When you are only going to the Florence for the day, you pray it doesn’t rain. When you do inevitably get caught in rain, it is time to come up with a quick Plan B. Sara and I found ourselves in just such a situation and decided that it was a fine excuse to pop in […]
Category Archives: Italy
If you are planning a trip to Tuscany, you are signing up for all kinds of indulgences. After all the hard work of eating truffles and drinking Chianti, you might want to enjoy a bit of well earned relaxation. Terme, natural hot springs, are a fantastic way to soak in the Italian lifestyle. Some are […]
Happy National Coffee day to my fellow Americans! I love me some coffee. Most days, slightly burnt and rather acidic Roman espresso will do just fine. Other times, I have to go to Florence for the day. Ditta Artigianale was everything I dreamed it would be. The second location, in Florence’s Oltrarno area, is a […]
I moved to Rome on September 28, 2010. I had a heinous direct flight from Los Angeles, then booked a weird group transfer van from the airport, and met my landlord at an apartment that I had rented sight unseen. I managed to stay awake until 7:30 pm, before falling asleep until 3 am and […]
Mondello beach plays no small part in my desperation to get back to Palermo ASAP. Crystalline water is set against white sand and distant rocky peaks. Mondello is otherworldly beautiful. And Mondello is lucky it is so good looking because the bus ride to get there was heinous. And I deal with Rome at rush […]
Away from the crowds that spill out from Antica Pizzeria da Michele or Sorbillo, 50 Kalò feels calm and contained. We literally took one look at the mass of humans outside Sorbillo on Via Tribunali and hailed a taxi. For €17 (and of course no actual meter used) we were whisked across town and then […]
We woke up in Ireland to worried text messages from family in the U.S. Early mornings always come with a sense of the imagined, and the inability to comprehend the world around you for the first few moments. But as I quickly scanned through the shocking photos of Amatrice and other affected hamlets, I realized […]
I have something that I affectionately refer to as my Italian Bucket List. Hiking the Stromboli Volcano? Check. Battle of the Oranges? That was on it, but is now complete. Siena’s Palio? I have yet to fulfill my dream of experiencing the tradition first hand. The race is controversial because it is also dangerous. Siena’s […]