When I moved to Philadelphia, if I had a nickel for everyone who asked me if I was related to the great Dr. Frederick Simeone, who passed away last week, I could retire with a villa in Amalfi. Dr. Simeone, the renowned Chair of Neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital, looms large in the hearts of his … Continue reading 160. Dr. Simeone (1936-2022)
I love working. I realize that I'm one of the lucky few who can say that, but I love having a reason to jump out of bed in the morning, a sense of purpose. It's a primary piece of how I define myself. It's probably where I am my best self. So I am always … Continue reading 159. Taking Care of Business
During the pandemic, we’ve become great fans of Inspector Montalbano. Based on a series of 28 novels and nine collections of short stories by Andrea Camilleri, the Italian tv series follows the exploits of a police inspector in the fictional southeastern Sicilian town of Vigata. There are 37 2-hour shows that we see on MHz, … Continue reading 158. Montalbano pilgrimage
I have always been interested in volcanoes. Not the science part; I took watered-down geology for my science requirement in college, but none of it stuck. But I am intrigued by the way the earth can just seize up, erupt, and in an instant bury all of us just going about our business. Those aren’t … Continue reading 157. Volcano!
I actually enjoy trip planning. I know it makes some people nervous and they’d prefer to leave it all in the hands of a travel agent, but to me, it’s so much fun that sometimes I even plan fictitious trips to Italy that I have no intention of actually taking, and consider finding good hotels … Continue reading 156. Where to stay
What a difference eight centuries make! Within a 24-hour period, I was able to view two of the world’s greatest mosaic-filled structures, built nearly a millennium apart. The first, Villa Romana del Casale, was a huge residential complex constructed in the 4th century, by a rich and powerful figure in the waning days of the … Continue reading 155. Mosaics
Statuesque A clear retort to Philadelphia’s famous LOVE statue, this statue, by pop surrealist artist Angelo Accardi, stands in a central Palermo park. And like Philly’s Rocky statue, there’s a steady stream of people lined up to take a photo in front of it. Teacher-chaperones who brought their students to see the statue and have … Continue reading 154. Scenes of Palermo
For my money, the best food in Italy (and therefore the world) is in Sicily. While Americans are most familiar with the wonderful food of Naples, particularly pizza and pasta with red sauce, Sicily’s blend of cultures, having been conquered at some point over the past three millennia by all the countries surrounding the Mediterranean, … Continue reading 153. Street Food of Palermo
If I won the Megabucks, I wouldn’t change much. I wouldn’t quit my job, or buy a second home, even in Italy. I’d still drive my fourteen-year-old Hyundai, and shop at Target and Marshall’s. I’d pass on Michelin three-stars and eat at greasy spoons and little ethnic holes in the wall. There’s only one life … Continue reading 152. Prima Classe
My father taught me two true things about Easter Saturday. At 11:00 AM, for one moment, the Mediterranean turns from salt water to fresh. Also at 11, worms crawl out of the Easter pastries. Lamb cake or bunny cake? A tough decision at Termini Brothers One can imagine that the second was told to little … Continue reading 151. Easter Saturday
Gigi's Italia 