Author: gigisimeone

I’ve never been much crazy about Venice or Florence, two of the big three when it comes to foreign travel to Italy. Florence is too filled with American college students — I can get that at home — and as far as Venice goes, if I wanted to be trapped in a mob of American … Continue reading 140. On the beaten path

We decided that this trip would be almost random, as the young people say. This vista -- in a regional park south of Ancona -- was worth the hike. Besides a few tent-post days in Venice and Bologna, we would set out each day for wherever fancy led us. That brought us first to L’Aquila … Continue reading 139. Off the Beaten Path

People are often started to here that I have no fear of driving in Italy. They picture cars careening down the autostrada at 100 miles per hour, with all the slowpokes forced off the road, dented, shaken, and vowing to never drive again. Actually, driving on major Italian roads is no different than driving on … Continue reading 138. Driving

When we made it home safe and sound in August from our first COVID-era trip to Italy, I breathed a deep sigh of relief and said, “Never, again. I will stay home, safe and sound, until this COVID thing is truly done and dusted.” And yet, barely two monthly later, we find ourselves in L’Aquila, … Continue reading 137. Here we go again

Every year on my parents' birthdays, my cousin Anna sends me a little email message. Late September is always a bittersweet time for me, as my father's birthday was on the 27th. Knowing that someone else remembers him gives me a lift. My father, recently arrived from Italy, with his aunt, uncle and cousins Nancy … Continue reading 136. Cousins II

I have always wanted to be a person who could grow her own food. When I was very young, my grandfather from Italy lived with us, and I remember we had a vegetable garden in the back yard that produced tomatoes, zucchini and peppers. He must have taken the family green thumb with him when … Continue reading 136. The garden

Now that we're safe and sound in our house in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, I can say it out loud -- it was nuts to go overseas during a global pandemic. In the butcher's window: "Long Live the Pork Belly! Get the Vaccine; Wear the mask!" Yes, when we made our plans a few months ago, Italy's … Continue reading 135. Travel During the Pandemic

Maybe I’m hyper-alert to them, having lost our dear Rocky just a week or so ago. But dogs are everywhere here. Waiting for a table Having a coffee You see them in the restaurants; you see them in the shops. On the door of a restaurant They seem to routinely accompany their owners to work, … Continue reading 134. The Dogs

It finally happened. Always taking photos -- the clouds starting to lift After daily predictions that proved untrue, the rain finally began. And rain it did, in violent bursts interspersed with glimpses of bright sun, as if to lure us outside only to be drenched. But when it was finally done, it was as if … Continue reading 133. After the Tempest

The app promised rain. 24 hours of it. 100% chance. I have to admit, I was a little bit relieved. The original impetus of this trip was to try out the newly-constructed bike path around Lake Garda, slated to be completed in 2021. When COVID delays caused it to be years behind schedule, we decided … Continue reading 132. On the Bike