Day Trippin’
We’ve been a little housebound for the past few weeks due to various issues and situations. We had expected to take many day trips while we’re here and we’ve really been itching to get out. We finally got out recently and took two trips. One to Deruta and one...
The Upsides of Pandemic Dining
Most of you know that Italy got hit pretty hard early in the pandemic. I think because of that, they are very cautious about how they proceed. Almost everyone wears a mask and you can’t go into stores, offices, or restaurants without one. They still limit the number of...
Nesting, Italian Style
We’re almost finished doing battle with the Italian bureaucracy. We thought we would be done last week, but, alas, if there can be a monkey wrench thrown into something, we will find it. We went for our final appointment in Sansepolcro to get our permesso di siggiorno. It was...
Shiny Stamps at the Post Office and Other Italian Peculiarities
We have certain milestones to cross before we can really start relaxing. Mind you, we’ve done our share of relaxing already, but these chores are always in the back of our minds. Specifically, we have to get the utilities set up for the upstairs apartment, get our permesso di...
Zen and the Art of Piazza Parties
Italians love a good party. In the summer when the heat of the day gives way to the coolness of the evening, Italians come out and gather. The piazza concept is perfect for this, and I’m pretty sure that’s why they were invented. Piazzas are places to conduct business...
The Venticello is Gone With the Wind
We arrived here two weeks ago to the most amazing weather. It was hot – in the 90s – but very low humidity and and the most delicious breeze, the venticello. That breeze kissed your face and brushed your body with a gentle coolness that made you feel like...
The Miracle of Leroy Merlin
We visited the Leroy Merlin near Perugia to look for some outdoor furniture for our terrace. Leroy Merlin is kind of like a Home Depot. Getting to it required a trip on the E45, the main highway that cuts through Umbria and eastern Tuscany. Now you may think this...
The Angles of Anghiari
Anghiari is a small town. It’s about 5,500 people. I call it a partial hill town because if you come upon it from the east you will see it as a majestic hill town, but if you come upon it from the west, it looks pretty ho-hum. The hill...