After my first week in Milan, I toured the south of Italy for two weeks, and then have spent the subsequent week...
South Italy Tour Articles
Taormina Lemons
On a narrow, stair-stepped passage in the "centro storico" - historic district - of Taormina, there was a small shop...
The Essential
"The essential is invisible to the eyes." Painted graffiti on a wall in Palermo.
Eating the South
In Italy, one can go 100 kilometers and find a very different food culture. There are dishes and combinations found in...
Dear People of Alberobello
Finding out about Alberobello, I itched to stay in a trullo for a couple of nights! Through an internet search, I...
Trulli of Alberobello
A few months ago, I heard for the first time about the "trulli" of Alberobello, in the Puglia region at "the heel of...
Destination: Lecce
Almost, but not quite at the tippy-tip of the "heel of the boot" of Italy, the city of Lecce (roughly pronounced...
Castles Don’t Have Wifi
In 1419, when they built this castle, they weren't planning ahead for wifi reception in the rooms. Three-foot thick...
Ionian Sea Shoreline
May 13 Journal Entry. Catanzaro Lido to Lecce. Training along the Ionian Sea shoreline: Red poppies. Cactus. Olives...
These Old Shoes
These old shoes have been through a Venetian deluge in San Marco Square, and foot-swelling heat in the Roman Forum....
Catanzaro Calabrese Waves
It's no joke that I'm in the "presidential suite" at the Palace Hotel, in the region of Calabria, the town of...
Straits of Messina
Haven't you always heard of "the straits of Messina"? Today I took a train from Taormina, about halfway down the east...
To Share a Filet
May 9 Journal Entry. Taormina. I need an attitude adjustment. I just don't do "the tourist thing" and am feeling...
Ancient Theater of Taormina
It's the layering of history, so pervasive throughout Italy, that stuns me every time I make a turn and come upon some...
Taormina to See
Along the eastern shore of the large island of Sicily, south of Messina, in view of Mt. Etna to the west, lies...
American Pie
Sitting in a hotel lobby using the wifi network. Italian game show on the TV next to me. Don McClean singing "American...
Monreale Mosaic
Hardly a long drive as-the-crow-flies from Palermo, but a long time through traffic, Monreale is southwest from...
Cefalù Journal Snippets
8 May - In the "centro storico" - historic center - of this little seacoast town east of Palermo, on the north shore...
Markets of Palermo
Palermo is renowned for its old street markets, some of which have been in the same spot as early as the 10th century!...
On the Streets of Palermo
"Contrasts". That word describes Palermo best of all. (Probably in more ways than I've yet discovered.) Contrasts in...