With Monica, currently in Germany; Rosii, in Sao Paulo; Fruitloop, in sunny South Africa; and The Mayor at home. Curiosity begins with delayed trains and Sunday traffic, wanders through secret boxes, forbidden buttons and mysterious doors, and somehow ends up somewhere between Narnia, a five-course dinner and a very well-guarded bar of chocolate. Curiosity was…
By Sylvie, France Sometimes discovering another world does not mean travelling anywhere. Sometimes it arrives in your garden, turns up the music, jumps into the pool and politely tells you that it is time to leave your own party. When we started talking about “discovering other worlds,” I wasn’t completely sure what that meant. Another…
THE PINEAPPLE PARTNERSHIP Give your people a chair at an international table. One professionally hosted conversation every week. Different people from your organisation can rotate through the chair—bringing their own experience, meeting people outside their usual world and encountering questions they would not normally hear. English is the common language. Humans are the point. You…
What happens when you stop trying to control the destination and simply let a thought take you for a walk? Next week at Brida, we are exploring the uncharted paths that open up the moment we trade certainty for momentum. In a world that loves solid plans and clear trajectories, we are taking a step…
By Manfred, Germany. For Manfred, travelling starts long before the caravan moves. Planning is part of the pleasure—but what keeps pulling him back is the possibility that somewhere new will still surprise him. The first seeds of my next holiday are usually sown while I am still on the current one. I begin asking myself…
What happens when we reach the edge of what we can know? In Pineapple 25, the answer might begin with a photograph from another country, a seven-year-old’s remarkably confident plan for adulthood, a dragon that refuses to remain imaginary, or a lunch table where somebody wonders whether every question should really be asked. Stepping Through…
Fruitloop’s Reflections, by Janita Le Grange He came through the front door, bursting with the kind of urgent, life-altering news that only a primary schooler can deliver. “I have a girlfriend.” I paused, looking at him. “That’s big news. What’s her name?” He stared back at me, completely unbothered by the minor detail he had…
By Janita Le Grange, Editor. Last week, during one of our regular check-ins, the Mayor confessed something to me. “I am not sure how Pineapple 25 will come together…” he admitted. Without hesitating, I told him, “Don’t worry. I will do what I did last time, and then we’ll take it from there.” It wasn’t…
By Fabrice, France I do not hesitate much before asking a question. But direct does not mean rude. There are rules, and the first one is respect. When Janita asked me about the things we hesitate to ask, there was already a problem. I do not hesitate very much. The Mayor had warned her before…
Welcome to Monica’s 2026 European Trip. As you know, Monica lives in Adelaide, Australia and she and her partner are in Europe to visit family & friends in Germany (Monica) and in Scotland (John). Frankfurt am Main. Germany. We start in Frankfurt. At the ‘Hauptwache.’ The little Baroque building in the photo was built around…
