Italy Cracks Down on Phone Use While Driving
In Italian driving school I learned that phone use while driving carries some of the stiffest penalties. Until now that has included fines up to [...]
Waking Up in Italy
I wondered what it would be like. I'm talking about waking up in Italy after making the most life-altering choice and change of my [...]
Make this Magnificent Italian Seaside Villa Yours!
Parting with it is no easy task for us! This four-level villa in Imperia, Italy, has been heavenly. We’ve woken every day to magnificent [...]
“Quanto le devo?” Is an Essential Italian Phrase!
I advise you to commit this important way of asking, "How much do I owe?" in Italian to memory. By using "Quanto le devo?" you [...]
Make Your Italian Driver’s License Studies Easier.
My face looked something like this when I first cracked open the Italian driver's manual. I'd just picked it up from my Scuola Guida [...]
Choose Your Italian Driver Instructor Carefully!
I wish I had. Just to clarify, I'm talking about the practical driving instructor in this post. The theoretical instructor is also of supreme importance, [...]
Finding the Right Balance in Italy.
I’m talking about the sweet spot between romanticism and practicality. Many people coming to live in Italy are swept away by the former while [...]
Italy’s 2023 Sanremo Music Festival Crowns a New Winner
If you're coming to live in Italy, you'd best acquaint yourself with this legendary event. It's sacrilege if you don't. The annual Sanremo Music [...]
Ten Years in Italy, Ten Takeaways
Yes, I’ve reached a milestone. And looking back, I’ve learned tons. Much of it, I anticipated. But there’s a fair amount that I didn’t. [...]
How to Say “Stuck Up” in Italian
I love this Italian idiom, which is used to refer to a snobbish person. Italians have a knack for going one step further with colorful [...]
When Not Speaking Italian Becomes a Problem
I am here to tell you, from personal experience, WHY having at least an intermediate command of Italian is essential. Speaking Italian isn’t just [...]
Introducing Customized Italian Lessons with Simone!
Here's a golden opportunity to learn Italian one-on-one with an excellent native speaker! I'm constantly advising people who want to spend substantial time [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]
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, [...]
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 [...]