It’s no secret that my relationship with Italy brought with it a newfound love of the mountains. There’s something about the beauty of the mountains and the elation I feel after spending the entire day outside that keeps me coming back, despite what I threaten during the long hike up. So though a strong cold kept me from hiking, I… Read more »
I was sweating. I was sweating in jeans and I didn’t like it. Marco and I only had a day and a half to explore the Ligurian coast. We had dinner the night before in Santa Margherita and walked the forty minutes back to Rapallo, where we were based, afterward to enjoy the night and the sights…. Read more »
When asked what’s my favorite season, I’ve always had a loyal response. Now, however, I’ve finally realized that the question is more idiosyncratic than I thought. It largely depends on where. My favorite season is fall (or autumn as I call it here since no one would understand the strange American way to describe the transition season)…. Read more »
Wherever you live or where ever you are there are, around you, dozens of little things to see, to experience. By “little,” I mean insignificant, something here or there that doesn’t seem much yet shouldn’t be overlooked. Driving along the highway from Brianza to Lecco and the Lake District, Marco has always pointed out each… Read more »
I took a walk Sunday from the twisted woods of northern Europe in the 17th century to the detailed Venetian canals in the 18th century. I traveled through the romantic French countryside in the 19th century and ended my trip in the 20th century, gazing at wistful waterlilies and noticing the colors either spreading warm… Read more »
Spending a weekend up in Piazzatorre, Marco and I found just enough bel tempo to go for a hike. Mentioned before, Torcola is the peak right above our mountain home and our go-to hike. It’s a straight-up, no-nonsense walk that leads to an opening among the trees known as Torcola. Though I’m more than familiar with the… Read more »
I ventured into Tiergarten, the largest garden in central Berlin, on the last day of my visit. There was no plan or time limit and I ended up spending hours exploring the pathways, ponds and colors of this enormous park. Though I went three years ago, I haven’t forgotten the vivid colors of autumn in… Read more »
The overriding idea is that one is either an “ocean person” or a “mountain person,” though being from the flat, flat lands of Ohio and not vacationing much, I’m not sure if that is a universal idea or an Italian one. In any case, I’m all about the water. I’ve already described my childhood swimming… Read more »
A university town, Freiburg is full of students. One of the largest towns in Bavaria, Freiburg is full of tourists. Known for its high standard of living and eco-friendly politics, Freiburg is full of middle-income, environmentally conscious families. Add it all up and it’s clear: Freiburg is full of hippies. Better yet, (some of you… Read more »
Sometimes you just know what you should be doing. Though we thought last weekend was our last chance for awhile to head to the mountains, when our plans fell through this weekend we didn’t hesitate to create new ones. While our original plans seemed sloppily stitched together, our alternative seemed already planned for us. Friday after work threw… Read more »
