I came home on a Tuesday and there were 60 people standing outside my gate. A brief moment of panic struck me — was there a fire?? Why was everyone outside? But there was no smell of smoke and the crowd seemed relaxed as I weaved my way through the throng and to my front […]
Tag Archives: Life in Italy
08
Mar
Mar
Happy International Women’s Day! A day celebrating the ladies, that is not widely practiced in the United States, but which wikipedia describes as a “mix of Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day.” In Italy, you’ll see men selling mimosa sprigs on nearly every corner. The affordable yellow bloom is often given on this day, with daffodils gaining […]
13
Jan
Jan
La bella vita T contacted me the other day, subject: I NEED HELP. Now, I don’t claim to have all the answers about making your dreams come true in Italy, but the tone of her email made me remember what is was like to be standing on the abyss of a move. You don’t know […]
04
Sep
Sep
There are still a few slow, almost motionless days of late summer left. Perfect for doing nothing more ambitious than watching the laundry swing in the breeze. Decaying walls and threadbare sheets.
04
Aug
Aug
Oh yes. The most beautiful time of year – the vendemmia, or grape harvest. As the heat of Roman summer fades and gives way to cooler days, I am dreaming of an Umbrian escape just outside of Orvieto. Simona and Nick have just such an Umbrian escape, though they are lucky enough to call it […]
21
Jul
Jul
Most of the time, when I spend a day out in Rome or take a day trip, I do very little planning. I just know that I will spend my time wandering the streets, waiting to see what is around the corner. Big, small, after the rain, after the snow, dressed up for a holiday, […]
16
Jul
Jul
“Ape” means bee in Italian. Ape means “adorable” to me. Born out of necessity and ingenuity post-WWII, the Piaggio Ape is ubiquitous in Italy’s small towns, and even Rome’s smaller side streets. When it was created in the late 1940s, it was essentially a Vespa with an extra back wheel and a board in the […]
10
Jul
Jul
Real title: I’ve actually already killed these plants. But by god, they were lovely and delicious while they latest. From the walk home from the farmer’s market at Circo Massimo, to the whole three weeks I kept them semi-alive in Testaccio.