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The Pursuit of Happiness
I snapped this photo of a smiling dumpster a few years back and thought to myself, “If a dumpster can be happy, why can’t we?” For me happiness is like an AutoGrill on the Italian Autostrada: A pit...
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That’s a BOY’S Name!
From the time I was old enough to speak, I was a reluctant crusader against the relentless ignorance over the gender-bending name my parents assigned me at birth. 1960s Madison Avenue provided only...
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Amore di Mamma
Every single path we take in life has its price to pay. Fulfilling my dream comes at the expense of living far away from my son. Today I especially felt the sting of that choice as I accompanied Andrew...
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Rick Steves in My Inbox
Last week Steve Brenner and I premiered our video “The Food Police: The Rick Steves Episode”. We had such a blast shooting it in Rome and we are so grateful to Rick and his staff for generously...
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House Hunters International: Mother Knows Best in Orvieto, Italy
Yeah, I know, I’ve been in a lot of film and video lately. Fifty-six years of relative obscurity and then, all of sudden, a rash of media exposure. House Hunters International came calling in January...
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Don’t Call Me “Expat”
I don’t like the word “Expat” – it feels exclusionary, divisive and, dare I say it, a bit elitist. I never liked being a member of a clique in school either, preferring to spread myself around,...
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Vicolo Wars
I live on a quiet little vicolo (alley) just off the main piazza in town. It’s very private – the entrance to my apartment is the only one on the lane. No cars are allowed to drive down this street,...
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Artist Kelly Medford is Taking It To The Streets
It goes without saying that painters of landscapes love the out of doors, but for one American-turned-Roman resident, Plein air painting isn’t only a passion it’s a way of life. Riding around the...
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La Passeggiata d’Orvieto
The clock tower bells ring out to announce it’s six o’clock. I jump up, grab my coat, obligatory scarf and run out the front door towards the main street of town! No one loves Sunday passeggiata...
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The Last Olive Harvest in Italy
Paolo and Elizabeth needed help harvesting their olives. The window of opportunity was closing and with rain in the forecast, this was possibly their last chance for raccolta delle olive. Temperatures...
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Vicolo Wars: THE SEQUEL
THE SAGA CONTINUES… (Read Vicolo Wars here). Since declaring war in my little alley things have gone from bad to worse. Remember the plants that I couldn’t water when motorcycles were parked...
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Top 8 Survival Tips for The “Language-Challenged” in Italy
Tip #1: Point and grunt. Tip #2: Always have Google Translate open on your phone and a copy of the “Alfabeto Fonetico” in your wallet. My name spelled out this way is...
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Book Review: The Gondola Maker by Laura Morelli
“From the author of Made in Italy comes a tale of artisanal tradition and family bonds set in one of the world’s most magnificent settings: Renaissance Venice.” I don’t know much about wine. I’m...
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Vicolo World War III
There’s never a dull moment on my little vicolo…. (Read Vicolo Wars and Vicolo Wars: The Sequel). I tacked the following note to the front door on the way out of town this weekend. I thought perhaps...
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DEATH LOGS IN: BOOK REVIEW*
*Oops! Yesterday, I accidentally published the following Italy Book Tours review ahead of scheduled release and had to take it down from the site! For the followers of this blog who got a erroneous...
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Lollo & Me
It began almost a year ago. A man was visiting a mutual friend of mine in Orvieto and took a picture of an elegant, solitary gentleman sitting on the bench across from the Duomo. Several months later...
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The Sicilian: Remembering My Father
orvietoorbust:Every year, I repost this for my great Dad that I miss every single day. Originally posted on Orvieto or Bust:: Luke Joseph DeBella: 1917 – 2004 As the 10-year anniversary of my father’s...
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31 Days of Orvieto: Day #1
As some of you may know, during the entire month of July, I created a Facebook Project called, “31 Days of Orvieto”. About half-way through the month, however, I suddenly realized that many of...
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31 Days of Orvieto: Day #2
Kelly Medford in progress DAY #2 of “31 Days of Orvieto” is entitled INSPIRATION. Roman-based artist Roman-based artist Kelly Medford is a frequent visitor to our town. Other great artists who’ve found...
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31 Days of Orvieto: Day # 3
Day #3 of “31 Days of Orvieto” highlights the ARTISAN. Our friend Steven Brenner of Cross-Pollinate & The-Beehive has made a film showcasing Orvietano (Roman by birth) Federico Badia, a young man...
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