Exploring life through food and travel
Every little village in Italy has something unique and special to offer it seems. Montecarlo, situated high on a hill near Lucca, is no exception. My dear friend Angela is fond of this artsy piece of antiquity and was eager to share its gifts with me. The fortress, founded in 1333, feels cozy guarded by large…
Hidden in the quaint neighborhood of Santa Croce sits Ditta Artigianale, a gem of a cafe that serves up creative and beautiful food in the tiniest of kitchens. We stumbled upon this cozy and comfortable eatery by mistake, no one recommended it, it just showed up. The two large open front doors invite you in,…
My mantra for the day was, “I am timeless and ageless.” This phrase kept repeating itself as I wandered through the National Archaeological Museum of Chiusi in Italy. The three of us had the museum to ourselves, the only people exploring this treasure of ancient Etruscan history. Even the town of Chiusi felt lonely that…
Rome is romance. Besides the uplit temples at night, beautiful singing accents, soft and sweeping landscapes and smiles of a beautiful people, food may be the ultimate romance. The Italians equate food with love and show it in so many ways. Rome’s reputation as a cuisine capital was enticing me to explore its specialties. I…
Enchanting and romantic Roma. Ahhh bella Roma. This city of eternity has so many stories to tell. There are levels and layers of religion, architecture, emperors, sculpture, temples and more. What century do you want to discover? It’s all here, although perhaps parts of it hidden which is what makes this place so intriguing. Temple…
Pietrasanta, a charming artist colony, is a stone’s throw from Lucca. La Mimosa’s Angela, who is an artist, thought it might be an illuminating place to spend a leisurely day. She was right. The first of many sculptures I was about to experience. How lovely to be enveloped in children and birds! Pietrasanta is small…
When I think of seaside villages I’d like to visit, quaint comes to mind. My vision includes somewhere petite, void of tourists, with charming cafes brimming with fresh local specialties, small fishing boats lining the wharf, an unpretentious air, and clean, clear blue water. Do these places really exist other than some remote tropical island…
I felt as if I was in a Robin Hood movie. This gorgeous castle, surrounded by woods, is a perfect King Arthur castle
I first learned of Cathars from my friend Jacques, who wrote to me that his hiking group was planning a tour of these great monuments. Curious, I looked up what a Cathar was and where they were located. As it turns out, they are scattered throughout the Languedoc region very near to Carcassonne. A web…
One of my favorite things to do in France is to visit the local markets, each one with its own personality. Just north of here lies Vaison la Romaine, home of one of France’s oldest—dating back to 1483—and largest markets with over 450 vendors. This true reflection of Provençal life stands out as my…
Bonnie and I are now staying in a tiny town in Provence near Avignon called Noves. Our little apartment is actually part of an old mill on a twelve-acre estate called Le Moulin de la Roque. This gem of a villa is tucked into a wooded area lush with tall trees and ancient stone, hosted…
Bonjour! Did you know that the Languedoc is France’s largest grape-producing region and it has been since Roman times? In fact, the vineyards flooded the landscape on just about every drive we took. According to Angela Murrills, author of Hot Sun Cool Shadow in which she writes about the region, it is the world’s most…
There is so much to drink in here in the land of all things that heighten the senses. Look up, and history is staring at you in the face. A distant castle, a gargoyle, an ancient door. Look across the countryside; all is bright green and lush, dotted with poppies. A waft of jasmine fills…
The seemingly endless jet lag and lack of wifi until today have stalled this blog – but not for long! I am still figuring out how to add the correct accent marks to the French words so please forgive their absence for now. We arrived in Toulouse Friday night, and then traveled to Carcassonne Saturday…