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
I am not a lake person. As far as I’m concerned, any large body of water that isn’t salty, wavy and vaguely smelling of sewage at low tide is wasting my time. But after a day spent at Lago di Garda, I might need to change my tune. Sunrise I am an early-morning runner, which … Continue reading 131. At the lake
Brave? Nuts? You tell me. Cappuccino at the airport, my arrival ritual But we’re here, in Bell’Italia. And bella it is. We are in the Umbrian hilltop town of Orvieto. The vistas are spectacular. The shops are filled with ceramics and olive oil and books (yes, books. We have passed three bookstores in this little … Continue reading 130. We Made It
I pulled the trigger. After a year and a half of watching the COVID situation in Italy, as heart-rending there as anywhere, I decided the time was now, and I booked a flight to Rome in July. Every day, I carefully check the situation. While the EU was slow getting started with vaccinations, they are … Continue reading 129. Heading Over
In my mind, it's the most iconic image of Italy. No, not the Coliseum, or a Venice gondolier, or the statue of David. To me, the most iconic image is people sitting around the table, often in a beautiful setting with rolling hills, blue sea, or vineyards in the background, eating simple, but great food … Continue reading 128. Around the Table
I get a little zing whenever Anthony Fauci comes on the TV. I stop everything to listen. Sure, he's one of the true greats of our time, a savior helping us emerge from not one, but two epidemics -- AIDS and COVID -- a genius both scientifically and in his ability to communicate calmly, clearly … Continue reading 127. My Tribe
Fully vaccinated, I had the nearly forgotten pleasure of packing my bags and heading to the airport for a weekend trip to visit my daughter Lizy in Chicago. In addition to being where my daughter and her husband now live, Chicago is a place with great personal significance for me, as my mother grew up … Continue reading 126. Roots Tour
Having reached an age where I am among the first to receive a coronavirus vaccine, and often find myself getting a senior discount without even asking, I am sensitive to how older people are treated and portrayed. (Hearing older people being called "cute," although meant as a compliment, is like fingernails on a blackboard to … Continue reading 125. Elders
Every few years, my parents would bundle into the car and drive all the way to the Avon Theater in Providence, Rhode Island, the nearest art cinema. Why? Sophia and Marcello, naturally. No need for last names. The charm of these actors, Sophia Loren and Marcello Mastroianni, both individually and in tandem, makes every one … Continue reading 124. Sophia
Gigi's Italia 