Readers be warned. This newsletter is entirely focussed on my recent European holiday. You may develop indigestion reading about all of this food! I am ten days back and just coming out of the jet lag fog. Fortunately one forgets how awful it is or we would never plan another overseas trip.

I include here a few holiday snaps, some of which have already appeared on Instagram, and a few observations. Immediately prior to my holiday there had been terrorist attacks in France, and floods, and throughout much of Europe significant arrivals of migrants, causing various levels of anxiety. One result seemed to be a significant reduction of tourists. For the first time in many visits I could stand and admire the beautiful façade of Notre Dame without the forecourt being completely full of coachloads of admirers. And similarly in Florence, it was easier to stroll around the Duomo. We were almost alone when we visited the Brancacci chapel to look at the stunning Masaccio frescoes.

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