I have a click-bait post all written and ready to go about how to learn a second language. How-to posts are enticing, popular, usually great SEO… but they can also be remarkably superficial. The post included all the usuals: get a teacher, immerse yourself with audio, magazines and books, leave your pride at the door when talking… Read more »

I’ve always loved Thanksgiving. Not because of its history, which is absolutely terrible, but because of what it’s become today. A long weekend to recoup and recover. A time for family. An entire holiday with the simple idea of giving thanks for the wonderful things in our lives. And one of the few holidays with… Read more »

Venice has a long and complicated history with water.  The city lies across 118 small islands in a swampy lagoon, separated by the Adriatic Sea by just a thin stretch of land. The islands are divided by narrow canals allowing boats in and out, as well as, ahem, the sea. When the tide rises, the seawater enters into… Read more »

Last month Marco and I had a lovely weekend trip planned to the vineyards of Piedmont. Three days of touring small country towns, enjoying the local food and sipping wine in our rented apartment while Adeline rests. Mid-October, it was the perfect time to go to Piedmont: the height of the harvest season with truffles,… Read more »

Let me just tell you a little story to illustrate just how Italy works. …or, DOESN’T work. Awhile back I decided to get my nose and sinuses checked out. Work started late this year so I took advantage of my time off in September and went to my general practitioner to get a reference for… Read more »

Ah the infamous tartufo. Truffles in Italy are ubiquitous with autumn in Italy. It’s shaved over just about anything this time of year, listed on menus throughout Italy and even celebrated in the White Truffle Festival of Alba in October and November. I happen to love truffles, and I’m not the only one. Throughout the world these… Read more »

Last week we read about the high-quality, elegant, incredible wines of Piedmont. Now, now it’s time to talk about the food. Because how could we not? Because you can’t truly enjoy the wine without the local food. Because though the region is known for its industrious nature and efficient economy, in Piedmont, food and wine… Read more »

Let’s get real: we all know the world is obsessed with Tuscany. And I get it, it has priceless Renaissance art and architecture, gorgeous landscapes and a wonderful climate. It also knows how to market its vineyards and wine. But there’s another region in Italy whose wine is just as noteworthy: Piemonte. Located in the… Read more »

The only problem a traveler may have when planning a trip to Italy is deciding just what to see: There is enough for a lifetime of travel! And though you won’t be able to see it all on your next trip to Italy, you can certainly taste its different landscapes. In a country that’s roughly the size of… Read more »

It’s hard to imagine that such a small country could have such a wealth of heritage towns, history and hilltops. Italy may be small, but its unique geography means that in one peninsula you can find mountains, hills, plains, lakes, rivers and a ton of coastline. I definitely have more to explore of Italy’s mezzogiorno, but I’m not… Read more »