In the shadow of the Vatican and a few blocks away from Vatican square, lies the Prati neighbourhood. This area is off the sightseeing grid and, on the whole, tourist-free. This is a working Roman neighbourhood and there […]

Today is Ferragosto in Italy! If you’ve ever been to Italy on August 15, you have probably noticed how quiet everything is. Why? It’s Ferragosto!  Ferragosto is a public holiday, which means everyone gets a vacation day from work! While most things will be closed (“chiuso […]

After the winter we had in Toronto, I swore I would not complain about the heat this summer. Italian summers can get pretty hot, especially if you’re walking around Rome or Florence. If you’ve ever been to Italy on a hot summer day, chances are […]

Zoom! Zoom! If you live in Toronto, tomorrow (February 17 – 26, 2017) is the start of the Canadian International Auto Show, a great event for car enthusiasts and potential new car owners. However, if you need an excuse for a trip to Italy in […]

  Pete loves cycling. He had finished a 115 km bike ride. It was day one completed of the two-day (230 km) Alberta Ride to Conquer Cancer. Besides being tired, he was in the mood for some carbo-loading pasta for dinner. Since it had been what […]

Opera season in Toronto starts this month. My sister, Deinah, and I have Canadian Opera Company season tickets. We have gone for the last few years and enjoy the music, the singing and a night out together. The first opera I ever saw was in […]

Many people hate Valentine’s Day: Roses seem to triple in price overnight. Dinner reservations are difficult to get and are more expensive due to “special menus” to celebrate the day. The idea that “I don’t need a special day to tell my partner how much […]