Travel Schmavel

This is what is keeping me grounded these days.

Women and Iran

I love Anne Applebaum's clarity. Her ability to dissect an issue. Her laser-like writing style.

In today's edition of the Washington Post, she writes about Iran's women and their strength not only in the current upheaval against the regime, but behind the scene for decades in opposition to build momentum and organize against repression. Ultimately, she concludes that "...regimes that repress the civil and human rights of half their population are inherently unstable." Exactly.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/22/AR2009062202387.html

Photo courtesy of the New York Times.

Happy Anniversary

Six years? Wow. Yes, it's been six years ago today that we were married at Casa Cornacchi in Tuscany. Just looking at a few photos of that amazing, 16th century villa brings back a flood of memories and a rush of feelings about my husband -- not to mention my friends from Eastern Europe and my family, who joined me there during that magical week in 2003.

Democracy, Iranian Style

As I sit and look at the photos tonight from Reuters and AP, I feel a sense of deja vu from my days in the Balkans and Milosevic's attempts to steal elections, which came to a tragic end with his extradiction and eventual death in a small cell at the Hague.

Women facing off against riot-gear clad police officers. Crowds in the tens of thousands amassing on the main squares. Desperate police officers wielding batons against those frustrated by their attempt to register dissatisfaction with the current illiberal regime. No doubt change will come to Iran, perhaps not as quickly as many had hoped....but this is the beginning of the end. It seems these are the largest public demonstrations since 1979. Fuel was added to the fire earlier today when the country's top cleric called for an investigation into the allegations of vote rigging.

Photo courtesy of New York Times

Ah, Motherhood

Has it really been since April 20th that I've written? I opened my site tonight, after a long absence, and was quite dismayed that it's been soooo long. Back at work....back to the grind so living vicariously through friends right now. Sharon in Prague. Amanda in Kabul. Willeke in Amsterdam. Majada in Paris. Brenda in Rome. Alistair in Juba. Jo in Franschoek.

Anyway, I'll be back soon with some travel tales and adventures. My passport is gathering dust and that's not good.