Archive for Archive for October, 2008
Halloween and All Saints Day: Celebrating in Italy
photo credit: abmaac
One of my favorite childhood memories is of celebrating Halloween with my 28 first cousins, my sister and our friends all rounded up at grandma’s house for her annual Halloween Party. We’d all dress up - parents, too - and make a campfire, bob for apples, smack around a few pinatas and go [...]
Chocolate Festival: Festa del Cioccolato in Cosenza (Calabria)
You can get drunk from wine, right?
You can get drunk off whiskey?
You can even feel drunk when you are in love.
But have any of you ever been drunk on chocolate?
I have.
Plain. Old. Chocolate.
Not the liquored-up kind.
And it was a buzz I rode all night long.
Last week I went to my first Italian Sagra, or food [...]
Costiera Amalfitana: Day Trip to the Amalfi Coast
As you are reading this, I am leaving on a jet train and heading north, north, north .. all the way north to the Costiera Amalfitana. And yes. It is still considered the south.
A bit far for a day trip, you think?
Well, you are right. It is a tad far.
I left Catanzaro at 5:45 AM [...]
Travel Tip Tuesday: Six Tips to Packing for An International Vacation
As a bed and breakfast owner I’ve seen a revolving door of guests from all walks of life. We’ve had young Hungarian honeymooners, retired German professors and group after group of American or Canadian-Italians retracing their heritage.
Like many excited travelers they come through our doors and bless us with their positive energy, upbeat attitude and [...]
Birthdays Italian-Style: Celebrating Your Birthday in Italy
* This post was originally schedule for Friday, October 24. Due to site issues Thursday-Friday, it has been reposted here today. Thank you for your patience and enjoy!
Imagine this. It is your (insert young age here) birthday and you live in one of the most beautiful countries in the world. (I’m talking about Italy here.)
Life is [...]
Love Thursday: The Rainbow Bridge in Southeast Texas
Regular readers might remember my recent post about Il Ponte Bistantis in Catanzaro.
Remember?
It is a stunning bridge with a nice history and unparalleled views of Catanzaro’s valleys.
But more than forty years ago another bridge - thousands of miles away in southeast Texas - altered history and changed the lives of all of my family members.
That [...]
Calabrian Water: Natural Water from Calabria’s Mountains
There was an article on Yahoo’s front page last week warning consumers about the risks of drinking bottled water. Most of us have heard the rumors claiming that bottle water is nothing more than marketed tap water so I assumed this story was more of the same.
And it may have been.
I didn’t read it.
After all. [...]
Travel Tip Tuesday: 2009 Top Destinations Mirror Calabria
Loyal readers know there are two things I am mildly obsessed with in the travel industry - TripAdvisor and Calabria - and don’t you just love it when your favorite things come together?
TripAdvisor recently released their picks for the Top Destinations of 2009, and while, no Calabria didn’t make the list, I promise you it [...]
The Nicholas Green Story: One Boy’s Impact on Italy
What would you do if your child was a victim of gun violence?
What if he died because of his injuries?
What if this happened thousands of miles away from your home?
Tough to imagine, isn’t it?
In 1994, a seven year old boy from California was traveling on the A3 between Salerno and Reggio Calabria with his family [...]
La Buona Cucina Americana: Texas-Style Chicken and Rice
It’s no secret my Maw Maw is a top chef in my book and once again this month’s La Buona Cucina Americana recipe is inspired from her kitchen.
This stove-top chicken and rice recipe was a staple in my southeast Texas home and we would often whip it up when the leaves started falling from the [...]
