It’s Tomato Season
It's hot. It's sunny. And this weather is exactly what tomatoes love. They are deep red, full of flavor and SWEET! Some I buy directly from the farm down the road. Some come from Sicilia. It is...
Hannah & Zibby
The excitement of a college-time trek through Europe! Hannah & Zibby started together on June 8, in Newcastle Under Lyme. They went on to Amsterdam and Berlin, took a wrong train into...
My “Tricolore” Year
One year ago today my plane landed at Milano Malpensa Aeroporto. I caught the train into the center of town, to the Cadorna Station. It was a hot day. I started sweating quickly. My Irish/German...
Jackrabbit or Kangaroo?
Riding my bike along the canal today, I saw two jackrabbits loping through the now-mowed rapeseed field. These weren't sweet, little bunny rabbits. They were the size of kangaroos! They were huge! I...
Bella Venezia
Venezia - Venice - will always remain, for me, one of the great and marvel-filled cities of the world. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ....
Around Town in Bologna
The visual lushness in Italy thrills me. Architectural details. Signage. The artistic sense. And the character of the people. As an artist, I am fed deeply as I explore this country. I expect that...
Meeting Signora Ada
Last September, with just a few clues in hand, I wandered around Venice in search of Trattoria da Ignazio. Having heard about the exquisite meals freshly prepared by Signora Ada, I was disappointed...
After La Montanara, Why Eat Again?
"I don't have to eat anything the entire rest of my life. Nothing could be better than this meal", said Sally. It's worth a trip to Bologna just to eat at Trattoria La Montanara. This small...
Sally in Milano
Sally flew over from Seattle a week ago to share the sights of Milano, the wonderful food treats available and the simple efficiency of my apartment. She came off the plane and out of customs...
My Room with a View
This two-room apartment of mine is really pretty great: A bedroom with lots of storage, two skinny little less-than-twin beds, and a table for sorting things. A well-functioning bathroom. A loft...
Certosa on a Sunny Day
A sunny holiday in the middle of the week calls for a bike ride. Apparently every family in Milano had the same thought; the bike path along the canal was crowded with those rolling tra-la-la along....
Festa della Repubblica
While here in Milano for the cycle of a full year, I've tried to get some sense of every holiday or special occasion. I've attended, or found myself caught in the middle of, festivals, parades,...