With the recent news that Italy has banned Uber, here’s an easy way to call a cab while in Rome or Florence by using a text message. This is a great tip when your language skills are limited to “Grazie” and “Prego”.
Tag: italy
San Diego Little Italy Mercato
Next time you are in San Diego on a Saturday, make a point to stop by the open air Little Italy Mercato. Every Saturday 8am -2pm on West Cedar Street, between Kettner Blvd. and Front Street. Read more
Little Italy in San Francisco

I was born in San Francisco. When I take one of those silly quizzes that ask you all sorts of odd questions about what you like to do, they always ends up telling me I should move back. Maybe. Maybe some day. Read more
Moroccan Inspiration
It’s really not Moroccan or Italian or anything but my creation, but I guarantee yumminess. Go ahead, give my recipe a try.
Climbing to the Sky
While in Caltabellotta, Sicily, we hiked up to the highest peak. The view was tremendous, from La Chiesa della Madrice to the ocean and everywhere in between.
Did Someone Say Pecorino?
Many different kinds of Pecorino cheese adorn a shop in San Gimignano in Tuscany. What is your favorite?
The Other Star
The Pisa Baptistery of St. John must endure the popularity of the Leaning Tower when, it’s beautiful in its own right. Snapped this photo right before a terrific rainstorm.
Michelangelo Plays with Light
Rays of light fill the dome inside the Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano – St. Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican in Rome. It is the tallest dome in the world and was built with the explicit instruction that it was to rival Brunelleschi’s dome in Florence. Do you think he accomplished this?
A Master’s Tools
Decades of tools, handed down from generation to generation outlined on the worktable of master wood carver Filippo Romagnoli located in Chiantishire near Firenze. His grandfather’s original frame work hangs in the Louvre. Over the decades they fashioned furniture, candelabras, chandeliers, etc. to adorn some of the most famous Florentine homes. I visited his workshop in June 2016 and was able to see where the master works, and learn about the history. His work continues along with corzetti pasta stamps, rolling pins and much more. These are are available to you via his Etsy shop. His Facebook page has great videos and photos of his work.
It’s a Caravaggio!
Do visit the Chiesa di San Luigi dei Francesi while in Rome. Take your time and marvel at the three Caravaggio paintings – including the The Calling of St Matthew , The Inspiration of Saint Matthew and The Martyrdom of Saint Matthew. I found them by happenstance, as I did the church. I ducked in while waiting for a walking tour to start and the Caravaggio paintings cascaded into my lap reminding me that this is the BEST part of visiting Italy – finding out what you don’t know and then starting to understand how the pieces fit together. Magic.
What have you found lately?