I knew Lucca when bicycles still belonged to the city.

Borgo a Mozzano and the Devil's Bridge: Living Beside a Legend

Where the beauty of Florence meets the soul of Tuscany

Florence is a perfect city to spend a day — and for many years, that is exactly how I have loved it. From my home in Borgo a Mozzano, I catch the train early in the morning and go first to Lucca. There is just enough time to stop at the café in the same building as the station, a small ritual that has become part of the journey itself. Then I make my way to the train, usually leaving from Track 4, and settle in for the ride to Florence. In the past, the trip was faster. Now t

An elegant rhythm, then and now. There was a time in Venice when dinner felt like an occasion. You didn’t simply go out to eat. You prepared for it. Venice was elegant, and you dressed for the evening. Evenings That Began with Ritual. The night often began at Harry’s Bar. An aperitivo. A quiet moment to settle into the evening. From there, you moved on to dinner—a reservation already made. Because in Venice, you didn’t just walk in. You planned the evening. Dining as an

A city that reveals itself slowly, Venice is not a city you rush through. From the moment you arrive by train, something shifts. You step out into a world without cars, without the noise you expect—only footsteps, water, and the quiet rhythm of people moving through their day. And now, something has changed that makes arriving even easier. The luggage porters have returned. So instead of worrying about how many bridges stand between you and your hotel, you can choose where yo

Savoring Paris Where to Eat — By Neighborhood....Paris is not a city you eat in. It is a city where you savor the foods of each neighborhood. Each neighborhood has its own rhythm… its own dishes… its own way of sitting at the table. And once you understand that— everything changes. Eiffel Tower Area (7th Arrondissement) Your First Paris Dinner. This is where most journeys begin. Yes—it’s a little more polished, a little more aware of visitors… But it delivers exactly what y

Paris is one of my favorite cities in the world. As we mature, our reasons for travel become different, we look at a destination in a different way. Actually what we are looking for is a feeling of the destination especially if you have visited before. You may have run around checking off the sites, visiting museums and rushing around to see it all. Maybe you were with an ex-husband or in a relationship. At this point in our lives it is important to visit these cities agai

The streets of Florence, or Firenze as locals call it, hold many secrets that reveal the city’s rich history. One of the most fascinating yet often overlooked features are the tiny wine windows scattered along the city walls. These small openings once served wine directly to passersby, a tradition that dates back centuries. Early in the morning, when the city is still quiet and cafes begin to open, these windows offer a glimpse into a unique part of Florence’s past that conti

Climbing the Leaning Tower of Pisa should be on everyone's bucket list while visiting Tuscany.