Italian Life

July 2, 2021

Bulgarian cuisine: Grilled meats, creative salads and puffed pastries

(This is the second of a series of blogs on Bulgaria.) SOFIA, Bulgaria — “Want to go out for some Bulgarian?” Never received that request? Neither have I. However, I’d like to do it someday. The trouble is, the world’s gastronomic road map doesn’t have many Bulgarian cuisine rest stops. In fact, I’ve never seen […]

June 29, 2021

Bulgaria unmasked: My first trip out of Italy in 16 months

Bulgaria often gets lost in Europe’s tourist trail but it’s a Balkan gem. It’s blessed with modern conveniences, great beaches (usually(, excellent food, a thriving wine scene and friendly people, all with the background of a haunting past.

June 22, 2021

Rome tour guides: Dying a slow Covid economic death

Rome tour guides have suffered some of the biggest pitfalls during this pandemic. The number of tourists visiting Italy went from 65 million in 2019 to 25.5 last year. Through two lockdowns and constantly changing restrictions, tour guides have to adjust on the fly, all with financial ramifications.

June 13, 2021

Italy’s national team streaking at Euros: Covid-beaten Italians cheer

Italy’s national soccer team humiliated its nation by not even qualifying for the 2018 World Cup. It changed managers, changed philosophies and after Friday’s 3-0 win over Turkey in the European Championships, it’s on a 28-game unbeaten streak, two off its national record. The country, beaten down by a year and a half of Covid, finally has a reason to cheer.

May 25, 2021

Trapshooting with The Shooter of God

I’ve never shot a gun in my life. But there I was with one of the most decorated shooters in Olympic trapshooting history, trying to hit a target flying 75 mph across an open field. This was my day with the Shooter of God.

March 23, 2021

Augustus Mausoleum: The long-awaited reopening illuminates perhaps Rome’s greatest emperor

The Augustus Mausoleum was the first of its kind in Ancient Rome, built even before the Pantheon. It has reopened to the public for the first time in 14 years.

March 11, 2021

Anzio: Nero’s birthplace and site of key WWII battle is a beachside paradise a short ride from Rome

ANZIO, Italy — You can’t tour Rome and Southern Italy without being in awe of the monstrous footprint this civilization laid down 2,000 years ago. Monuments and market places, mausoleums and temples, the most powerful civilization in man’s history stretched from what is now Great Britain to Persia. Peoples and armies in between cowered with […]

February 8, 2021

The Torlonia Marbles: Ancient history with a view as Rome museums cautiously open in middle of a pandemic

Italy is crawling with yellow fever. I am. It’s all over me. From my head to my toes to my senses all the way to my taste buds and brain. But I’m not suffering. No, I am wallowing in bliss. Going against the grain set by the rest of the European Union, on Feb. 1 […]

February 2, 2021

When in lockdown Italy? Here are my 10 favorite recipes

Hello again from post-lockdown Italy where Monday I finished my second quasi house arrest in the land that Covid first engulfed. I was in lockdown so long I started a 10-part Netflix series on blood clots. I walked past pubs, long closed, and got weepy at the mere sight of a Peroni sign. My mask […]

January 11, 2021

Seven years in Rome: My anniversary in a pandemic provides another list for reasons why I love living here

I’m very thankful I survived one year of the Covid pandemic. I’m even more thankful I made it seven years in Rome. That anniversary is today. Yes, on Jan. 11, 2014 I landed in Rome on a one-way ticket with three bags and many dreams. The dreams have been fulfilled and the nightmare that is […]

December 29, 2020

Underrated Italian towns for 2021: It’s a shorter list but still worthy as our hope for more travel next year takes flight

So through this long, oppressive year, has that picture of the Amalfi Coast remained on your computer or is it bent beyond recognition from too much fondling? Is the postcard of a Tuscan vineyard at sunset still on your refrigerator, teasing you daily as you mark another “X” on your lockdown calendar? Relax. Rejoice. […]

December 23, 2020

My Christmas gifts 2020: Lousy presents for a lousy year

For all the evil in the world, Santa Clausini in Italy is here Never has the world needed Christmas gifts more than this year. Too bad hardly anyone can afford them. That’s where I come in. This time of year I change my name to Santa Clausini, grow a long white beard and hammer out […]

«‹ 13 14 15 16 ›»