For Grace Received
Two years ago, in exploring one church after another, I noticed cathedral walls laden with silver framed medallions bearing the letters "GR". Some were tied with a pink or a blue ribbon. There may...
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 same thing: they want to go to New York, Miami… and Niagara Falls. (Huh? Niagara...
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 Italian "umm", the bridge between thoughts. The pause. The word that says, "give...
“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 things that have developed that are either functional, decorative or both, and are...
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 on a hot day is better than quarter-til-one. In the late day sun, the rice...
Mako & Ma Qing Sheng
Two Chinese and one American strolling together along the Naviglio Grande speaking Italian, their only common language. Now if that doesn't make you smile, I don't know what will. I had gone back...
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 off of Earl's parents' waterfront on Three Tree Point, just down from the house I...
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! Some I buy directly from the farm down the road. Some come from Sicilia. It is...
Hannah & Zibby
The excitement of a college-time trek through Europe! Hannah & Zibby started together on June 8, in Newcastle Under Lyme. They went on to Amsterdam and Berlin, took a wrong train into...
My “Tricolore” Year
One year ago today my plane landed at Milano Malpensa Aeroporto. I caught the train into the center of town, to the Cadorna Station. It was a hot day. I started sweating quickly. My Irish/German...
Jackrabbit or Kangaroo?
Riding my bike along the canal today, I saw two jackrabbits loping through the now-mowed rapeseed field. These weren't sweet, little bunny rabbits. They were the size of kangaroos! They were huge! I...
Bella Venezia
Venezia - Venice - will always remain, for me, one of the great and marvel-filled cities of the world. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....