Author: gigisimeone

I have never been in Italy for Christmas, but I've been there Christmas-adjacent, as they say these days. In 2008, I was in Rome for the long MLK weekend, when the nativity scene was still up at the Vatican, and I spent New Year's in Sicily in 2010, where more humble yet much more beautiful … Continue reading 183. Christmas Here and There

Note to readers: Because of a technical glitch, I have to republish several old posts, of which this is the first. Sorry for any bother. What would bring several thousands out to the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art on a rainy Sunday morning? What would make them wait there for an hour and … Continue reading 181. Rocky Day

Have an extra $1,000 burning a hole in your pocket? I have just the answer for you. I received an email from the New York restaurant Babbo that they had white truffle dinners on offer, at $1,000 a pop. Or if you prefer DIY, you can pick up an eight-ounce truffle at Eataly for $2,528.49, … Continue reading 180. Truffle Time

I will remember this trip for many things. I saw world-class tennis in Torino, and arguably, the greatest player of all time. I visited two towns, Bergamo and Brescia, I've always been curious about. I ate raw veal, not once, not twice, but three times. Novak Djokovic honored as the top-ranked player of 2023 But … Continue reading 179. Hot Stuff

… dogs are welcome everywhere. … you are so passionate about your idol that you build your whole business around his image. … there is a parking section dedicated to Vespas. … there are two Catholic churches across the street from each other. … there are loads of bookstores, at least a dozen within a … Continue reading 178. You Know You’re in Italy When…

I usually think that I’m too cool for school when I’m in Italy. I insist on making all my own arrangement, avoiding restaurants with too much English in their signage, and above all, rejecting taking a tour. It’s hard to,pretend I’m a local (until I open my mouth) if I’m tagging along with a group … Continue reading 177. Another Food Tour

We travel overseas to be immersed in culture, whether that means the highest manifestation of the fine arts, or the everyday values and practices of the people. Bergamo and its sister city of Brescia shared the honor of being Italy’s 2023 Capitals of Culture, so we were eager to see what that was all about. … Continue reading 176. Culture

It’s been a long year, filled with illness, worry and several cancelled trips to Italy. But the clouds have started to lift, and this seemed like the perfect time to grab our chance, before something else went south. My arrival ritual is to have a cappuccino as soon as I land Having the luxury of … Continue reading 175. On the Road Again

No matter how many times I go to Italy, I am always an outsider looking in. Sure, each time I go, I become a little more familiar with the language, or comfortable navigating public transportation or able to know just how to get served in a coffee bar or market. I adjust, somewhat, to the … Continue reading 174. Human Chain