• Foodie Friday: Trattoria Montepaolo

    Tucked away almost in the middle of nowhere exists a restaurant so charming and so lovely that you’re happy it’s almost a secret. Walking into Trattoria Montepaolo in Dovadola, Italy, you’re transported to another time–a simpler and rustic era. The views of the rolling green hills invite you in, the Victorian-era-meets-farmhouse decor welcomes you, and

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  • My Favorite 2013 Travel Moments

    It’s almost the new year, and while I look forward to the adventures and self-discovery that 2014 will bring, I think it’s also a good time to reflect back on 2013. I can’t say that 2013 was an especially good year for me, all things considered. The first six or so months were some of

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  • Making Wine (And Friends) At AltaVita

    “In Italy, we drink to eat. In other countries, they drink to get drunk,” says Alessandro, one of the founding brothers of Altavita winery, as he pours us each a glass of red wine to complement the perfectly prepared meal laid out in front of us on a warm afternoon at Rocca Malatestiana in Cesena, Italy.

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  • Moment in Time: Italian Expressions

    In a train car traveling en route from Camogli to Bologna via Milan, Italy, I’m trying to concentrate on reading Forty Rules of Love. I’ve read and re-read the same paragraph a couple of times, unable to stay focused. All I can hear are the sounds surrounding me: computer keys clicking as Cindy types; a

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  • Foodie Friday: Chuflay Bar & Restaurant

    The small seaside town of Portofino, Italy has a number of restaurants begging tourists to visit them, but Chuflay Bar & Restaurant at the Hotel Splendido Mare doesn’t need to beg–instead, it woos its patrons. Chuflay, which got its name years ago from shooing flies away from the gorgeous food, is in a fantastic location–right

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  • Photo Essay: Portofino and Camogli

    When you think about Italy, what images are conjured up? For me, the first thought is always bright buildings, laundry lines, beautiful harbors filled with boats, dramatic hills with huge estates, and Italians going about their everyday lives.

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