Loving My Daily Bella Passeggiata
I adore my early morning walks here in Italy. Yes, a bella passeggiata, a nice stroll, is high on my gratitude list for living [...]
Buying Property in Italy—What You Need to Know
Buying property in Italy is fairly easy. While buying a car isn’t, unless you’re a bona fide resident. You see, cars have to have [...]
Italian Crosswalks—Pedestrians and Drivers Beware
And you'd best prepare yourself. I first wrote about Italian crosswalks seven years ago (read it here). It was from the perspective of the pedestrian, [...]
Back to Valloria, the Village of Painted Doors
One Excursion to Valloria Wasn't Nearly Enough. I thought I'd done a fairly thorough job of seeing Valloria when I took a long leisurely stroll [...]
The True Colors of Italy’s Best Gelato
Just yesterday I indulged in a yummy cup of pistachio and stracciatella gelato. Beware of marketing, a.k.a. visual enhancement. I’ve lived in Italy [...]
Expressing the Beauty of Solitude
I’ve never been a crowd kind of guy. My painting subjects often reflect this. “Table for One,” my latest oil, is yet another example of [...]
Let the River of Life Carry You Along
Life keeps teaching me to let go and to let its current take me. Again and again, I find myself reflecting on the river [...]
La Mole in Torino Surprises and Delights
The National Museum of Cinema is housed in this architectural beauty. La Mole Antonelliana, called “La Mole” for short, constructed from 1863 to 1889, was [...]
Taking It Slowly, Mindfully
Painting is a journey of self-discovery for me. As usual, my painting is a way of exploring what lurks inside my psyche, bypassing the [...]
Midnight Explorations
I was needing a shift. And I’ve learned that when I need more equilibrium, I lean into my creative endeavors. They bring me back [...]
Be Wise and Learn Italian through Italian Music!
It can be one of the most effective ways to learn Italian. Along with committing to a steady diet of Italian films,TV, and newspapers, [...]
Introducing “Fluidity”
Rarely have I had a painting flow out of me like this one. I didn't think that would be the case. I had thought, [...]
Indulging in a Meter-Long Fritto Misto di Mare
Living on the coast of Liguria has advantages, especially like this one! Oh yeah! I’ll gladly die at the altar of fritto misto di [...]
When We Look Deeper
Usually, it’s far too easy staying in familiar grooves of seeing and experiencing. My mom, who was a brilliant art teacher and mentor, both at [...]
Valloria, The Stunning Village of Painted Doors
Prepare to be blown away by this "open-air museum." That's how many people refer to the tiny village of Valloria, Liguria. And what's crazy [...]
When you’re ready to throw in the towel…
There’s been a lot of that sentiment going around. Especially after two torturous years of uncertainty. I, for one, have felt like I’ve been [...]
My Up-Close Experience with Making Farinata di Ceci
Farinata di Ceci is a revered culinary treasure in Liguria. This savory dish is made from a batter of chickpea flour, water, and olive [...]
Stopping to Reflect—A New Watercolor!
I've been missing my brushes and paints. That's why I squeezed in some time (two days to be exact) to unpack my watercolors and [...]