Uh oh! An email from the owner of the hotel I was to stay at in San Vigilio di Marebbe, Italy. He needed to close the hotel early for the season (summer) as his wife was about to have a baby. What did this mean for me and my reservation made a month ago? Well,…
As I drove down the gravel road I could see the cluster of buildings and the hills covered with trees beyond. This agriturismo, Antico Borgo di Tignano, was indeed remote – off the beaten path (I’m surprised I didn’t get lost finding it!). This is the type of accommodation I was looking for in Italy…
More love of the Val d’Orcia, Italy – this special region of Toscana that is definitely a favorite. Yesterday I drove to Sant’ Antimo, a church and abbey that dates back to the late 1100’s. It began to decay in the 15th century, but restoration began in the 1870’s. It’s a stunning place, simply decorated, yet…
As soon as we crossed the border I could feel it. Even on that speeding train I could tell. We were in Italy. Italia! The vibe was different. I sensed that crazy Italianness (I think I just made up a new word) in my bones. While I really love Switzerland (it’s beautiful), Italy has my…
Has this ever happened to you? You travel to a city or town and you eat at a great restaurant. You don’t exactly remember the name, but you have a vague notion of where it is. You return to said city or town and try to find this restaurant. But, it remains elusive. Then you become obsessed…
“I think we’ve come to far,” my worried dad says from the backseat of my Irish friend’s car. “No, I think we need to go a bit farther,” I reply as I navigate down the rural road. We’re in County Waterford near the tiny town of Ballymacarbry in the Nire Valley. So, basically in the…
