TDM
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My Current Favorites [July 2023] In Search of Lost Time: Graphic Novel Adaptation & Pléiade Edition
I never thought I would one day be interested in Proust. Since French is not my native language, I couldn’t imagine starting this novel with its endless sentences, reputed to be difficult even for French teachers who haven’t dared to read it to the end. And yet, during a walk in Amsterdam, we went into a cosmopolitan bookstore with a corner reserved exclusively for French-language books. There was an illustrated version by Stéphane Heuet. I took a photo of the cover to do more research at home. A successful graphic novel adaptation I discovered that this illustrator had started adapting the novel into a graphic novel: In Search of Lost…
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Our train journey from Istanbul (Turkey) to Sofia (Bulgaria)
I explained to you in this article how to buy a train ticket for the Istanbul – Sofia route. It’s actually not possible to book online; you have to go to the station in person. First tip: allow plenty of extra time for getting to the departure station (Halkalı). It’s located 30 kilometers from Istanbul’s center. And since the train departs at 8 PM, that’s when traffic is insane in Istanbul. We had deliberately booked a hotel the night before just 15 minutes by car from the station. But the trip took over 30 minutes due to traffic jams. Worse, we almost couldn’t find a taxi! All our Uber requests…
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Istanbul to Sofia train: how to book / buy a ticket?
Staying in Istanbul and thinking about our next destination, we learn thatthere is a night train connecting Istanbul to Sofia. It’s a journey of 571 km. The train departs every day from Istanbul at 8 PM, arriving in Sofia at 9:20 AM, a journey of 13 hours and 20 minutes. The departure is from Halkalı station , about a 40-minute drive from Istanbul’s center. When we found this out, we were immediately excited about the idea of taking this trip! However, it’s not possible to book a ticket online; you have to either go in person. Either to the departure station (Halkalı) or to Sirkeci , which has the advantage…
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26 Features of reMarkable 2 You Should Know
The reMarkable 2 is a tablet that lets you take notes by hand, using a stylus. What sets it apart from other tablets is the feeling of writing on paper. Since the reMarkable 2 user manual is only available in English, I thought it would be helpful to list the tablet’s features in French before you make your decision. At the end of this article, I’ve included a link to the French user manual (machine translation). This post is not NOT sponsored 26 top features of the reMarkable 2 Those who need special templates can create their own custom PDFs with links to each page of the document. I really…
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Review of Beyoğlu Hamam Banyo & Sauna in Istanbul
If you’re going to Istanbul, it’s hard to resist trying a Turkish bath. I described how it works in this article. You have two options: I like the first option, but since I particularly enjoy Turkish baths, I always look for a local spot so I can go regularly without emptying my bank account. During our stay in Istanbul in July 2023, I found one a 10-minute walk from our accommodation: the “Beyoğlu Hamam Banyo & Sauna” (Google Maps link). This one is reserved for men until 10 PM, after which it becomes mixed. The staff speaks a few words of English, enough to make themselves understood, and seem delighted…
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[2023] 4 days 3 nights in Cappadocia: Practical guide, budget, itinerary, travel diary
After a first trip to Cappadocia in 2018, we loved it so much that we decided to return in 2023. Here’s our travel diary (and ultra-detailed practical guide) updated with new prices. Part 1: Practical tipsPart 2: Travel diary Part 1: Practical tips As I write this, 100 TRY = €3.50. Even though inflation is high in Turkey, once converted to euros, it stays roughly the same or even gets cheaper each day. How to get to Cappadocia? Driving could be an option if you’re on a road trip, but we simply opted to fly from Istanbul. Nevsehir is a 30-minute drive from Goreme, and that’s where we decided to…
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[review] reMarkable 2, after 2 and a half years of use
I bought my reMarkable 2 years and a half ago, and this purchase changed my life. I have good intuition and make decisions very quickly. When I saw the reMarkable ad pop up on Facebook, and after reading glowing and positive reviews for this quirky Norwegian product sold only online, I still took the plunge, and I congratulate myself every day for doing so. Durability Over the years, the reMarkable software has been improved. I’m happy with every update, but I must say, apart from the big 3.0 update, nothing has been revolutionary. Just quality-of-life updates to address some user requests. The keyboard release was revolutionary for some, but I…
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[reviews & prices 2023] Non-mixed Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam in Istanbul (Turkey)
After checking out the local hammams in the neighborhood, I quickly have to give up because they’re all mixed. I mean, the area where you’d normally lie down on the warm marble is mixed. Exfoliation and massage are of course separate. But it bothers me anyway, because JB tells me the local hammam he goes to is all guys. So I went back to the only hammam I go to every time I visit Istanbul: Kılıç Ali Paşa Hamam. At least here, they have separate hours for men and women. With inflation in Turkey, I’m not sure exactly how they calculate their prices, but as a returning customer (meaning my…
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In Search of Used Books in Rouen (France): Travel Diary
After Chartres, I take the train to go to Rouen. If I had known, I would have spent half a day in Illiers-Combray before going to Rouen, but that will be for next time. There’s no direct train between Chartres and Rouen, so I have to change trains at Versailles-Chantier. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal I’ve been to Rouen many times; you can read my previous posts here, here, here , and and there. We spent 2.5 months in Rouen right after lockdown, and it’s still a fond memory for me. I chose accommodation in the city center on Rue de la République, but…
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Guided Tour of Chartres Cathedral (France): Travel Diary
After a few days in Paris, S. and I have to part ways. She goes home, while I continue my mini road trip. Right on Whit Monday, I find myself in Chartres. Part 1: Travel JournalPart 2: Practical Tips Part 1: Travel Journal I’m glad I didn’t arrive too early because it’s impossible to reach my hotel. A giant mass is taking place around Chartres Cathedral and all roads are blocked, even for pedestrians. I arrive just as the mass ends and slip through the crowd to get to my hotel. Getting lost in the crowd, I realize I’m in the right place at the right time: I’m right in…
