Travel

Ticking another one off our Firenze bucket list: Giotto's Bell Tower

As summer barrels toward us and with that, throngs of travel-starved tourists in newly-opened Italy, I've been taking a hard look at our...

Nicole Reitter

May 24, 20212 min read

'Italyism' 2: Roadside Marys

I'm saying it here & now... if Stephen, Caiden & I ever start a band (Stephen on drums, Caiden on bass and/or violin, me on piano), we...

Nicole Reitter

Apr 30, 20211 min read

Introducing 'Italyisms' #1: 'Tic Tac!'

We've lived in Firenze for about a year & a half & in that time we've created over a dozen 'Italyisms', as I affectionately call them....

Nicole Reitter

Apr 16, 20211 min read

Spring has sprung in Firenze!!

Last year we missed seeing Florence's glorious spring when Covid booted us out of this country. I've been so enjoying seeing the pops of...

Nicole Reitter

Apr 15, 20211 min read

How you (yes YOU) may be able to visit ITALY this summer!

As Americans begin to address their dying-to-scratch-it travel itch, my inbox is starting to fill up with “I want to go to Italy, where...

Nicole Reitter

Apr 14, 20217 min read

My 2 greatest fears of living (& staying) abroad

One year ago to date my husband & I went to a beautiful pranzo (lunch) at a nearby trattoria with one intention—to decide whether or not...

Nicole Reitter

Feb 19, 20218 min read

Buon Appetito Time!

One of the most spectacular things in Tuscany, truly, is the cuisine. Go to just about any town, any trattoria, osteria or ristorante &...

Nicole Reitter

Jan 18, 20214 min read

Holidays in Italy 2020 - far more 'red' than green

We wrapped up the holiday season yesterday as it was the final day of Caiden’s school break & also the day we drove Stephen to the...

Nicole Reitter

Jan 7, 20213 min read

Not your Grandma's fruit cake...

When I walked into a local bar (cafe) last week, I was struck by the tables, shelves & even space above the commercial refrigerators that...

Nicole Reitter

Dec 2, 20202 min read

My perfect day in Italy (in the midst of lockdown)

Yesterday ranks among my most perfect days in Italy thusfar. It was Sunday & it was bitterly cold, I think about 30 degrees F (-1.1 C),...

Nicole Reitter

Nov 23, 20204 min read

2 (uninsured) trips to the ER in 1 week! Wait 'til you see the bills...

These past few weeks have tested my functioning-in-Italy prowess as I needed to take Caiden to the Pronto Soccorso (ER), twice, in two...

Nicole Reitter

Nov 21, 20206 min read

Purple tier for you, red zone for me, lockdown for everybody!

Well, here we are again, commencing lockdown #2 in Italy. Last week at this time we (Tuscany) had been moved from yellow zone (good) to...

Nicole Reitter

Nov 16, 20204 min read

New friend helps me ‘find my way to the end of this very long tunnel’

I made a new friend about 6 weeks ago. He’s a most unexpected friend & yet he brings me immeasurable, yet utterly simplistic joy… You...

Nicole Reitter

Nov 12, 20204 min read

Covid gotcha down? Take a hike! (Cinque Terre 2020)

This weekend Caiden & I made an overnight jaunt to Cinque Terre. I have wanted to do this for months, & the 3 of us actually did visit in...

Nicole Reitter

Oct 19, 20205 min read

Buon viaggio, mi amore

Half of my heart is walking around Rome right now (soon to be on its way to London & eventually will land in Reno where it’ll travel...

Nicole Reitter

Sep 22, 20204 min read

I conquered the lido today!

So we all have those things, when traveling, that seem very difficult to understand & are even a bit intimidating. For me, one of those...

Nicole Reitter

Aug 23, 20201 min read

One year Italia-versary!

One year ago today we arrived at SFO late morning for our flight to Los Angeles & then onto Paris. We were beginning our “Italian...

Nicole Reitter

Aug 14, 20204 min read

Self-quarantine day 11!

Hooray! Caiden & I made it to day 11 of our self-quarantine, just 3 days remain! I must say, we kinda shine at self-quarantining... we...

Nicole Reitter

Aug 12, 20202 min read

Zanara e cinghiale

Last night I was awoken by one of the worst sounds ever-- the zeeeeeeeeeeee!!! of a mosquito in my bedroom (zanzara in Italiano). Having...

Nicole Reitter

Aug 7, 20202 min read

We eat (noi mangiamo)!

I have a girlfriend who’s been my secret rock when I’d first debated coming back to Italy, all the way through finally taking the plunge....

Nicole Reitter

Aug 5, 20202 min read

Ticking another one off our Firenze bucket list: Giotto's Bell Tower

'Italyism' 2: Roadside Marys

Introducing 'Italyisms' #1: 'Tic Tac!'

Spring has sprung in Firenze!!

How you (yes YOU) *may* be able to visit ITALY this summer!

My 2 greatest fears of living (& staying) abroad

Buon Appetito Time!

Holidays in Italy 2020 - far more 'red' than green

Not your Grandma's fruit cake...

My perfect day in Italy (in the midst of lockdown)

2 (uninsured) trips to the ER in 1 week! Wait 'til you see the bills...

Purple tier for you, red zone for me, lockdown for everybody!

New friend helps me ‘find my way to the end of this very long tunnel’

Covid gotcha down? Take a hike! (Cinque Terre 2020)

Buon viaggio, mi amore

I conquered the lido today!

One year Italia-versary!

Self-quarantine day 11!

Zanara e cinghiale

We eat (noi mangiamo)!

How you (yes YOU) may be able to visit ITALY this summer!