Philippa Davenport writes eloquently in last week-end's Financial Times about Petersham Nurseries a green oasis located in Richmond, a few miles outside the center of London along the Thames river. They sell assorted antiques and garden artefacts and books. In the middle of all this is a Cafe that serves a limited menu based on fresh and seasonal products. One thing that I especially liked is that they list their 40 or so food sources...

In Luanda (Angola), one of these african cities touched by the oil boom, 2 sisters Dona Eugenia and Dona Antonia offer simple and clean accomodations to visitors in their family run guest house Soleme. For $80.00 per night you get a room in a residence that seems favored by writers of all stripes. John Reed writes about them today as Hospitality warmer than the weather in the Financial Times. Sunil Deepak calls 'Soleme' the House...