Some of my favorite reads

Non Fiction:

Too Much Tuscan Sun, Dario Castagno- A hilarious book about life as a tour guide in Chianti. A great book to help understand cultural differences.

Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert- A woman search for herself spanning across three different countries. Although Italy is only the first stop, this book is worth reading because of the way she makes Italy come alive, as if you were right there with her.

Under the Tuscan Sun & Bella Tuscany, Frances Mayes- A story about an American writer making a home in Italy.

A Thousand Bells at Noon, Franco Romagnoli- Experience Rome through the authors eyes as he returns to the place of his youth.

Travelers' Tales Guides: Italy- A collection of stories about Italy from dozens of authors.

Italian Affair, Laura Fraser- A young woman struggling after her divorce finds love and so much more in Italy.

As the Romans Do, Alan Epstein- Rome through the eyes of an American family as they struggle to set up roots. Very accurate view of Roman culture.

Stolen Figs, Mark Rotella- The author re-discovers the land of his parents in Southern Italy.

Italian Days, Barbara Grizzuti Harrison- A journal of the author's traveling across Italy.

A Thousand Days in Venice, Marlena de Blasi- A story about finding love and a new life in Venice. Complete with real recipes.

A Thousand Days in Tuscany, Marlena de Blasi- The author takes another leap of faith as she and her new Italian husband move into a renovated house in Tuscany.

The Reluctant Tuscan, Phil Doran- Burned out with life in Hollywood and close to losing his marriage, the author moves to Italy to restore a farmhouse and find his inner Italian.

Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves, Gary Paul Nabban- Join the author as he walks the sacred Franciscan Way to Assisi.

Italy Fever, Darlene Marwitz- 14 ways to satisfy your love affair with Italy, written by a self proclaimed Italian addict.

Desiring Italy, Susan Cahill- A collection of stories written by women to celebrate the passions of the country and the culture.

La Bella Figura, Beppe Severgnini- The author helps to reveal the essence of being Italian.

Extra Virgin, Annie Hawes- A young woman's adventures along the Italian Riviera and her experience with living among a different culture.


Fiction:

The Broker, John Grisham- A fast paced book about a man on the run, set mostly in Bologna. A great peak into the language and food of the area.

Playing for Pizza, John Grisham- A cute story about a washed up NFL quarterback who finds himself playing football in Italy.

Angels & Demons, Dan Brown- Before the Da Vinci Code, there was this book. Set in Rome and features most of the great sites in the city.

Biographical Novel:

The Agony and the Ecstasy, Irving Stone- A beautifully and very detailed account of the life and works of Michelangelo. This book will make Florence and Michelangelo's work come to life.

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, Ross King- Recounts the amazing four years Michelangelo spent painting the Sistine Chapel.

Brunelleschi's Dome, Ross King- Recounts the incredible story of the completion of Florence's Duomo, an architectural wonder. Reading this will help you appreciate the true genius of this landmark.

My travel philosophy

Living Locally

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to watch other travelers as they interacted with locals and responded to their new environment. I have witnessed some wonderful encounters but I have also had the unfortunate chance to see some horrific examples of “ugly Americanism”.
Travel is a unique experience in that it is a two way street. The tourist is obviously there to take in and receive all that the foreign land and its people have to offer. While seeing sites and discovering far away places is exciting, it is only the first part of the journey. What so many do not understand, and therefore completely miss out on, is the gift of reciprocation. Most travelers are there to receive, worried mostly about what they are “getting” out of the trip. I say that true traveling begins when the visitors find themselves concerned about what they have brought into each interaction. When they begin to wonder what else they can give to each situation. As traveling shifts from a one-way express lane to a two lane gravel road, opportunities begin to appear that would have otherwise been missed in a cloud of self-absorption. The traveler becomes less of a strange and forgettable tourist and more of a temporary local. I call this Living Locally.

Living Locally is actually quite easy and very addictive. Before long you will find yourself shaking your head in dismay at other tourists, wondering why they have not learned to blend in and become a part of their surroundings like you have.

The steps are simple and straight forward:

1. Put yourself in their shoes. When you begin to try and trade places with the locals, you see things in a new light.

2. Make the first attempt at communication. I do not speak any other languages fluently, but I learn say a few simple and polite phrases in the language of any country I visit. Always ask the person if they speak English-in their language. Nothing screams “I don’t care about you” like a tourist rattling on in English on the assumption that the listener understands. While most foreigners do have at least some understanding of English, everyone appreciates even a simple effort on your part. You will also find that people are more likely to go out of their way to help if you have tried to communicate on their terms first.

3. Try to blend in. Watch the locals….and copy them. Sometimes I feel like a private investigator, as I try to figure out where they hang out, where and what they eat or why they do what they do. Forget trying to explain “double tall non-fat sugar free vanilla latte” and belly up to the bar for whatever they are having.

4. Forget what you’ve known to be true and keep an open mind. It’s a big world out there, and nobody does it exactly like we do. You never know, you might actually discover something you like better.

5. Relax and enjoy. Because of good preparation and smart traveling choices, you will have created time to experience encounters that you have been dreaming of.
Travel, like life, is full of ups and downs. The trick is to be prepared for the worst while enjoying whatever is thrown your way.

Traveling is fun, but Living Locally is pure joy.