The Ice Road to Boosterville
Steve had his booster shot yesterday compliments of the Italian health care system. His appointment was at 10:30 in Arezzo, which is about 30 minutes away. There’s a good road to Arezzo which goes through a ravine in the mountains so it’s not hilly. But because it goes through...
Thanksgiving in My Heart
Thanksgiving is a uniquely American holiday. And as with all uniquely American holidays, it’s not without its controversies. Regardless, it’s a day where we pause to gather around a table with friends and family while giving thanks for the blessings that we have received. It’s also a day that...
The Baths Up the Road
We visited Bagno di Romagna recently, a small village near here known for its thermal springs. Bagno di Romagna is a Roman town and became an important stop on the route between Rome and Ravenna. The thermal springs are a cozy 116 degrees year round. I can imagine that...
A Place for the Soul
Last weekend Anghiari hosted a great celebration of the food of the area, called the Centigusto, or One Hundred Tastes. As part of the festivities, there was a nature walk through the forest and countryside around here. We joined our friend Rossano, who guides these walks, and three other...
A Celebration for the Senses
One of the things I love about living in Anghiari is that it’s a small town with a big city vibe. It’s rare to go for more than a few weeks without some event or celebration. And they almost all center around food, which makes it even more appealing...
Ghouls, Goblins, and Church
Halloween has its origins in ancient Celtic traditions concerning the end of the year and the disposition of souls to the otherworld. Eventually, the Catholic church got on board and moved their All Saints Day to November 1, making Halloween All Hallows Eve. Then November 2 is All Souls...
A Perfect Sunday
Late summer and fall are prime festa times in Italy. This year, however, COVID has put an end to the festas. It’s very sad for us, but I’m glad they’re taking things so seriously here. Festas are celebrations, usually to mark the harvest of some crop or to honor...
The Tree of Life
Few things are as iconic of the Italian landscape as the cypress tree. This is especially true in Tuscany, where you see them lining curving drives and punctuating even the most humble vistas. Their neat, columnar shape make them ideal for wedging into a garden to provide vertical structure. ...
A Gift of Grapes
It’s grape harvest time here. We’re really not in wine country, but everywhere you look you see rows of grapes. We even have some in our backyard. Ours are white grapes and are very sweet. Almost like a muscadine. I don’t know grape varieties, but would like to learn...
Grazing
We’re meeting Tim and Julie in Orvieto, then on to Rome. So we’ll be gone for four days. We’re letting our food supply diminish so we don’t have to throw anything out, so that means it’s slim pickings for meals these days. After a carved together lunch yesterday, we...