Our Swanky Hotel

A corner of the dining room.

In 1987 I took a year out and travelled round the world. On a shoe-string; I later calculated that it cost me about £10 a day, and that included air tickets and a trecking holiday in the Himalayas. Mind you, I did an embarrassing amount of free-loading off friends, acquaintances and complete strangers. Anyhow, I could only gawp at places like this, and now here I am. However, I'm please to say that I'm still astonished that I can stay in places like this.

We visited Asheville today, but as I said in a previous blip, found it to be a bit self-consciously arty - galleries everywhere. We even found an 'olive oil and balsamic vinegar tasting studio'. I mean, come on!!