Italy

On top of the duomo

I’m beginning to suspect that the bottom portion of the scaffolding on the front of Milan’s duomo is there for good. I believe it went up in 2003 or 2004, and it’s still in place as of last weekend, sporting ads for Marie Claire and Elle magazines. Perhaps the church is using the advertising proceeds … Read more

Rome Gay Pride 2007

Nope, I didn’t go, but I wanted to share this great little video my friend Roberto made from his experience there. Sure makes Zurich’s Christopher Street Day look tiny! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mJHGQdIoA50]

Lollygagging about in Vicenza

After filling up on the artsy type of culture in Padua, Ali and I hopped on a train and headed to Vicenza for an afternoon of passegiate, aperitivi, and shopping, all of which also clearly qualify as cultural activities in Italy. Vicenza is a small city whose center is a large walking district of narrow … Read more

I get cultured in Padua

OK, so where was I? A couple weeks ago I spent a few days in Italy, staying at my favorite hotel and spa in the whole world (which has absolutely nothing to do with the fact that the manager is a good friend of mine, I swear), which is in a small town just outside of Padua (Padova). I can’t go to Padua without feeling an intense urge to move back to Italy, and this trip was no different. It’s just so…. Italian. The cobblestones, the cathedrals, the art, the public humiliation of graduates… and of course the food. Why am I not there right now?

Read moreI get cultured in Padua

Buona Pasqua

Easter in Italy is always marked by the omnipresent giant chocolate eggs. No bunnies, no peeps, just big chocolate eggs. If you’re lucky, there’s an exciting surprise awaiting you inside your giant chocolate egg. These surprises can range from cheap plastic toys to fine jewelry, depending on where your egg came from. They’re kind of like giant Kinder Surprise eggs.*

Read moreBuona Pasqua

Graduation, Italian style

Walking around Padua (Padova in Italian) last week, Ali and I happened across the graduation celebrations of a few university students. The first indication that something was up this day were the big signs plastered up along one side of a piazza. These each displayed a crude caricature of one of the graduates, along with a long and detailed narrative written by the grad’s so-called friends. 

Read moreGraduation, Italian style

Heaven (in gelato form)

I spent last week in Italy, eating my way through a couple cities and visiting friends. The train connection afforded us a little layover in Milan, so I seized the opportunity to seek out that great mecca of gelato, Chocolat. As its name implies, they specialize in the chocolaty gelato flavors, including my all-time favorite, … Read more

Mud and other Italian-style fun in Abano Terme

After spending a long weekend in Milan with Scott and our friends, I headed off alone to visit a friend in Abano Terme, a small spa town near Padua (Padova in Italian). Abano is relatively new for an Italian town, as it was mainly built up in the 50s and 60s, when having oneself wrapped in mud was the hip thing to do.

My friend happens to own one of the many spa hotels in the town, the Hotel Universal Terme. It’s a grand, old-fashioned place that makes you feel like you’ve gone back in time from the second you walk through the door (this is what the clients want, he tells me).

Read moreMud and other Italian-style fun in Abano Terme

My Milan

I love this city. I still can’t believe I avoided going back for a year, despite its proximity to our new home. I guess we needed some time to settle in and get on with our new life in our new country. When you have as many former homes as I do, sometimes it’s important … Read more

Aaaaaah… Italia

How in the world is it that we hadn’t been back to Italy a single time since moving away over a year ago? We have no good excuse – Milan (our former home) is a mere three hours away by train. We don’t even have to change (changing trains in Italy might be considered a … Read more