How often do any of us put ourselves in the position to meet so many people in so many ways in so short a time? How...
New Faces, More New Friends
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Quips Articles
I’m Not a Tourist
Tourists don't feel like this. I came here wanting to have relationships and experiences, and to gather images. I have...
Reconciling What Remains
It's Thursday afternoon. On Saturday morning a car and driver will meet me here at my apartment and drive me, with...
One Week ’til Blastoff
One week from today, at this time, I will have schlepped my bags by taxi and train to Milano Malpensa airport; checked...
My Raw Meat Salad
I'm going to miss my Insalata di Bresaola, my salad of dried, cured (raw) beef. Boo hoo. They can't bring bresaola...
Hot Like a Sauna
It's been toasty-o here in Milano lately, with temperatures in the high 80s to high 90s, and humid. When I walk out of...
Hanging “58”
"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...
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...
Megan’s Leaving!
Megan and I met while struggling through Italian classes together in the winter. We had come here for different...
The Perfect Summer Lunch
When it's beastly hot outside, what could be a more perfect lunch than sublimely-ripe melon with culatello...
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...
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...
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...
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!...
Jackrabbit or Kangaroo?
Riding my bike along the canal today, I saw two jackrabbits loping through the now-mowed rapeseed field. These weren't...
Around Town in Bologna
The visual lushness in Italy thrills me. Architectural details. Signage. The artistic sense. And the character of the...
My Room with a View
This two-room apartment of mine is really pretty great: A bedroom with lots of storage, two skinny little...