I had to take it slowly just to make the good parts last

[hawkwing_lb]

My French has either deteriorated, or it was never as good as I believed it to be. (I suspect more the latter than the former, to be honest. Since I never did succeed in reading a whole French novel in school.)

Which makes reading Tran-Nhut's Le temple de la grue écarlate rather more difficult than I'd hoped. Still, with the aid of pencil, dictionary, and notebook, I believe I will succeed: the first page has already charmed me. (And honestly, being as limited as I am in my other languages is embarrassing. I need to at least try to put a bit more effort in.)

---

I had been thinking seriously about trying to get to the States next July - but for the same amount as I'd pay for return flights there and back, I can get a month's accommodation on the island of Naxos (in a large apartment, albeit at the cheap end - anyone want to come?), and transpo there, between late May and late June. Which would be great for a spot of writing-up time, and quiet fun.

Pity I'm such an anxious traveller.

---

A bright November morning, colours vivid - if tending to yellowing brown in the fields.

Comments

[green_knight]

Hm, Naxos... will there be broadband?

[hawkwing_lb]

Probably. Hotel Zeus Naxos has it (twin room, euro 500 for twenty nights)...

But I may go for tiny domatia and rely on finding a kafenia with WiFi. Since I'll have paper books to work from, and could probably do with fewer distractions...

[green_knight]

In order to freelance properly, I need reliable Internet access. Well, semi-reliable, as in, at many points during the day without breaking the bank.

Otherwise, I'd be tempted...

[hawkwing_lb]

You never know how reliable the internet is until you get there. Of three of the hotels I stayed in (in Greece) that advertised their WiFi as a selling point, not one of them had what I'd consider a "reliable" connection.

Whereas I've stayed places that didn't advertise WiFi at all that turned out to have a pretty decent broadband. So. It's what you might call a crapshoot.

[green_knight]

<iz tempted anyway>

I won't know before April whether this would be feasible for me at all, but, oh SO tempted...

[hawkwing_lb]

If it's feasible for you ever, doooo eeeeet. Honestly, the rate for some of the holiday places if you book far enough in advance, is almost as cheap as rent. In Dublin, anyway.

[green_knight]

Yeah, well, that's it. My stuff is in storage, and I'll be back in mid-April, but if I find somewhere for a few weeks and then try this freelance thing from elseEurope (always assuming that I can get freelance work in the first place and that b) nobody offers me a great inhouse job).


So I'm _verrry_ tempted to see whether I can make it happen, because I'd love to live in different places for a bit. I just need somewhere quiet with electricity and Internet.