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Paso Robles wine: California’s “other” wine center gaining ground on Napa and Sonoma

Paso Robles wine: California’s “other” wine center gaining ground on Napa and Sonoma

During our 11-day trip to the U.S. last month, Marina and I did some wine tastings in Paso Robles, a growing California wine center that is rivaling Sonoma and Napa counties in popularity if not price. Indeed, I suffered some sticker shock but the wines were worth it and so were the settings at Halter Ranch and Justin. For a guide, I had an old sportswriting colleague, John Schumacher, who is retired and now works part time in a tasting room near his native Sacramento.

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South American beaches: Top 10 from Colombia to Brazil

South America-Taipu

Winter isn’t that far away. If you think you’ll need a beach fix in December, skip the Caribbean and consider South America. It’ll be their summer down there. Guest blogger Kathy Spencer lists the the top 10 beaches in South American for your perusal.

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Summer Olympics: My memories from Sydney, Beijing, London

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During my 40-year sportswriting career, I covered six Olympics. With the Paris Olympics opening Friday, I thought I’d share memories of the three Summer Olympics I covered in Sydney, Beijing and London. They range from covering Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals to riding on the back of a monk’s motorcycle to his hilltop monastery for tea.

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Italian island guide: From south of Sicily to north of Sardinia, there is something for everyone

I wrote that Capri "is the prettiest island in Europe."

It’s July, the worst time to travel anywhere in the world. But if time restraints limit you to visiting Italy in July, I’m here to help. After living here 10 years, I’ve been to a lot of Italian islands. Here are some of my favorite. They will be crowded. But they will be hot, and they will be clean. They will also be beautiful if you can ignore all the bodies. This is a repost of a blog I wrote in 2017 as I’m trying in the United States.

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United States: My first trip in five years laced with trepidation as I enter a badly divided country

Concept american flag on cracked background

For the last five years I told people the only things that could get me back to the fractured U.S. would be a high school reunion or a family wedding. My nephew decided to get married in California on the same July 20 date as my 50th reunion. I will attend the reunion’s meet ‘n greet on the 19th, then fly to California at 6 the next morning. I don’t dread the itinerary nearly as much as entering the political cauldron that is the U.S. Watching from a far, it makes me appreciate Italy that much more. It confirms Italy is now and will be forever more my home.

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Tastes of Rome food tour sprinkles history on taste buds

Tastes of Rome

I’ve taken food tours all over the world and I highly recommend them. In Rome I recommend the 10 Tastes of Rome. It sprinkles in history with the food. It starts in Campo de’ Fiori and finishes in Trastevere. Along the way I learned why they burned a philosopher at the stake and how a spout of oil the day Jesus was born inspired the construction of Chiesa di Santa Maria in Trastevere. Along the way I tasted some good pizza, gelato and Sicilian cassatina.

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

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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.

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Palazzo Farnese: Gem of the Roman Renaissance is a tour worth waiting a decade

Palazzo Farnese I

I waited 10 years to tour Palazzo Farnese, the beautiful Renaissance Palace that’s home to the French Embassy here in Rome. Tours were always booked. I finally got in recently and it was worth the wait. The entrance alone with giant marble columns taken from Egypt were worth it alone. Inside is art that can rival some in the Vatican Museums and Michelangelo’s fingerprints are all over the palace. Too bad there’s a major cleanup on the facade. The entire building is covered with scaffolding.

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