The adventure begins with a reminder: no 's' on cannoli.
The third day of the bicycle trip took us out of the Salento region of Puglia, the southern end of Italy’s boot, and to the town of Mesagne, in the province of Brindisi. I looked forward to discovering the town. The itinerary for the day was a 41-mile ride just short of the town, where …
Continue reading Cycling in Puglia Day 3: Mesagne and a winery visit
The itinerary for Day Two of my fabulous week in Puglia was a 43-mile loop to Otranto, a beautiful, whitewashed seaside town. We really got a look at the Pugliese countryside on this ride. Dry stone walls lined the road and acres upon acres of olive trees covered the landscape. And there were also prickly …
Continue reading Cycling in Puglia: Day Two. Loop to Otranto
I have traveled all over Italy – from hiking in the Dolomites to driving around the Sicilian countryside with my cousin in a Jeep – but I’d not yet been to Puglia, Italy’s “heel.” So I decided to see it on a bike tour. Because . . . Italy. It was a fantastic and life-changing …
The first time I went to Italy, I spent a month with cousins in Grotte, Sicily, discovering my mother’s hometown. Then I was back in Rome, ready to start an internship with the Associated Press. I was 22. My Uncle Charlie was the next Grotte visitor. He and my mom went back to their hometown …
Continue reading A tribute to my Uncle Charlie, my Italy buddy
At our family picnics, there are so many cousins and children of cousins and their children, it can be a challenge to meet and greet everyone. My Aunt Joleen has the system nailed down though, as I witnessed at our recent gathering. “Now, who are you?” she simply asked, as she made the rounds. And that’s …
I created this blog to share my adventures in Italy. From being a spectator during Siena’s Palio to hiking the magnificent Dolomites, and hitting a few wine regions in between, I’ve tried to be more than a visitor, to blend in with the locals and have conversations about subjects other than “Where are you from?” …
There’s nothing like taking a detour while traveling in Italy. I’m not talking about an accidental detour because you get lost, although those can be an adventure as well. No, this is when you’re driving out and about along the Adriatic coast, passing by myriad beach towns, and then your friend says, “Hey, let’s go …
Continue reading Summer trip: the beach and a detour to the Abbey of Pomposa
