I'm Free(lance)! Going my own way in 2022
I received notice of my termination today After 20 years of working for a small tour operator (ten of those full-time) I'm finally going...
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- Oct 17, 2021
Masterworks from the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, pt.1
I had a few extra hours in Athens recently so decided to visit the fascinating National Archaeological Museum. I had already been but it...
- Sep 2, 2021
Ten Tips for a Successful Stopover
Hello finally from my home in Florence! This is a great time to be in Tuscany as the savage heat of the summer has eased and now there’s...
- Aug 18, 2021
Adventures in the Azores, pt. 2: Faial and Pico
After a fun few days on the island of São Miguel (see pt. 1 of the Azores adventure here) it was time to head to Faial, where my friend...
- Aug 13, 2021
Adventures in the Azores, pt. 1: São Miguel
Some of my favorite trips are the spontaneous ones where I impulsively decide to go somewhere I know nothing about. That happened to me...
- Jul 19, 2021
Stopover Fun: 36 hrs in Lisbon
We all try to avoid long lay-overs when we fly but you can also extend your visit and turn it into a fun "stopover"! I did it last week...
- Jul 6, 2021
Hiking near Florence: the Monastery and Nature Reserve of Vallombrosa
The summer sun can be brutal in Florence, and it's often one of the hottest cities in Italy since it's landlocked and in a wide valley,...
- Jun 28, 2021
The Tour de France : excitement & fun at the world's biggest bike race
The Tour de France began this weekend so I just had a chat with my old friend and former guiding colleague Luca Magnoni. He and I have...
- Jun 14, 2021
The Green side of the Big Apple: Nature trails and calm spaces around New York City
Here's one last post from my recent trip to the U.S. and then I promise to return to Italy! My memories of New York were mostly of...
- Jun 4, 2021
Revolution in the Streets: in Tiananmen Square with my Father, May 1989
Today marks the 32nd anniversary of the mass demonstrations and eventual violent crackdown in Beijing's Tiananmen Square. Amazingly, my...
- May 24, 2021
Miami Outdoors: the Graffiti Art of Wynwood Walls and Nature Walks around Key Biscayne
I had never spent much time in Miami but recently went there to visit my niece, and she took me around to see the sights. The city lies...
- May 17, 2021
OBX, USA: Walking Trails of the Outer Banks, North Carolina
I normally cover the southern Mediterranean but my U.S. home base is in the Outer Banks of North Carolina (affectionately dubbed the...
- May 3, 2021
A Trip to Rome & my "Covid Free" flight to JFK
After 14 months of pandemic and 7 months without even leaving the Florence city limits, I finally decided to get outta Dodge and fly back...
- Apr 26, 2021
Chatting with Dimitris: Greece opens up & hiking around Athens
Greece just announced that it's opening its borders to international travelers on May 14th, so I figured it was a good time to check in...
- Apr 7, 2021
Chatting with Manu: hikes, history and explorations in and around Rome
I've spent the past year exploring every inch of Florence's city limits, so I thought it would be fun to check in with my friend and...
- Mar 29, 2021
The Dying Gaul & the Naked Warriors who Terrorized Rome
One of my favorite works of art is this powerful statue called "The Dying Gaul." It's in the Capitoline Museum in Rome and has a...
- Mar 22, 2021
Welcome, Primavera! Early spring hiking in the hills around Florence
This weekend marked the start of spring but it's been springing for a while here in Tuscany. Sunday was also "International Day of...
- Mar 15, 2021
Italy goes Red again: Status report from Florence
Hello everyone! I’ve just finished recording my first podcast (!!!!) so now you have two ways to get news from my adventures. I won’t...
- Mar 2, 2021
Pixar's new movie, "Luca," will be set in the Cinque Terre
I just saw the trailer for Pixar's new movie, "Luca" (a boy's name here in Italy = Luke) and couldn't believe it was set in the Cinque...
- Feb 22, 2021
Backstory, pt. 3: Head for the Hills
Everybody comes to Florence for the art, the culture, the history, or let's not forget the food, the wine, the shopping! But one of the...
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