July 10, 2015
For six years my husband and I made our home only an hour from the border, and two hours from the capital, of Slovenia. This tiny country offers gently rolling hills and lush valleys, tucked between Austria to the north, Croatia to the south and Italy to the west. Barely…
July 1, 2015
Continuing on the theme of Italian wine from two weeks ago, I’ve been reminiscing about a brief stay on Lake Maggiore a few years back when I discovered some interesting wines. Gattinara and to a lesser extent Ghemme, products of the fickle Nebbiolo grape grown in the relatively chilly environment…
June 15, 2015
Just back from western Tuscany, where I had the chance once again to taste some delicious, if lesser known, Italian white wines. The hardest to find here in the US is Vermentino, known in France as “rolle”. The grape is widely planted in Italy’s Piedmont region, where it’s known as…
June 8, 2015
I’ve just completed the 2015 Amazing Amalfi trips. While these weeks are always a series of highlights, this year for me the hike on the Sentieri dei Fortini (“Path of Forts”) on the Isle of Capri was without equal. You can begin the walk, which extends 4-5 km depending where…
May 12, 2015
Here are some fun facts I’ve come across over the last few weeks: • The name “Italy” comes from the Greek “italos”, which means calf. It was originally given to the region of Calabria by Greek settlers in the 8th century BC, and was extended to the whole peninsula under…
April 30, 2015
“I am totally capable of planning and booking my own trips. I have the tools and the tricks. What I don’t have anymore are personal contacts and boots on the ground.” Paulette Hurdlik, as reprinted from International Travel News, November 2014. Paulette sounds like many of my travelers. Savvy, sophisticated,…
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