Marco and I had been married for nearly four months when our parents met each other for the first time. My parents had met Marco, and his parents knew me and each had to hold that as good enough for a marriage. Trans-atlantic relationships being what they are, the two sets of parents had never… Read more »

“Are there any: Pumpkin patches Corn mazes Apple picking Hay rides In Milan or nearby?” This post on an expat women’s group perfectly explains fall in America. Those are the fall activities. That is how you celebrate a temperate climate’s best season.  Fall in Ohio means weekend trips to the orchard, spiked apple cider and getting lost in… Read more »

Isola Madre and Isola Bella are apart of the Borromean islands on Lago Maggiore in Northern Italy. Originally created for the Borromeo family, the islands along with much of the tourist attractions in the Gulf of Borromeo are owned to this day by the family. Originally rocky outposts, over the course of nearly five centuries… Read more »

I’ve visited a lot of rich people’s gardens in Italy. And why wouldn’t I? They’re beautiful, abundant, easy to visit, a feast for the senses. I find them pleasant. I don’t love visiting old palaces, but the gardens attached to them, now that has my name all over it. It might seem like a strange way to spend time and… Read more »

As of this writing, I still have yet to visit Sicily. I’ve always want to, but I’ve also always wanted to see everything. After seeing the major cities in Italy, I had no priority of what to see next because I wanted to see it all. From the time I moved to Italy we’ve celebrated Carnevale in Venice,… Read more »

In the past few months there has been a lot of talk of over-tourism. The New York Times talks about it. Time Magazine talks about it. Der Spiegal online says, “Travel is no longer a luxury good. Airlines like Ryanair and EasyJet have contributed to a form of mass tourism that has made local residents feel… Read more »

So many people overlook Milan. The city is industrial, big, gray and, of course, not Florence, Rome or Venice. Everyone knows about the Colosseum, the Duomo of Florence, the canals of Venice, but few can name a jewel of Milan. In Milan you can see international models taking pictures in front of the world’s largest Gothic cathedral…. Read more »

Milan is one of the best-connected cities in Italy. One of the only with a subway system, it also has buses, trams and of course taxis. Not only that, but the city also has three airports serving it: Orio al’Serio in Bergamo (mostly European budget airlines), Linate and Milano Malpensa (MXP). Without a doubt Malpensa… Read more »

We were in Varenna, the best town in the Italian Lake District, and it was time for an aperitivo. It was time for a spritz!  Touring the area with my aunt, uncle and cousins, we stopped at a lakeside bar to enjoy the view and I explained the ubiquitous aperitivo drink to all. Months later my same… Read more »

August in Italy is steaming hot, jam-packed and expensive. It’s high season in an already popular destination, and it’s not always pretty.  Buuuut… It’s not always so bad.  I advise everyone to avoid August if at all possible, but my first two biggest trips to Italy were both right in the middle of August, when… Read more »