Category: Thoughtpiece
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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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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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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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Joy Is Your Birthright
I don’t remember who I quoted when I jotted this down in my Notes app upon hearing it. (Sorry, someone; I doubt you meant to be “Anonymous.”) Simple, yet radical; it is our right as human beings to feel joy. A similar (though less concise) version of this thought struck me on a vacation to…
LA VIE ROSALEE 