London, Last Stop on our Grand Tour of the Globe

London, Last Stop on our Grand Tour of the Globe. HomeAway Holiday Rental in London, England. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

It was fitting that our final ‘home away from home’ of our twelve month grand tour was exactly the kind of place we love to settle into. The delightful flat in London’s West End was much more of a home in London than a rental. A couple of the apartments we stayed at during the year … Read more

A Year of Rhythm and Beats – Sounds and Music from a Grand Tour

A Year of Rhythm and Beats: Sounds and Music from a Grand Tour. Playing the Amzhad – a Berber Instrument Djemaa El Fna, Marrakech, Morocco. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

I grew up in a family where everyone played at least two musical instruments. That’s not a boast. I had to listen to musical scales being played on piano every day during my childhood. For three hours. Every day. I placed my fingers in my ears while cello, violin and viola practice was taking place. … Read more

A Winter’s Tale – Our First Full Winter in Europe

A Winter’s Tale: Our First Full Winter in Europe. A single winter glove, Berlin, Germany. Copyright © 2023 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Having just spent our first full winter in Europe, we thought it was time for some reflections on the last four months of our grand tour. Having lived in Sydney for many years, it’s fair to say that winter was of little consequence in Australia. Sure it gets chilly, but you have to drive a few … Read more

Buying a Saz or Baglama in Istanbul, Turkey

Buying a Saz or Baglama in Istanbul, Turkey. Saz instrument shops, Istanbul, Turkey. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

I’ve played stringed musical instruments since I was old enough to hold a guitar. Almost everyone in my family studied music theory, piano, and at least one other stringed instrument. When we moved to the Middle East in 1998, I took a few of my favourite instruments with me. (Note from Editor (Lara): six freaking … Read more

Reflections on Cape Town

Reflections on Cape Town. Table Mountain from Camps Bay, Cape Town, South Africa. Reflections on Cape Town. Copyright © 2022 Terence Carter / Grantourismo. All Rights Reserved.

Having grown up in Australia during South Africa’s apartheid era, I became aware of what was going on there through the South African rugby team’s tour of Australia in 1971. My reflections on Cape Town after visiting South Africa are quite complex and conflicted, to be honest. I can remember, even as a small boy, … Read more