"What's the 58 for?" "You don't know? It's all over the internet. It's supposed to repel flies. Two weeks ago I had...
Hanging “58”
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Journal Articles
Full But Not Scholarly
This is not a scholarly blog with a foundation in formal Art or European History. I'm the first to admit my ignorance...
Fish Snob That I Am
I have caught and cooked a LOT of fish in my life and I cook it well enough that I'm a snob about eating fish at a...
Minnie & Michelangelo at the Castle
The little girl was unrestrained and so pleased with herself. She and I both saw the humor of her Minnie Mouse joining...
Jackrabbits Like the Morning
Since it's been so toasty here lately, I took my bike ride in the morning today, heading out from the house just after...
Megan’s Leaving!
Megan and I met while struggling through Italian classes together in the winter. We had come here for different...
Tasting Wine with Friends
The grape varieties and resulting wines here in Italy are numerous and quite different than in the U.S. What better...
The Perfect Summer Lunch
When it's beastly hot outside, what could be a more perfect lunch than sublimely-ripe melon with culatello...
Sardenara: Not-Quite-Pizza, with Anchovies
Last Friday, after my whirlwind morning in Genova, I continued on to Sanremo for what was likely my last visit with my...
Marina Pavani: Antiques in Genova
It all started with hat forms on Milan's Grand Canal. Five weeks ago I went to the Mercatone Antiquariato - Antique...
Turgid Toes
I just took my shoes off as it approaches midnight and I have turgid, little, sausage toes! It's still 81 degrees out...
For Grace Received
Two years ago, in exploring one church after another, I noticed cathedral walls laden with silver framed medallions...
U.S. Geography & Culture Lesson
More often than not, when I'm talking to Italians and they tell me they want to travel to the U.S., they all say the...
The Italian “Umm”
"Allora…" I hear it all the time, and I did 2 years ago when I was here… so much so that I asked about it. It's the...
“Fatto a Mano”: Wingtips
"Made by Hand". I so love the traditional handcrafts at home in each country and culture. Over time there are those...
Rice Green and Sky Blue
Late afternoon. High 80s. Hot, humid and sunny. Perhaps not the best time to get out on my bike, but quarter-til-five...
Mako & Ma Qing Sheng
Two Chinese and one American strolling together along the Naviglio Grande speaking Italian, their only common...
Earl & Matthew
How do you give a 13-year-old a whirlwind overview of Milano and other spots in Italy? I had grown up picking rocks...
It’s Tomato Season
It's hot. It's sunny. And this weather is exactly what tomatoes love. They are deep red, full of flavor and SWEET!...
Hannah & Zibby
The excitement of a college-time trek through Europe! Hannah & Zibby started together on June 8, in Newcastle...