmas

This year, I am determined to celebrate Christmas. Consider me in for the long haul: the mass on the 25th, the secret Santas, the Christmas movie marathons, the puto bumbongs and bibingkas, and the walks along Bellarmine field when the trees are brilliant with tiny stars.



In the collage, from left to right:
1. Above our table at Sweet Inspirations: branches adorned with mistletoe, berries, lights, and pretty drops of glass
2. At home, a Christmas corner: branches and berries of silver glitter, porcelain Santas (presents from my good friend Rache and the owner of an antique shop we used to frequent)
3. At home, gold and silver balls hang from the chandelier
4. An early Christmas present from Ice: an antique oak writing desk gives home to a stack of post-its and note pads from a student and Lia, a bear coin bank from Zia, a pot of paintbrushes and charcoal pencils, canisters of watercolor and acrylic paint and other craft materials, a silver coaster in need of polish, and Peter Mayle's French Lessons (the first of his books that I have read)