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Follow the Signs
They lead to beaches, angels, and little white convertibles. Bumping down the ramp with my suitcase off the ferry from Athens, I raise a hand to my face in an attempt to shield my eyes from the dazzling sunlight bouncing off the water. Even with sunglasses on, I can hardly see a damn thing. The…
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All The Big, Strong Men Are In Reggio-Emilia Making Cheese
I know you were wondering where they might be. I sure was. Less than a 20-minute drive from the Reggio-Emilia AV train station, men of the Latteria Valle are beginning their days before 6am in order to create 24 new wheels of Pamigiano Reggiano cheese every single day of the year. They’re pouring fresh milk…
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Did I Take This Blazer On Vacation, Or Did It Take Me?
When packing for my recent trip, I assumed I might eventually write a post about “What I Wore In Paris.” But then I really just wore one thing. A couple of months ago, I bought a silk-wool blend blazer at a charity thrift shop for $13. I brought it to Paris and Italy with me,…
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How I Spent A Day In Paris (And What I Spent To Spend It)
Give me a 10-euro bill and a Metro pass and I could have a fulfilling (and filling!) day in Paris. That is not what I did. I’m just saying…I could. I traveled from Bologna early on a Wednesday morning and arrived at my hotel in Pigalle by 1pm with only an 8pm dinner reservation in…
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A Quick Note From A Trattoria In Parma
I’ve been mulling, happily, all day. After a rousing Roman weekend that came with some confusing feelings I’ve not yet pinned — or penned — down, I’m back to solo travel, wandering Bologna and its nearby towns. (More on that later.) The more time I spend traveling alone, the more clearly I can picture an…
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Get In The Mood For Italy
Let it be known that I am always in the mood for Italy. But as I’m prepping for my next voyage there (this week, somehow?!) I’m reminded that I like to slip into the character of a place, even one I’ve been to several times, before going. Whether you’ve booked all your stays, reserved the…
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Now That You’ve Eaten, Here’s What To Do In Rome
Yes, you should go to the Vatican to see the Sistine ceiling. Yes, you should visit the Pantheon. But this list has some recommendations for what might be a 3rd or 4th trip to Rome (or a very busy first one), when you’ve already seen Michelangelo’s Pieta and strolled the forum until you could smell…
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So You Want To Know How I Afforded My First Early Mini Retirement
The short answer is: I planned, and I saved. I decided to make this month-long trip to Italy 10 months before it happened, and I’m stubborn. So I did it. But I do have some tips and tricks for ensuring that a month abroad won’t put the dent in your savings you might think it…
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The Case for Early Mini Retirements
I refuse to wait until I’m 65 to have the life I want. We (Americans) are supposed to toil away under fluorescent lights for 40 years before ever getting substantial relief. What if, at the end of all that, we’re not healthy enough to travel? What if, by then, Europe is 120°F in May? I…
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LA VIE ROSALEE 