Finding our footing in Florence–

Burrata, prosciutto, bread, etc….perfect snacks for fresh arrivals.

Solid joint in the center of Florence…welcoming and soothing–stupendo!

Tomatoes on bread–pan tomate–always a good choice.

Fegatini–chicken liver mousse–totally delicious…makes us go, “JAAA!”

Spaghetti pomodoro e basil…al dente and delectable…good job!

The gringo loves this joint…solid place to settle in on first day in Florence.

We have just arrived in Florence…our bags are dropped at the hotel…we gotta settle in and acclimate as we wait for our room to be ready…we walk around the block from our hotel, just a block or two away from the Arno River and BOOM stumble upon this humble little joint called Trattoria da Benvenuto, there is a table for two sitting empty in the open doorway, we ask if we can sit, the main dude says, “si” and we are good-to-go.

A light breeze is blowing in cooling us off, we are slightly away from crowds we see in a main square a few hundred meters away, there is an old lady looking out her 2nd-floor window, I wave to her, she waves to me…we feel welcomed in Florence.

So, we get busy with burrata, prosciutto, bread, pan tomate, fegatini on bread and spaghetti pomodoro e basil…this stuff is all good, real good, soothing to us weary travelers as we await our hotel room…no crowds, no jostling, just a few folks like us gobbling away waiting to move on with our lives in this magical Italian town: Florence.

We wash everything down with glasses of rosso and blanco vino della casa…and nice macchiatos at the end. . .wonderful!

Our energy is restored…we head to our hotel…settle into our room…wash up…and we are ready to fully dive into Florence now–saluti!

If you ever find yourself in Florence lookin’ for something simple to satisfy your hunger and restore yourself in a calm section of town, then seek out this place: Trattoria da Benvenuto. . .you will love it–I gar-ron-taaay!

It’s lovely out there.

Italy or Wisconsin?

POW!  Two of the photos above were taken in the Emilia-Romagna region of central Italy, and two of these photos were taken in Wisconsin of the midwest region of the United States. . .I defy you to definitively tell me which shots are from which place. . .amazing similarity, yes?  Yes!

Emilia-Romagna is recognized as the breadbasket of Italy, and the midwest is most certainly the breadbasket of the U.S.. . .we continue to be blown away by how beautiful Wisconsin is in this extremely rich and fertile region.  The rolling hills, the hay bales drying in the sun, the empty roads, the big sky, and the freedom to roam about at will–we love both of these regions of the world, and I hope that you can taste the glory of both of these places and do your own comparisons at some point before you depart.  Drive Italy…drive Wisconsin. . .enjoy!

I send you free-flowing vibes from the rolling hills of Wisconsin (though it’s up to you to determine which photos these vibes are coming from). . .feel them. . .they are full of vigor and stimulation.

To see more magical images from around our teeny tiny planet simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .so much to see and sooooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.

No labor today…ok–

KABOOMY!  Today in the U.S. we observe Labor Day. . .a day to honor and reflect upon all of the hard work that people do to keep the country pulsating, thriving, and vital.  I am confident that the concept of a day off to celebrate work was distant and unknown to the folks who built the temples of Agrigento here on the southern coast of Sicily;  so, to pay tribute to these workers I send all of you Labor Day vibes from The Valley of the Temples. . .feel them. . .they are full of appreciation, joy, and gratitude. . .mmmm, aaaaahh!!

Labor Day also marks the ‘unofficial’ end to summer in the U.S., but here in southern Sicily the summer is never-ending. . .may the sun shine on and on and on, and may we all feel its warmth until we can feel it no more.  It’s always summer somewhere. . .jaaa!

To see more fabulous images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

September…Sicily…saluti!

WOW!  The ‘ices’ here in Palermo are really refreshing and tasty. . .most wonderful!  We walk around in the sun all day seeing this and that, chatting with this person and that person, and soaking up all of the Sicilian vibe that we can. . .so, of course, we need to cool off and chill out and take a moment to reflect on all that we are seeing and smelling and tasting and hearing and feeling–the Italian ice, known here as simply ‘ice,’ helps us do this perfectly.

It’s September. . .grab a Sicilian ice somewhere. . .and suck it down until you feel cool.  Repeat if necessary to achieve sufficient coolness.

I send you chilly and icy vibes from Palermo, Sicily. . .feel them. . .they will put a big smile on your face from here to there.

To see more fabulous images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .so much to see and sooooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.

Even this donkey gets it–

YES!  Even this donkey in Castro dei Volsci, Italy understands that there is beauty all around us no matter where we are, and we must appreciate it each and every day.  Blue skies, cloudy skies, ups, downs, curves in your path, the people around you, etc. and so on. . .all of these are worthy of our gratitude, and they are all totally manageable.  So, don’t be a jackazz. . .breathe some air. . .and enjoy being here NOW.

I send out positive vibes to anyone affected by the recent violence down in Virginia and anyone anywhere affected by violence around them. . .feel these vibes. . .they are full of magic and joy.

To see more stupendous images from around our teeny-tiny planet simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

Siracusa, mon amour–

Well now, here we are soakin’ up the sunshine of Siracusa on the southeast coast of Sicily. . .mmm, aaaah!  Maybe if we spend more time here then we might start learning about how tough life is here for the locals, but I gotta tell ya, I don’t feel anything tough here at the moment.  Yes, lots of ancient relics built by invaders: Greeks, Romans, Spanish, Normans, etc. that supposedly Sicilians have a conflicted relationship with. . .yes, lots of rocks…tons of rocks. . .yes, the sun is harsh and brutal at midday. . .yes to all of this, yet we feel a serenity and a resilience here, too, that is grabbing onto us, gouging its hooks into us, daring us to stay.  During our next visit we will accept that dare and see what’s what.  But until then, Siracusa simply sits in my mind’s eye knowing it will still be here long after we are not.

I send you alluring vibes from Siracusa, Sicily. . .feel them. . .they will make you sit up a little straighter today.

To see more amazing images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .so much to see here and sooooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.

Finding your roots–

   BAM!  One of my great-grandfathers, a dude called Loreto Neroni, was born in Castro dei Volsci back in 1890.  I am here 125 years later walking in his footsteps and seeing what’s what.  Most people here look like cousins of mine. . .it feels like I am related to nearly everyone in town. . .and everyone is eager to help me learn more about this place and her people–most wonderful!  Who knew that exploring one’s roots could be so fun?  Not I, but I know now. . .mmmm, aaaahh!

I send you interconnected vibes from Castro dei Volsci, Lazio region, Italy. . .feel them. . .they are good for you.

To see more wonderful images from around our teeny-tiny planet simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .dive on in. . .you can go just about anywhere that you like right here, right NOW.

It’s lovely out there.

#1 inn…Castro dei Volsci–

WOW!  My great-grandfather was born in this town: Castro dei Volsci.  Castro is located about sixty kilometers south of Rome, and it is cozy and lovely.  The number one place to stay here is an old farmhouse inn called La Locanda del Ruspante which is owned and operated by a wonderful couple called Pasqualino and Antonella. . .their son Diego helps out as much as he can.  You can take cooking classes, tour the surrounding countryside, or just chill out and eat all of the fabulous food that they serve up here. . .mmm, aaahh, I like the last option–when is lunch?

I send you delightful vibes from Ruspante here in Castro dei Volsci. . .feel them. . .you don’t have to have a relative from here to fully enjoy them.

To see more amazing images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . do it. . .so much to see and soooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.

Dozza, hills, and red–

We’re just toolin’ around over here in the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy seeing what we can see.  We particularly like a town called Dozza because it is full of golden rolling hills with hay growing, grasses growing, breezes blowing, and the sun shining down on us all day long.  Every now and then we stop for a well-dressed totally tricked-out bottle of red. . .a bowl or two of pasta. . .a chit-chat with restaurant proprietors. . .mmm, aaaah!  Feeling so alive and at ease and contented we move on in search of more of the same.  No mission other than the continued enjoyment of the passage of time with a little beauty and deliciousness thrown in here and there.

I send you settled vibes from Dozza. . .feel them. . .they are just about all you need.

To see more magical images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .so much to see and soooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.

Fita knows meat–

The Fiorentina Bistecca at Trattoria Fita is around four pounds. . .it is cooked over red-hot embers pulled from an open fire pit inside the restaurant. . .the meat is cooked to a delectable medium-rare. . .the meat is allowed to rest properly. . .the meat is sliced properly. . .the meat is served promptly. . .we gobble it all happily and voraciously. . .it is all washed down with a lovely Emilia-Romagna red. . .we drive home and nap contentedly. . .mmmm, aaaahh!

Trattoria Fita is located in a town called Borgo Tossignano about thirty kilometers south of Bologna. . .please find this place and eat here if you ever find yourself tooling around in these parts. . .you will be oh-so satisfied–I gar-ron-taaaay!!

I send you primal vibes from Fita. . .feel them. . .they will make you go “grrrrrrrr.”

To see more wonderful images from around planet Earth simply click on a location of your choice in the category menu on the ‘About’ page of this blog. . .do it. . .so much to see and soooo little time.

It’s lovely out there.