Italian Life

March 9, 2026

Escaping Dubai: An American-Italian describes his ordeal getting out during a war

When the Iran War broke out Feb. 28, thousands were stranded in the Middle East, particularly Dubai where Iran bombed the airport. Domenico Marino, whom I know from our membership in the Travelers’ Century Club, was one of those passengers. He has a harrowing tale of waiting for a flight — any flight — out of a war zone. This is the first of a three-part series on the Iran War from an Italy perspective.

March 6, 2026

Learning Italian: Through Rome markets, cafés and small talk

Learning Italian is very difficult but learning a little is essential if you’re visiting Italy, particularly Rome where few speak English. Rome is a good place to learn. Markets, bars and public transportation are perfect places to learn and practice a few handy phrases. Here’s a list of tips to study before your next journey.

February 17, 2026

Cortina Olympics memories: From beauty of the Dolomites to the agony of defeat

Covering the Olympics as a sportswriter, I’ve collected a reservoir of memories. I’ve been in Cortina for two weeks and gathered a few new ones. Here they are, from the beauty of the Dolomites to watching athletes crack under the pressure.

February 10, 2026

Cortina during Olympics: Meeting Alberto Tomba and the chic center of Italy

I’m in Cortina d’Ampezzo covering alpine skiing for Colorado Public Radio, The Olympics are always long for reporters. Many 17-hour days. Long bus rides. Major time gaps between food. But Sunday night I hit one of the most chic towns in Italy. I managed to meet three brothers from Bologna who had a pass to a party hosted by Alberto Tomba, Italy’s Olympic medalist skiing hero and eternal playboy. It was the highlight of another memorable Olympic memory.

February 3, 2026

Winter Olympics memories: From U.S.-Canada hockey to freezing my pens off, I’m returning for more

This week I’ll be in Cortina d’Ampezzo to cover my fourth Winter Olympics. This time it’s for Colorado Public Radio and National Public Radio. I hope I collect a memory I can add to my long list of memories. Here I list 10 of them, most of them uplifting, some heartbreaking. But all memorable, from the U.S.-Canada gold medal hockey game in Vancouver to the Russia House in Turin.

January 20, 2026

New York Times 52 Places to Go 2026: My list of five that I suggested

Every January the New York Times posts a timely feature entitled 52 Places to Go. It’s one destination per week for that upcoming year. The Times has its part-time writers scour the Internet and phones for interesting places that have big events, celebrations or anniversaries. I am one of them. I send in five a year and this year they chose my suggestion of Assisi, Italy, which is celebrating the 800-year anniversary of the death of St. Francis. I write about it and my other four suggestions as my own personal Places to Go 2026.

January 13, 2026

12 years in Rome: Anniversary calls for another list of reasons why I love this city

Twelve years ago Sunday I showed up in Rome with three bags which weren’t nearly as heavy as my dreams. My retirement in Rome has surpassed all of them. Every year around Jan. 11, the date of my arrival in Rome in 2014, I list all the reasons why I love this crazy city. This is my latest edition. Stay tuned for more in coming years.

January 6, 2026

“Emily in Paris”: Playing an extra in Netflix’s global chick flick hit a humble way to spend a sunny day

Resuming my side gig as a film extra, I played an obnoxious tourist in Netflix’s hit series “Emily in Paris.” It filmed Season 5 in Rome and I got to spend a sunny day in May in Ostia Antica’s pretty Piazza della Rocca. The series is a chick flick on estrogen but star Lily Collins is nice, the work is easy and the piazza is beautiful. There are worse ways to make wine money.

November 18, 2025

Italy’s cost of living: It’s gone up here, too, folks

All my friends in the United States are complaining about higher costs. I believe them. I know. But here in Italy, the cost of living has gone up, too. It’s not as bad as in the U.S. but bad enough for Italians to take to the streets and protest. Here’s a hard look at what it is costing Italians and me today.

October 16, 2025

Turkmenistan: Hello from “The Weirdest Country in the World”

No individual travel aloud. Dirty cars heavily fined. A monument for dogs. Turkmenistan is one of the most isolated countries in the world and definitely the weirdest. I spent nine days in the desert country recently and came away with this report. It’s the first of a three-part series.

October 7, 2025

Italy travels: My five favorite trips over 11 years

Since retiring to Rome in 2014, I’ve made countless trips across Italy, from Sicily to the Alps. Many Italians don’t leave the country during their vacation. I do but I can see the appeal. Here are my five favorite trips in Italy, in order, with transportation and price info and links to more detailed blogs.

September 16, 2025

Italy tourism seeing a drop in American tourists but their fears of crowds and danger are misplaced

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.

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