Edward Gray - Graymatter Nomadic

Edinburgh

Impressions.

“The Ireland I Loved So Well”: Family, Language, & Memory

I arrived at Dublin’s Glasnevin neighborhood by bus from the airport after spending a month in Dubai and Istanbul in 2022. It was March 16th. (Dublin, by the way, has a great system of double-decked buses that go everywhere. The number 41 serves Drumcorda and downtown from the airport). A smile appeared at the first…

How cultural travel taught me to be grateful: Ten days to remember

In 2022, I traveled to 95 cities in eight countries for a total of 198 days abroad.

When I reflected on my top 2022 travel experiences, I came up with three (let’s call them ) “events” almost immediately: my first trip to Ireland which became a trip home. Dubai Expo 2020, a global village and a vision of the future. Setouchi Triennale in Japan’s magical Seto Sea.

Bali: Two Faces of Indonesia’s “Island of the Gods”

Attending a local temple, talking to Balinese, learning about its culture, and spending 30 days here allowed me to see the two faces of Bali in the way that the Balinese see life itself: a contest between good and evil where the outcome is not victory for one side or the other. it is keeping the two opposites in balance. This is what the Balinese call Rwa Bhineda. Like the Balinese themselves, my time on the island contained both the good and the bad. I am not sure I would have had it any other way.

Thank you, Japan. How a visit to the Land of the Rising Sun will thrill, amaze, and comfort

Japan fully reopened in October 2022, just in time to enjoy the autumn session of the marvelous Setouchi Triennial. Setouchi 2022. Thank you, Japan.

Turkish Delight: An Istanbul photo essay, where everything is up-to-date!

Istanbul is by design both European and Asian. While most of Turkey is in Asia (Minor), the majority of its (former) capital is in Europe. This is another dimension of Istanbul’s duality and its complicated geography. It is the literal crossroads of continents. Istanbul not only spans two continents, it lies between two seas, The Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara. These are connected by the Bosporous, named after a Greek God, and a defining feature of the City. Istanbul spans two worlds twice: Europe and Asia,
the ancient and the modern.

Dubai Expo 2020: All the world in 21 days

The emotional highlight was my visit to the Ukraine Pavilion. Visitors from all over the world have left messages of peace and encouragement. They cover the walls and staircases. They are written in a dozen languages. This was a crowd-sourced, low-tech, high-touch exhibit. A black sharpie making an indelible impression on a 3M sticky of a thought, a hope. a plea, a cry of the heart. This was the best exhibition at Dubai Expo2020.

Algarve Almanac: Cliffs, Crusades, & an unsolved Crime in Portugal

January 2022 CLIFFS CRUSADES Crime Thank you, Algarve

Limestone, Miradouros & Empire: The well-kept secrets in a European capital

… I noticed a weathered, well-worn look to this former world capital. I cannot say that any building gleams. The point may be that Lisbon doesn’t need to. It is elegant and without pretense. The Marquis de Pombal’s Lisbon does not shout, “Look at me!” like Hassuman’s Paris. It doesn’t present the near perfect preservation of the centre of Amsterdam.
Lisbon is a more unassuming city than other European capitals, and that is part of the reason to visit.

How to criss-cross Croatia: Water Falls, City Walls, and a forgotten Roman Emperor

“It is easy to travel brilliantly in Croatia. It offers mountains and beautiful waterfalls in addition to a famous coastline, castles, and walled cities. My month-long trip to Croatia was like finally wandering down a meandering street just a bit out of the way in your home town. A month criss-crossing Croatia felt like a slow walk down that street which had been beckoning you but which you had never before had the chance to explore.”

Author: Edward Gray