Venice, Christmas Eve You leave the grand space of San Marco’s campo, with its four horses and St. Mark’s body, clipped as goods of war, now bringing credentialization to the duomo. Walk along the water’s edge, and you’ll feel...
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Citta della Pieve, Hotel Vanucci.
The waitress came towards us, whispering to herself under her breath so she could hold the message in English until she could spit it out to us. “Mr. Peter, I have a message from the chef for you. He said to...
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"Make me Harry Potter!"
Paciano, Umbria: Festa di Tavolo Lungo
As I was installing a lightning bolt on this British lad’s forehead, a la Harry Potter, his older brother watched carefully, and then signed up for a shooting star on his forehead: ...
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It sounds like it should be a simple choice, when the opportunity presents itself, to grab that brass ring. But it isn’t always.
I first learned this when my daughter asked for a trip to Europe with me as her graduation present from college, destination:...
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Every Christmas day, in the fondo of Palazzo della Corgna, the terzieri of Castello presents inspirational scenes for the season (called a presepe). It is Castello’s gift of the season to the community. Castello is one of three terzieri’s...
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Maggione. Opening night, in June.
Photo credit: Jill Hackett
Built 9 centuries ago, between 1150 and 1170, the Castle of the Knights of Malta is impeccably restored, and is the first castle I have seen that I have ever wanted to live in. The cypress...
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Citta della Pieve, Umbria.
Looking into the main piazza after snow
We had three inches of snow in la Pieve Friday night into Saturday morning. The streets are very icy right now, and the temperature quite low. The BBC online has the headline “FREEZING...
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When you share your plans: “I’m going to Italy for two (or three) months!” be prepared to handle the reactions. You’ll find three main reactions.
1. The detractors, who will try to tarnish or take your dream. (For example: “It is way...
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Castiglione del Lago (PG), Zona Industriale le Pucciarelli.
In the middle of an Italian industrial zone, I found myself listening to an Ommagio a Edith Piaf, sipping French wine (George Deboeuf Beaujolais-Villages), nibbling delicious and beautifully...
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Anyone who is not born in Maine is known as “from away.“ No matter how many years you live in Maine, you will always be from away. From away is relative–some folks are more from away than others, but if you are not Maine-born, you...
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