It practically jumped off the shelf. I was browsing around my public library, and there it was on the "new arrivals" shelf. An Italian cookbook featuring a shirtless young man and the word "betch." How could I not take it home? It turns out the young man, Gianluca Conte, is an "influencer" and an Internet … Continue reading 197. Buon Appetito, Betch!
"They're eating the dogs." "So, my mother was 19 when she crossed the world alone, traveling from India to California with an unshakeable dream to be the scientist who would cure breast cancer." Shyamala Gopalan Harris and her daughter Kamala Two candidates for president; two entirely different portrayal of immigrants. And therein lies the American … Continue reading 196. Immigrati
Flying through the air: I am a person who is basically afraid of everything: heights, speed, being out of control. I can't ski and I can barely ride a bike. So, in Cortina, when I saw the vehicle that I would be expected to ride in, my first thought was "No way!" But I took … Continue reading 195. More scenes
I have always been curious about Trieste, a city on the Adriatic Sea a mere 63 miles from Slovenia. Like the Dolomites, it was annexed from Austria at the end of World War I, but it is nonetheless very Italian in feel, despite its history. The weather was hot, the food was (thankfully!) Mediterranean-style, Italian … Continue reading 194. Trieste
Everyone loves Elena Ferrante. When someone learns of my interest in Italy, my love of reading and my preference for writing by and about women, they assume I love her, too. For those unfamiliar, Elena Ferrante is the nom de plume of the author of a four-volume series about two girls growing up in poverty … Continue reading 193. Naples Novels
There are two conditions under which I will ride a bicycle: 1) The terrain must be perfectly flat, and 2) there must be a dedicated bike path, with no chance whatsoever of cars, and preferably, of any other people at all. So I felt I was in Bizarro World in the Dolomites, where all the … Continue reading 192. Bikers
I am not really one to watch sports, even though they are on constantly at my house, except for the occasional Eagles game and whenever Italy is in the World Cup. But there’s something about the Olympics that has me glued to the TV every night. It’s probably the only time that hearing the Star … Continue reading 191. The Olympics
If you told me I took a wrong turn on my way to the Dolomites, and ended up in Austria, I wouldn’t argue. Because it feel like that’s pretty much what I did. Much of the region that encompasses the Dolomite mountain chain, tucked in the upper right-hand corner of the boot, was originally part … Continue reading 190. Italy, not Italy
I’ve heard of destination weddings and I’ve heard of elopements, but destination elopements was a new one on me. Apparently, couples who are not wanting to fork out ghastly sums on dinner and dancing for 100 or more guests at a local catering hall, or to force their nearest and dearest to spend money and … Continue reading 189. Destination elopements
I love a good ritual. Some would say that doing the same thing over and over is a sign of timidity and lack of imagination. I disagree. I feel that those little things you find enjoyable and meaningful are what builds a satisfying life. Happier days at the Milan airport, just eight months ago One … Continue reading 188. Rituals
Gigi's Italia 