Attic Whispers from the Blue Mountains [May 2025 Edition]

May 2025 NEWSLETTER

Attic Whispers from The Blue Mountains

Greetings from Dubrovnik, Croatia, my friends!

The Grand European Literary Anniversary Tour

As you know, travel is an integral part of how I write about, and research, the many destinations woven into the storylines and the lives of the characters featured in my work. I believe that first-hand experiences are vital for authenticity, and without authenticity, fact and fiction cannot coexist in a way that is both realistic and entertaining without stretching the imagination too far.

Because I am touring through Europe for the next two months and you are coming with me, I have decided to make travel the focus of our newsletters for the time being.

This will allow me to share my journey and, hopefully, some adventures with you, and entertain you along the way.

Unfortunately it will not be possible to share all the places I intend to visit with you. A newsletter format will not allow that. What I will do instead is select some of the highlights of the journey and feature them here.

The journey so far

After a long flight from Sydney via Abu Dhabi, we began our grand tour of Europe in Athens, in many ways one of the cradles of Western civilisation. Most appropriate, don’t you think?

A whole day was spent exploring the Acropolis, followed by a visit to the stunning Acropolis Museum; always a favourite full of inspiration for storyline ‘twist’ and surprises to take back home to the attic.

After a few wonderful days in Athens, we continued our journey through Greece to Olympia, the site of the first Olympiad.

To make this experience as realistic as possible, allow me to be your guide:

“Drive into the breathtaking fertile valleys of the western Peloponnese, passing olive groves, vineyards and orchards. On a spectacular mountain plain in the shadow of Mt. Kronos, walk among the remains of the first Olympic Park, established in 776 BC. See the Temple of Zeus, one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and once home to a gold-and-ivory statue of the Greek god. Admire the Temple of Hera and circular Philippeion temple. Marvel at the stadium, the largest of its day with a capacity of 45,000 spectators.

Afterward, visit the Olympia Archaeological Museum and its remarkable collection, including the stone head of Hera; or explore Modern Olympia along the way.”

Well, my friends, I did all that and more. Next stop: Corfu.

A day tour of Corfu:

“With a local guide, you will drive to Kanoni, a wonderful vantage point for photos of tiny Pontikonisi Island, or Mouse Island, and the Vlacherna Monastery. Pass the archaeological site of Paleopolis and the gates of the late Georgian Mon Repos Villa, once a residence of the Greek Royal Family and the birthplace of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh. Past Garitsa Bay, you will reach Corfu’s Old Town. Enjoy a guided stroll down the famous Esplanade, one of Europe’s largest public squares; elegant Liston promenade, once reserved for aristocracy; the Old Fortress; Durrell Gardens; and the Palace of St. Michael and St. George, former residence of the British High Commissioner.”

After a wonderful day in Corfu came a breathtaking experience: a visit to Dubrovnik in Croatia

“George Bernard Shaw famously called it “paradise on earth,” and you will see why during a visit to the Old Town district. Meet your guide and transfer by motor coach to the heart of the city; witness its beauty up close as you enter the cobblestoned Old Town on foot through the historic Pile Gate. Follow the Stradun—the marbled main pedestrian way that gleams from centuries of footsteps—to the Dominican Monastery, where you can view a fine collection of Renaissance paintings. You will also pass the Sponza Palace, the Church of St. Blaise and the 15th-century Onofrio’s Fountain, and much, much more.”

My readers keep telling me that my writing is very ‘visual’ in that the locations featured in the books are not only authentic, but are presented in a realistic way that allows the reader to share the experience and ‘be present’ in the moment. The only way to do this effectively through words, is to have actually experienced the locations firsthand and that, my friends, is what travel is all about.

I hope you are enjoying being part of my Grand European Literary Anniversary Tour. We still have a long way to go, and much to see. Promise!

Warmest regards,