Region

Europe

The longest thread in the archive — Iberian kitchens, Aegean glazes, Nordic winter light, Catalan studios. Thirteen cities, one continent, still returning.

Cities

Greece

Athens

Plaka stairs, the Benaki's Islamic wing, and a short list of tavernas worth the summer heat. A city that leans on its ruins without apologizing for them.

Spain

Barcelona

Gràcia mornings, Raval dusk, and a bookshop loop that keeps returning. Home for a semester, and the one city where I threw my own clay — twice, with two different teachers.

Spain

Catalonia

Out past Barcelona — small towns, stone farmhouses, and a ceramic with Mediterranean design elements found on a quiet afternoon drive.

Denmark

Copenhagen

The winter-light problem, worked on foot. Harbor walks, design-shop windows, smørrebrød at the right hour.

Portugal

Lisbon

A week of bookshops, reread. Tile fragments, tram windows, and pottery from Alfama that carries the Atlantic light home.

Spain

Madrid

La Latina on a Sunday, a dinner that stayed, and terracotta cups from a little studio behind the Reina Sofía.

Italy

Milan

Nine places in Brera, an afternoon at 10 Corso Como, and the kind of aperitivo that only works in a city that takes both fashion and dinner seriously.

Portugal

Nazaré

Atlantic cliffs, the big-wave beach, and a white souvenir bowl with a blue wave that makes the whole trip portable.

Czechia

Prague

Four winters. A working notebook on the smallness of Malá Strana. Cold streets, warm soup, and a vase with carved abstract designs.

Italy

Rome

Winter in Rome — bookshops, a long look at the Pantheon's oculus, and the rec list you write for friends without meaning to.

Greece

Santorini

The Cycladic glaze notebook — a white that isn't a white. Steep paths and a pottery that survives the suitcase.

Italy

Sardegna

Island kilns near Oliena. A terra sigillata I couldn't replicate at home, and a summer that felt borrowed from somewhere else.

Sweden

Stockholm

Södermalm studio visits — pale, winterlight pieces. A tea bowl in matte white and pale lavender glaze, the quietest object on the shelf.

Entries

Travel Recs

Athens

A modern taverna near Syntagma serving elevated Greek comfort food. The grilled octopus is tender and smoky, and the moussaka is richly layered. The perfect introduction to Athenian cuisine without…

February 2026

Travel Recs

Barcelona

Squeeze into a stool at the counter and let the masters of the kitchen feed you. The fried artichokes are legendary, and the gambas al ajillo sizzle straight from the pan. Come early or wait — it's…

February 2026

Pottery

Careful not to Break: Pottery from Greece

We went as a family—me, my parents, my sister—on a cruise through the Greek islands. I was just a kid with no idea this trip would mark the beginning of something that would shape how I move through the world.

February 2026

Pottery

Cold Streets and Warm Soup: A Vase from Prague

I barely remember booking the trip. One of those cheap flights you find when you're young and living in Europe—fifty euros if you don't mind a 6 AM departure and a budget airline that charges extra for breathable air.

February 2026

Travel Recs

Copenhagen

The temple of smørrebrød — Danish open-faced sandwiches elevated to an art form. The herring is silky, the roast beef is piled high, and every bite is a history lesson. Order several, share, and dr…

February 2026

Pottery

Countryside and Corners: A Catalonian Keepsake

I rented a BMW and drove through Catalonia in autumn. The Spanish rental agencies don't ask many questions when you're young and confident and waving a credit card.

February 2026

Pottery

Hills, Waves, and Ceramics: Pottery from Lisbon and Nazaré

Lisbon is hills. I cannot overstate this. Every direction involves climbing or descending at angles designed to destroy your calves and your confidence simultaneously.

February 2026

Travel Recs

Lisbon

The seafood cathedral of Lisbon, where you feast on tiger prawns, percebes, and clams piled high. The steak sandwich at the end is the unexpected star, and the chaos is part of the charm. Come hung…

February 2026

Travel Recs

Madrid

The legendary Cava Baja institution where the huevos rotos — eggs broken over crispy potatoes and jamón — were basically invented. The dining rooms are bustling and old-school, and the service has…

February 2026

Travel Recs

Milan

A rooftop bar with jaw-dropping views of the Duomo's gothic spires. The cocktails are well-crafted, and the aperitivo spread is generous. Watch the sunset hit the marble and pretend you live this l…

February 2026

Pottery

Northern Light: A Bowl from Stockholm

Stockholm surprised me. I expected cold efficiency, Scandinavian reserve, a city of blonde people minding their own business. What I found was designed within an inch of its life—but warm in ways I hadn't anticipated.

February 2026

Travel Recs

Prague

A beloved self-service cafeteria serving hearty Czech classics to locals and tourists alike. Point at the svíčková or roast pork, grab a Pilsner, and find a seat. It's cheap, authentic, and utterly…

February 2026

Travel Recs

Rome

Old-school Roman trattoria near the Spanish Steps serving textbook cacio e pepe and carbonara. The waiters have been here for decades, and the vibe is delightfully stuck in time. Book ahead — it's…

February 2026

Pottery

Terracotta and Tortilla: Coffee Cups from Madrid

The Madrileños will be the first to tell you they're different from the Catalans. Ask anyone in Madrid about Barcelona and you'll get an earful—about artificial beaches, overrated art scenes, tourists who've ruined every…

February 2026

Pottery

The Hamptons of Italy: A Cup from Sardegna

Sardegna is where happening Italians go in summer, which means I spent most of my time feeling like I'd snuck into a party I wasn't invited to. Think the Hamptons, but with better food.

February 2026

Pottery

Throwing Clay Near Sagrada Familia: Pottery I Made in Barcelona

I made these pieces myself, which still surprises me when I look at them. The wobbles in the walls. The places where my hands pressed too hard. The glazes that didn't turn out quite right.

February 2026