It really does! Today I crossed 3 borders and spoke French, German and Italian. Yes, I’m in 🇨🇭 - a great place to celebrate this day.

The Notre Dame restoration is so impressive- one can really appreciate the airy space, stained-glass and architecture. These qualities remind me of the Grand Mosque, Abu Dhabi- another awe-inspiring building (I hope no one of either religion is offended I draw this comparison🇫🇷🇦🇪)

On a weekend trip to 🇮🇹. Perhaps it was inevitable that so many coffee bars are playing Tommy Cash 🇪🇪‘s #espressomachiato 🎶 One server was singing “mi amore, mi amore”, to which their colleague sang in return “espresso machiato machiato….” 🎶 Love Eurovision, Love Italy, Love Coffee and Love Estonia!

One of my favourite times of the year, to forget the worlds problems and be united by music 🎶 @eurovision.tv #basel #unitedbymusic

Joined a ceremony of #amitié #freundschaft #peace right on the 🇫🇷 🇩🇪 Rhine river border on this #VEDay80 (& met #Kehl’s Burgermeister, Herr Britz, who has a 🇬🇧 link!) Then to a 1940s dance @strasbourg hosted by Mayor Barseghian. @UKinGermany @UKinFrance #VictoryDay #Europe

Thankyou to the lady next to me on the SNCF train to #Strasbourg, who dislodged the button of my jacket with her bic biro pen lid, which had got stuck in the train ventilation slots…thus freeing my jacket, my arm and me just as the #TGV pulled into the gare!

I absolutely love doing errands in #Kehl #Germany- just a tram ride away. 🇩🇪 🇫🇷. Kaffee und a chance to read some newspapers, clean and efficient, friendly shopkeepers with whom I can speak German - I always learn some fantastic new compound nouns! Toll und immer Spaß. Ich ❤️ Deutschland! #learnGerman

This stork actually did take a detour to use not BOTH pedestrian crossings! Can birds see markings? Could they know it’s a safe place to cross? 🦅 #storksofstrasbourg #whydidthestorkcrosstheroad 🇫🇷

So pleased to support the Council of Europe Platform for the Safety of Journalists, especially during the week of the launch of their Annual Report,through advocacy & programme funding. Thanks also to our committed civil society group including @fluturakusari.bsky.social @molenews1.bsky.social

A wonderful initiative by Liechtenstein - this beautiful “Book of Europe. Firsthand visions of the future of Europe” launched today. A collection of essays by Ministers about hopes and challenges in our region. Delighted 🇬🇧PM Sir Keir Starmer participated. book.coe.int

Misty morning through a train window, sun peeping out over the vineyards of France 🇫🇷. These are some of very favourite things 🚆 🍇 ☀️

A classic. I guess writing a 100,000 word PhD means an essay is within my grasp?

Scared my colleagues by ordering a large savoury kügelhopf: light, brioched, covered in garlic butter and… with snails 🐌 inside. I guess I’ve been here too long to think this is strange. #onlyinfrance #feelslikehome #escargots #kugelhopf #Alsace

Scared my colleagues by ordering a large savoury kügelhopf: light, brioched, covered in garlic butter and… with snails 🐌 inside. I guess I’ve been here too long to think this is strange. #onlyinfrance #feelslikehome #escargots #kugelhopf #Alsace

Given the week I’ve had I just had to go the day it was released in 🇫🇷! I’d really recommend it. Grown up Bridget with very familiar issues. #folledelui #bridgetjones

Too all those who also love wine: this is the highlight of my oenophile year. It goes around 🇫🇷 and is such an exploration! Worth even a detour. No booking necessary (just watch out for the large groups hovering near champagne stalls….) 🍾 🍷 🍇 #salondesvigneronsindependants #strasbourg #wine

Using up my undrunk alcohol 🍸

They’re ba-a-ck! #storksofstrasbourg #cicognes #stork

Are Brits less good at sharing & looking out for one other? I often notice my 🇬🇧compatriots prefer to keep their own plate of food, name their items in a fridge & never check if others get home ok at the end of an evening.I know from experience other cultures are different. And offer me a lift home:)

Snow. It only hung around for a few hours, but it was magical! And it made the grass look like a 🇩🇪 Spaghetti Eiß!

I have lost my voice. I didn’t put an Apple tracker on it, nor can I report it to lost property. I hope it returns. Until then, I can only force a whisper.

A bus ride to pass the time in between trains, and a great chance to see a few sights in the sun, in between the rain showers. ☀️ ☔️ #epiphany #fetesdesrois #galettedesrois #Paris🇫🇷

Weekend in #Napoli: I decided I ought to try a fried pizza. This tiny place makes delicious ones! And wandered along the Quartiere Spagnoli to see the #Maradona murals. ⚽️ 🤾 🇦🇷 🇮🇹 🍕

Sharing a thread on 🇫🇷 cathedrals by @theculturaltutor.bsky.social Beautiful Strasbourg Cathedral.

It’s not just food, it’s art. #Lyon

#Fetedeslumières à Lyon!

Can someone explain why people can’t pronounce “ask”, and say “aks” instead? I am trying to understand why it’s difficult to say a-s-k? 🤷🏻‍♀️

For my friends in the UK and elsewhere who may not know, there are many Americans, especially from indigenous groups, who don’t feel they can celebrate Thanksgiving. I found this article helpful in understanding their concerns: www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-u...

Love my multi European line-up: French water, Luxembourgish sparkling wine, Italian spirit, for one of my favourite cocktails! #polfabaire #Badoit🇫🇷 #SelectSpritz🍹🇱🇺🇫🇷🇮🇹

Remembering the horrors of #Holodomor. Thanks to 🇬🇧 Samara Pearce, stories of that terrible induced famine in #Ukraine captured in photos by her great-grandfather, aren’t forgotten. And today we must also respond to 🇺🇦 and their current calls for help.

I thought it was a 🇺🇸 joke, to say there was a #Thanksgiving dish which was sweet potato with *marshmallows* melted on top. And then today I discovered it is an actual thing. And I ate it alongside my turkey, brussel sprouts and stuffing 🥧🍠 🇺🇸 🦃 All were absolutely delicious!

A l’occasion des 80 ans de la Libération de Strasbourg, le drapeau français flotte au sommet de la Cathédrale. 🇫🇷 To mark 80 years since the liberation of Strasbourg, the 🇫🇷 flies above the cathedrale. Just as it did in 1944. And just as promised. We will remember.

The Christmas market is about to begin in #Strasbourg, crowds already descending to the #CapitaledeNoël. So it’s time to break open the Fortnum & Mason #mincepies (the best) and whisk up an Oberweis hot chocolate. 3 of my favourites: Luxembourg 🇱🇺 meets London 🇬🇧 meets Strasbourg 🇫🇷

Yup, we have November snow in Strasbourg, France at the Council of Europe! 🇪🇺🇫🇷 Pretty magical, despite also being wet and cold! ❄️ … and made for an atmospheric arrival at Latvia 🇱🇻 National Day.

Firenze 🇮🇹 1997. Is it just me, or does any one else also wish we could be back to the late ‘90s and stay there? Ok I was super-nerdy (sure, I was writing a PhD but yikes…I can see why I was single!) and things were not perfect. But looking back, I’m sure they were simpler then.

A beautiful autumnal tree in Cold Spring, NY, a few weeks ago.

A few photos of a wonderful recent trip

Starting my new account here with a photo of a spectacular urban tennis court city, spotted when visiting one of my favourite cities! 🍎 🇺🇸