Afaranwide

NEWSLETTER 44: March 7, 2020

Hi, and thanks you for your interest in the Afaranwide travel blog!

Seeing Through van Gogh’s Eyes

This year marks the 130^th anniversary of the death by suicide of Vincent van Gogh at the age of just 37. The much-loved Dutch artist had recently discharged himself from an asylum in Provence, France, where he had created some of his greatest works.

Visiting the asylum (above) – which still provides psychiatric care – is a moving experience. You can gaze out through the barred window of van Gogh’s bedroom at the scene he painted in The Starry Night. READ MORE

News From the Cathedral

Will it or won’t it? There are conflicting reports across the internet this week on whether the famous plaza in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris will reopen later this month. The area and the cathedral itself, has been closed to the public since fire broke out last April during renovation work on the iconic 12th century building. One big challenge is cleaning up the lead pollution caused by the fire. Many businesses in the neighbourhood are shut, because it is considered unsafe for people to work there. All we really know is that France expects the cathedral, rebuilt in its original style, to be ready for 2024, when Paris hosts the Olympic Games.

Looking at Home from Home

It’s both odd and disturbing as we watch our home by birth, the UK, gear up for the coronavirus, more than a month after we did the same where we live in Hong Kong. Nothing’s real until it’s happening to you, and we all turn a blind eye to stuff that’s affecting people thousands of miles away. But a virus is different, because it can go everywhere – and suddenly we’re all in the same boat. Tomorrow marks the 13th anniversary of our move to Dubai (above), the start of our lives as expats. So it felt weird to go back there recently, given that it used to be our home too. Sue has been giving this aspect of expat life some thought, and will be writing about it soon.

Mauritius’s Big Day

Congratulations to the people of Mauritius, who next Thursday – March 12 – will be celebrating their National Day. It marks independence from Britain, and the creation of the modern republic. We love Mauritius, though when we were there we learned the dark history of the sega dance (above) that will no doubt feature prominently in the celebrations. READ MORE

Spread the Word, Story at a Time

Entries into the Travel Blogger of the Year competition that Sue took part in back in January (and snagged a Highly Commended from the lovely judges) have been read by 57,336 people from 178 countries. There were 155 entries, and why do we care about this? Because it was organised by Terra Incognita, which promotes ecotourism and is trying to get people to think more sustainably while they go adventuring. And as far as we’re concerned, that’s a good thing. READ Sue’s piece.

New Twist in Paradise

The first Ritz-Carlton is due to open in the Maldives at the end of this year, stretching over four islands and including 100 villas on land and on stilts in the water. Mark Hehir was named this week as manager of The Ritz-Carlton Maldives Fari Islands, which will be part of the Rah Falhu Huraa lagoon development. But I like the twist in this tale; one of the four islands will be for the resort staff only and will house a hospitality campus. Fari Village will focus on community, education, and engagement, and is the first of its kind in the Maldives. – SB

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