Fewer Americans are visiting Italy this year as they fear the crowds of the Jubilee, the drop in exchange rate and political instability. But the fears are misplaced and some travel agencies have experienced a recent surge. Here’s a quick analysis.
Heather Parsons moved to Skopelos in 1987 when it had one asphalt road. It pains her to see the little Greek island lose part of its soul through over tourism. She did something about it. Her Skopelos Trails organization has helped uncover 200 miles of old trails, good now for hiking and getting away from crowded beaches. I joined her on a hike Saturday.
Marina and I are headed to Skopelos Wednesday for our annual August Greek island vacation. I’ve been to 10 Greek Islands which seems like an appropriate number to produce a small travel guide. They range from the huge, Peloponnese, to the tiny, Tsougrias. I’ve got a nice map and added links to more in-depth articles and blogs I’ve written about specific islands. You’ll find something you’ll like for your next adventure.
Arguably the best coach in Italy joined AS Roma this year and combined with the best goalkeeper in Serie A and a dynamic 20-year-old striker from Ireland, the club has new hope to end major droughts. I covered Saturday’s season opener at Stadio Olimpico and here’s my report.
The changing role of the Italian woman and the declining Italian economy has led to a dying art in the Italian kitchen: Making pasta by hand. But two enterprising young women in a small town near Rome are teaming with 15 Italian grandmothers to teach tourists the fine art. I took the class and filed this report.
I’ve been singing the praises of Italy’s healthcare ever since I retired here in 2014. This month I have another reason to celebrate it. On Aug. 1 I had a hip replacement. One week later I was walking without crutches or pain. I interviewed my surgeon and discussed the massive gap between Italian and U.S. healthcare.
Italy has so much to offer so many people, millions of visitors have no idea how many other great features fall under the radar. From fruit to Molise to Italian drinking habits, Italy is full of surprises. Here are 10 of my favorites.
PESCOCOSTANZO, Italy – I hate July in Italy. July is our dog days. La Dolce Vita is La Schifo Vita (The Life Sucks), Rome especially is steaming. It’s crowded. It’s just late enough in summer for the beaches to become packed but not late enough for the city to let out its hordes for holiday. […]
I attended Dolce & Gabbana’s exhibit at the gargantuan Palazzo delle Esposizioni in Rome Wednesday. The outfits on display, all from past fashion shows around the world, were outrageous. Bamboo miniskirts. Dresses made up entirely of flowers. One cloak depicted a canal scene from Venice. But it provided insight into one of the world’s leading fashion houses, one that earned €1.9 billion in sales last year. D&G also has an interesting history.
Skye is one of the most popular destinations in the United Kingdom. Impossibly green. Sparsely populated. Incredible views. Adventurous outdoor activities. We took a precatious 3 1/2-hour drive from Inverness to spend three nights on neighboring Raasay Island. It was an expensive three days but with the world caving in elsewhere. this corner of northwest Europe was the perfect escape.
An Instagram video of the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Inverness got me interested in taking it from Edinburgh. However, an investigation told me just taking the regular Scotrail train would be cheaper and we’d see the same scenery. Turns out, the scenery wasn’t really worth the train trip. But Inverness was. Compact downtown. Beautiful river walk. Languid Ness Islands. We’re glad we went.
I first visited Edinburgh in 1978 as a naive, rookie backpacker on the first week of a solo around-the-world journey. Two weeks I visited again for the first time. Some things have changed but none nearly as much as I have. I came with a seasoned traveler’s perspective, an aversion for tourist traps and more money.
