C’mon, Is Naples Pizza Really THAT Good?
Yes, Naples Pizza IS! At least, to my discriminating taste buds. I've sampled incredible pizza all over Italy. Rarely have I been left wanting. I'd [...]
Know Your Italian Idioms!
I applaud Italians for having created such colorful phrases. Italian idioms, in my opinion, kick butt on English idioms. And, if you're serious about going [...]
Time to Make the Leap to Speaking with an Advanced Italian Tongue
Okay, no more putting this off. I've been living in Italy for six-and-a-half years now, and I get along pretty well with my mid-intermediate Italian [...]
The Mountain is My Teacher
It happens every time, this invitation to wake up. So, why do I jump back into the swirling river of busyness and the world of [...]
Washing Up at the Communal Fountain
It's often a family affair. I could park myself at these rustic communal fountains near the beaches of southern Italy (this one's in Puglia, the [...]
When a Cinghiale Comes to Call
Don't trifle with these creatures. Cinghiale, which is a wild boar, can be found all over Italy. I've heard that, years ago, after their population [...]
Italian Faces Define A Medieval Celebration
Sulmona, Medieval, jousting, la giostra cavalleresca, abruzzo
La Festa del Redentore in Venice Delivers
A front-row seat and an iPhone yield surprising results. Normally, for a spectacle of the magnitude of La Festa del Redentore, I'd be packing my [...]
The Sure Fire Creativity Killer
Being motivated by what people might think can kill the creative muse. I've known I've been a people pleaser most of my life. I've often [...]
A Nap on the Steps of the Duomo di Siena
A trip down Memory Lane. I've been so immersed in digital wizardry for so many years that I often forget about my vault of 35mm [...]
Personal Epiphanies from an Overdue Hiatus
Sometimes we just need to step out of our grooves. Yes, step away from the well-worn rut of what we normally do. Step outside of [...]
Put It on Ice.
Time for a short break to refuel... I've been going, going, going and doing, doing, doing. While I pat myself on the back for being [...]
Living the Colorful Life on the Island of Burano
How does daily living amongst saturated color affect a person? I've been asking myself this question ever since I first visited the island of Burano [...]
Go Ahead, Steer into the Storm.
I’ve been resisting the foul weather. By doing so, I've put myself squarely in the middle of the wrestling match with “what is.” I dig [...]
I Hit the Wine Jackpot at Lidl
You can as well, with a good strategy. If you don't know Lidl, they're all over Europe and they're a cleverly run chain of German [...]
Learn How to Order Takeaway in Italian
Mastery of a few everyday Italian expressions goes a long way... in helping expats (and visitors) assimilate into the Italian culture. Italians notice and appreciate [...]
Venice Awakens
Early morning in The Floating City reveals much of the beauty normally obscured by hordes of tourists. This is why I packed up my camera [...]
Oddio! Invoking the Divine in Italian.
THIS is one of the most often used phrases when speaking Italian. You may adhere to the "Thou shalt not take the Lord's name in [...]