Author Archives: Liz Barron

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About Liz Barron

Returned US Peace Corps Volunteer (Armenia 17-19). Permanent address in Washington DC. Deep roots in Northern Ireland and persistent Belfast accent. Blogger, cook, painter, mother, grandma, Scrabble-player and enthusiastic world traveller.

Belfast: Our happy new year. 

Posted on January 4, 2017 by Liz Barron

Purple floor length coat with tartan trim. Avoca— made in Ireland.  Nine pounds. Just reduced. War on Want charity shop,  open today so people can donate what they didn’t want for Christmas. The tag says Small. It isn’t. Good.  The … Continue reading →

Posted in art, Belfast, clothes, friendship, Great weekends, joy, shopping, travel | 2 Comments

Making (no) sense of Morocco

Posted on December 30, 2016 by Liz Barron

You just know that this camel is a good storyteller for his face is droll.  His stories will have a world weary cynicism and a fair amount of bad language, because his life is of the “you have to laugh” … Continue reading →

Posted in Marrakech, Morocco, shopping, travel | Leave a comment

Tips for Lady Travelers

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Liz Barron

My beautiful Riad is in the northernmost part of the Northern Medina, close to a launderette, a number of scooter repair shops, some foundry workers and an Islamic saint’s tomb which non- Muslims are not permitted to enter. The riad’s … Continue reading →

Posted in drinking, eating out, errors of judgement, Marrakech, Morocco, shopping, travel | Leave a comment

Men and Women in Marrakech

Posted on December 28, 2016 by Liz Barron

Three women wearing hijabs were taking pictures of each other close to the big square. In French, I offered to take a picture of all three of them. It took a moment for them to adjust to the fact that … Continue reading →

Posted in joy, Marrakech, Morocco, shopping, travel | 1 Comment

Big Night Out

Posted on December 27, 2016 by Liz Barron

Hussain came to the Riad to pick me up about 6:30 on Christmas night. He wore a robe the colour of port wine and a matching fez. Real ‘wise man’ attire.  We walked past the mosque and through dark, uneven, … Continue reading →

Posted in eating out, joy, Marrakech, Morocco | Leave a comment

Mansplaining in Marrakech

Posted on December 24, 2016 by Liz Barron

All roads in the Medina in Marrakech lead to the big square, the Jemaa el Fna. Specifically, the road from my Riad. “Turn left at the mosque and keep left”, said Said. “About 20 minutes”. Despite this instruction, it took … Continue reading →

Posted in joy, know thyself, Marrakech, Morocco, shopping, travel | Leave a comment

What’s not to like?: Marrakech

Posted on December 23, 2016 by Liz Barron

There are whole shops that sell tassels. Whole shops. Only tassels. Throw me a headscarf—Marrakech could be my spiritual home. The city is noisy of course, but in a good-tempered way.  Children walking home from school call across the street … Continue reading →

Posted in eating out, joy, Marrakech, Morocco, shopping, travel | 1 Comment

High Level Problem Solving in Pall Mall

Posted on November 30, 2016 by Liz Barron

” Be there early” said my friend, a most important member of the very important committee. “the room will be packed to the rafters but meet me at 5pm and I’ll find you a seat.” The lecture was to be … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

You’ll probably hate this, but…

Posted on November 25, 2016 by Liz Barron

My Thanksgiving day lunch was a Veggie Christmas sandwich, eaten at my desk in London where the holiday is not celebrated. Bleak, with a side of bathos. Three thousand miles away, my friends and family tucked into turkey, mashed potato, mac … Continue reading →

Posted in America, know thyself, personal failings, Politics, Washington DC | 3 Comments

Two Fat Ladies Ride Again

Posted on November 14, 2016 by Liz Barron

“Wrap up warm” she said “and don’t forget stout shoes.” I grimaced. So far, it didn’t sound like my idea of a treat. Then she tried to lend me her boyfriend’s fleece, and tutted when she saw one of my … Continue reading →

Posted in family, Great weekends, joy, personal failings, sporting achievements, straight-talking sister, travel | 6 Comments