River Dream, Private Garden, or Sunny Charm: Home Search Lucca, Italy: V. 2.0

A bone-chilling buzz from a drill breaking through into stone walls built to withstand centuries. The clang of hammers ricocheting from one dwelling to another, echoing in waves along the cobblestones. Metal scraping metal like tapered fingernails across a chalkboard. Voices of workers rising and falling in a head-scratching, spin-cycle of disagreement and debate. For … More River Dream, Private Garden, or Sunny Charm: Home Search Lucca, Italy: V. 2.0

Magic Gnome in Search of Home, Part II.

For this story to make any sense we must rewind the clock three years to November 2018. Matt and I had been searching, unsuccessfully, for months for a place to call “home-base,” after years of traveling, non-stop and nomadically, around the world. After living in other people’s spaces and rental apartments, from Myanmar to Morocco … More Magic Gnome in Search of Home, Part II.

Your Questions Answered – Lucca Biennale 2021

When the editor of Tuscany’s Grapevine magazine asked if I would be interested in writing a story about Lucca Biennale for the September issue, I jumped at the chance to dig deeper and find out more about this event which has long captured my imagination. Every other year for the last ten years – skipping … More Your Questions Answered – Lucca Biennale 2021

Visiting Italy this Summer? Here’s 5 Tips for Navigating Your ‘Covid-Free’ Flight

Last week, Italian PM Mario Draghi announced the doors to Italy would fling open this summer to tourists, not only coming from the EU and U.K., but also the U.S. and Canada. How that welcome mat would roll out in reality was anyone’s guess. Until this past weekend, that is… The big announcement came, unexpectedly, … More Visiting Italy this Summer? Here’s 5 Tips for Navigating Your ‘Covid-Free’ Flight

A Chat with Giulia Rontani of Etta’s Bookshop // Quattro chiacchiere con Giulia Rontani di Etta’s Bookshop

Can you imagine pursuing a dream, working month after month to achieve your goal, then as your aspirations begin to reach fruition… Pandemic enters the stage. It’s a tale of struggle and uncertainty known to all too-many small entrepreneurs and small business owners around the world, including one of my favorite “new” places in Lucca, … More A Chat with Giulia Rontani of Etta’s Bookshop // Quattro chiacchiere con Giulia Rontani di Etta’s Bookshop