Back in the Kitchen with Novelia for Spaghetti alla Chitarra!
A chitarra that makes pasta, not music? I argue that it makes both, especially after another guided journey in “la cucina” with my dear friend [...]
Letting Your Story Unfold
I’ve recently returned from a major writers’ conference in NYC and my brain is still on fire with all that I learned from a vast [...]
Pietrantonj is Abruzzo’s Oldest Winery
One thing leads to another. This is becoming my motto in life, with one additional clarifier. One thing leads to another when you give yourself [...]
Fall in Love with Novelia and Fettuccine “a mano”
Am I a lucky man or not? After you view the video contained in this post, I believe you’ll quickly respond in the affirmative. Just [...]
Learning Italian? Lighten Up with Music.
I’ve taken to utilizing Italian music to round out my knowledge of Italian. If you’re on the journey to achieve some kind of competency when [...]
The Rich Fishing History of Abruzzo’s Trabocchi
Image by Lorenabacchilega of Creative Commons Trabocchi are “fishing machines” dating back to the 18th century. At least that’s the earliest documentation attesting to their existence. Some [...]
A Symphony of Italian Hand Gestures
A beauty to behold. Yes, Italian hand gestures contain a fluidity and artistry that continues to amaze me. Italians must have something built into their [...]
Italian Bike Life – Dress As You Please
I’ve been meaning to tackle this subject for quite a while, and even today’s post is only a beginning to a fuller visual essay on [...]
Speaking of Tongues…
Fair warning: if you’re a fan and believer in religious relics, you might want to skip this week’s blog post. I’m dedicated to sharing the [...]
“Ciao” and The Long Goodbye
“Ciao” can flow like water at the end of a phone call. Years ago, I was on a northbound train in Italy, sitting close to [...]
The Italian Post. Know Its Limits.
The Italian Post is a mixed bag. If you live in Italy, on some days you might find yourself exclaiming “I can’t live with it!” [...]
Ready To Take the Plunge and Hit Reset?
If you’re moving to Italy you’d best be prepared to hit reset. Why do I say this? Because, in my experience, many people can be so [...]
Dying in Italy – Know the Landscape
Recently, I wrote philosophically about Learning to Dance with Both Life and Death. I shift now to navigating the practicalities of dying in Italy. Dreams [...]
The Gift of Winter in Italy.
A confession right up front: for most of my life I’ve despised winter (even winter in Italy) and looked on it as something to just [...]
Immersed in a Culture of Train Travel
I love trains and train travel. Ever since I received my first Lionel train set for Christmas at age four, I’ve been hooked. But, the [...]
Buone Feste! Let There Be Magic!
I am indeed fortunate to be living in Italy and experiencing yet another magical holiday! I confess, a long career in advertising and marketing had [...]
Italian Holiday Greetings – Prep Yourself and Know the Protocol
The holiday trim and lights already are being prepped and strung across the ancient city streets of Italy. Mountains of panettone (Italian holiday sweet [...]
QUID PRO QUO – When Latin Takes Two Different Routes
Don’t assume anything, especially when it comes to language. Quid pro quo has been my most recent lesson in this regard. No, it doesn’t [...]