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 [...]
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 [...]
Italy Gets Serious with the Super Green Pass
Italy’s vigilance has been paying off. It certainly seems that way when one looks at what is happening elsewhere in Europe. Our numbers, while [...]