Enrica, My Courtyard Neighbor
I was sitting in my room typing today and heard "snip, snip, snip." I looked out my window into the little private courtyards to see a woman in her 60s, trimming in her garden which neighbors mine....
Brunelleschi’s Dome
When going into a new town, seek out the highest point from which to get the most sweeping overview. This will quite often guide your further exploration. In this case, I was back in Florence -...
Pope Benedict XVI Visits Milano
I saw the Pope today. Pope Benedict XVI arrived in Milano yesterday for an evening greeting to the citizens that welcomed him at the Piazza del Duomo (Milano's central cathedral). The event had...
Tricolore Gelato
As it turned out just by chance, my dish of gelato was my nod to Italy. Today is June 2, a holiday celebrating the formation of the Republic of Italy in 1946. The Italian flag is referred to as the...
Milanese Courtyard Birdsong
Who can identify this birdsong? Granted, the video's not great; it's not intended to be. Just close your eyes and listen to the sounds I hear in my courtyard, most of all, that wonderful, lyrical...
Neighborly Hydrangeas
Shortly after arriving in Milano, I had a nesting moment and went out to pull weeds in and around my little courtyard just to tidy it up and make it a little less jungle-like. It's really a pleasant...
Woman in White
Wandering the street market today, I saw this woman in white from head to toe, including white, fishnet gloves. She was beautiful! I tried to take some "stealth" photos, but kept getting just the...
Osteria Soccer on a Cold Night
Brrr! It's been chilly in Milano much of the last week. For late May, temperatures in the low 50s are quite a surprise. I hadn't expected it, so I didn't even pack full length pants! Sitting here in...
Shopping at the Street Market
On Saturday, three blocks from my house, is the weekly street market selling fruits, vegetables, meats, fish, cheeses, olives, preserved foods, household sundries and clothing. It's a hub-bub of...
Strolling the Canal
The Naviglio Grande - The Grand Canal - is between my casa and the metro subway station, Porta Genova. This gives me plenty of opportunity to stroll the canals and see what I can see, to allow my...
Sunny Morning Courtyard
The little courtyard is paved with stones and scraps of ceramic tiles. It's surrounded by camellia, hydrangea, iris, rose and greens-gone-wild. And the little sanctuary had been neglected by...
Tomatoes & Nespole
WHERE are these being grown right now?! The tomatoes are like sugar candy and the nespole are exotic after apples and pears alone. And they're so beautiful together! The food alone could keep me...