It may seem insensitive to show pictures of lovely houses when all about us so many have lost theirs to wars, storms and flooding. But this has always been a completely unrealistic flibberty-gibbet of an escapist whimsy, and goodness knows do we need it after all the bad news of 2015. Besides, as the folk song goes:
I am the little New Year, ho, ho!
Here I come tripping it over the snowPresents I bring for each and all –
Big folks, little folks, short and tall…Some shall have silver and some shall have gold,
Some shall have new clothes and some shall have old;
Some shall have brass and some shall have tin –
So open your doors and let me in!
2016 is going to be a good year for you, for me, for the world more generally – 6 is my lucky number and I am willing it to be so. (Besides, the world and I are due a good one after the last few grim ones.) This year is also going to be all about literature and writing. So what better way to start than with some villas in the Lake Geneva area with literary or musical or even film associations?







Incidentally, the Hotel Montreux Palace also makes a brief (but important) appearance in my WIP, sans Nabokov of course. His wife Vera continued to live in the hotel until her death in 1991. Given today’s eye-watering room prices, this must have been the highest rental property in the world!
For a little extra, here’s an interesting article about the enduring attraction of the Vera-like supportive figure for all writers, regardless of gender.
Charlie Chaplin’s! @@ Oh my goodness! Happy New Year! 😀
I’m going to need someone to go ahead and sign over the deed to David Bowie’s former house. Thanks.
It also featured in a Claude Chabrol film ‘Thanks for the Chocolate’ and it’s got a fab view, so you’ll be next in line after me…
I love Charlie Chaplin’s gaff so may have to fight it out with Layla, or agree to share! A very happy 2016 to you, Marina. Better than last year all round, I hope.
Hepburn’s looks cosy and definitely gets my vote!
I really enjoyed these photos, MS, great idea! As you say, we should be looking for some escapism and fun, instead of wallowing in the grim realities All my best wishes for the New Year. Xx, Marina
The article was interesting too! I’ve often exclaimed myself ‘I need a wife’ – when I saw male friends go home to a cooked dinner and their socks washed…
Oh, these are all lovely places! I would be hard-put to choose among them, Marina Sofia. I hope the new year is very good to you.
Oh, so many fine abodes with fab connections… but I’m choosing the Montreux Palace – lucky enough to stay there with work yonks ago I’d love to revisit with family. Curious of how it figures in your WIP☺
I think I would enjoy a short stay in any of these, but for the long termI like cozy so the Hepburn place is the one for me,
David Bowie’s will do for me 😉 – Happy New Year Marina
At least a handful of writers could share most of those places and still get as much alone time as they need. Hope 2016 is a wonderful year for you.
beautiful!
Audrey Hepburn’s house is adorable! Hope 2016 brings you health and happiness!
Happy New Year, Marina! Lovely houses – I could live in most of them, but I can’t decide which appeals most. I’d love to stay in them all and see which one suits me best, probably Villa Diodati.
I would love to go anywhere Audrey Hepburn has been. She was such a beautiful force and I’m sure her energy still lives on.
luv the photos, especially the one where Shelley wrote!