When I was planning my bar trip, I knew Rome had to be on the itinerary. Yet if anyone had asked me why, I wouldn’t have had a specific answer. I had visited twice before, so there weren’t any specific museums or historical sites I had to see, and indeed I didn’t set foot inside a … More Rome: The Eternal Beauty of the Eternal City
My walking tour of Testaccio was not my only food-related activity in Rome. Wanting to try something a bit more hands-on, I thought Walks of Italy seemed to fit the bill: a food tour with market tastings and pizza-making. While the pizza-making turned out not to be too in-depth, the day was still fun and the food we … More Rome: An Afternoon of Market Tasting, Cheese Sampling, and Pizza Making
My bar trip marked my third visit to the wonderful city of Rome (here’s one and here’s two). While I didn’t have any specific reasons for returning – beyond thinking the city is really, really beautiful – I did want to make a point of visiting new-to-me pockets of the city. So when I saw the Taste … More Rome: A Taste of Testaccio
In truth, I opted to spend five nights in Sorrento out of convenience: it’s a handy springboard from which to visit the Amalfi Coast’s many attractions, with Positano, Pompeii, and Capri all easy day trips from town (likewise for Naples, a chaotic city I did not quite have the time – or, if we’re being honest, the … More Sorrento: Ten Reasons Why My Homebase Became a Highlight
I always call myself a “history nerd,” and I guess what I mean by that is that, when traveling, one of my greatest thrills is coming across a historical place that I have learned about and getting to walk in the very spot where important historical figures once did. In other words, standing in the footprints … More Pompeii: Walking Among History
“Blue Grotto?” I asked tentatively, well aware how choppy the seas had been on my ferry ride from Sorrento to Capri. “No, no!” the Italian man replied, confirming my worst fears. “No boats today! Too windy!” I wanted to scream in frustration. I had committed the cardinal travel sin: lack of advance planning (and, even … More Capri: Of Disappointments and Dashed Plans
After a sun-soaked morning in Positano and an overcast afternoon in Ravello, the weather finally turned on us as we drove into Amalfi, sending down a light drizzle that never let up during my brief time in town. Predictably, the weather dampened (yes, cringeworthy pun intended) my enthusiasm for Amalfi somewhat. Even in the rain, however, I … More A Rainy Afternoon in Amalfi
After spending the morning in idyllic Positano, we headed on toward the town of Ravello. The views on this part of the coast continued to stun, with unbelievable greens and blues predominating. We even passed by Sophia Loren’s gigantic seaside mansion, which our guide said was the nicest house in the region (and which was, … More Ravello: Of Ceramic Shops and Scenic Views
Our driver’s name was Marcello. If you happen to be a romantic comedy aficionado – and why wouldn’t you be? – you are probably smiling right now. Driving up and down the Amalfi Coast and stopping in the idyllic town of Positano under the care of a man named Marcello? Too good to be true. If … More A Sun-Soaked Morning in Positano
Florence is an interesting city for me because, at times, it gives me serious shades of Venice: that is, it’s much more overrun with tourists than I would like it to be. At the same time, though, I get it – it’s a lovely city, and why wouldn’t you want to visit? And for me, Florence is one of … More Florence: Ten More Moments to Remember
