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November 1, 2024

U.S. election: Four American expats weigh in on their concerns, fears and hopes for Tuesday

With arguably the most important presidential election in U.S. history approaching Tuesday, we American expats watch from afar. However, we are still affected. We are still emotion. We are still opinionated. I contacted four friends from around the world for a roundtable discussion about the issues.

October 15, 2024

36 Hours in Rome: How I’d spend a short weekend here

The New York Times does a wonderful feature in its Sunday travel section called 36 Hours in … It picks a city around the globe and give readers places to go at appropriate times of the day. I did the same for Rome. I don’t include the major attractions such as the Colosseum and Vatican. You know those. I wrote about the places I would go as a Rome resident of 8 1/2 years. Hope it gives you some ideas next time you come to town, especially for the second time.

October 8, 2024

Travel tales from hell: Disease, machetes and the lessons we learn

(Director’s note: I’m traveling in Moldova, Europe’s poorest country which made me think of the worst trips of my life. I’m re-posting a blog I wrote five years ago on my travel tales from hell. I hope when I return I won’t add to it.”) To truly travel, one must truly suffer. It’s a backpacker’s […]

June 25, 2024

“The Cappuccino Chronicles”: My book is out on Amazon

If you ever wanted to know what it’s like to live in Rome as a retired expat, read my new book that is now out on Amazon. “The Cappuccino Chronicles: An American Journalist’s Decade in Rome” takes people inside the life of one of the world’s most glamorous cities. But it’s not the dream many burned-out people imagine when they look at retirement. The streets are filthy. The public services are lousy. Relationshios are difficult. But the food, wine and beauty meet the hype and I hope I found a balance that peels the veneer off the city to show what’s really inside while still showing what has kept me around for 10 years. I will soon announce a Zoom call for anyone interested in hearing about the book and to answer any questions about life in this crazy city.

March 12, 2024

Blending in to Rome as an expat: New clothes, new diet and is there anything better than a frothy cappuccino?

Many people talk about moving to Italy but few do. I did. I retired to Rome 10 years ago. I’ve learned a few things along the way, particularly how to blend in when I don’t look remotely close to Italian. Here are 10 things I did to make me blend into the city.

January 16, 2024

Italy’s Most Underrated Towns 2024: Stay in Lazio

Every year around New Year’s I write a Most Underrated Towns in Italy list. In light of the second blog Marina and I started last year, TraveLazio, we spent a lot of time in 2023 crisscrossing Rome’s region of Lazio. This year’s list is exclusively from that region. All 10 places can be reached from Rome on an easy, cheap day trip. If you like getting off the beaten path, this is a must read. Every town has a link to a more expanded description from TraveLazio.

January 11, 2024

Ten years in Rome: A landmark anniversary and a new list of all the reasons I love living here

On this day exactly 10 years ago, I landed in Rome, leaving behind a 40-year sportswriting career in the U.S. I had three bags and lots of doubts. But I’m still here. And every year on my anniversary, I list a whole new set of reasons why I love Rome. I doubt I’ll ever run out of reasons.

December 13, 2023

Algeria: In a bloodied nation where tourism isn’t a priority, this intrepid traveler explores an unspoiled culture

Not many tourists go to Algeria. Algeria doesn’t really care. What that leaves intrepid travelers like myself is an authentic country with so much to offer. A bustling capital. A beautiful desert. Ruins of Roman cities better preserved than the ones in Italy. I just spent nine days in Africa’s biggest country. This is the first of a series of blogs.

October 17, 2023

Madrid: A return to Rome’s rival reveals a city still dancing

Two weeks ago we came to Madrid for a meeting and found a city rapidly improving and vibrant. The public transportation is fantastic, the streets are clean and the museums still rule the culture scene. We could’ve used some coffee before 9 a.m. but the tapas made up for it. We spent four days in Madrid and came away with this report.

August 29, 2023

Rome in summer: 15 tips on how to beat the sweltering heat

(Director’s note: I’m in Greece on a working vacation and in my stead I’m re-posting a popular blog I did from 2019 on how to beat the heat in Rome. With Rome experience its hottest summer in recorded history, the tips are still valid.) How hot is it in Rome this week? It’s so hot […]

April 25, 2023

The Pudding Shop: Istanbul’s famed hippie hangout still has place in the heart of “Midnight Express” writer Billy Hayes

The Pudding Shop is an Istanbul institution that played a role in “Midnight Express,” the international bestseller and Oscar-nominated movie. It is where Billy Hayes met the cab driver who took him to his first hashish deal. The Pudding Shop was the nerve center for backpackers following the Hippy Trail that blossomed at the time. Today it’s a tourist trap but it still has a soft spot in Billy Hayes’ heart. I visited the Pudding Shop last month and talked to Hayes last week.

April 18, 2023

Cats of Istanbul: Under the purrs lie meows of pain

Istanbul’s estimated 125,000 stray cats have become almost as big a tourist attraction as its mosques and Grand Bazaar. Documentaries have been made of them and endless articles have been written. But behind all the fat, happy tabbies eating handouts and sleeping in cat shelters are thousands of others being abused and killed. I sat down with one of Istanbul’s leading cat safety advocates to get the other side.

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