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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
'For a child to become trustworthy, we must first give trust'
I’m pages away from finishing a book about parenting teenagers (Teen Proofing, by John Rosemond). It was recommended by a friend/former...
Nicole Reitter
Oct 2, 20207 min read
Decathlon: Europe's best-kept sporting goods secret is in CA!!
Ok, friends, I am having a mind.blown! kind of day. There's a sporting goods store we frequent here called Decathlon (maybe you know it--...
Nicole Reitter
Sep 28, 20202 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
Taking a Page from Old Man Europe
My mother-in-law is Swiss. She came to the United States with my father-in-law, who is Hungarian, when they were in their 20’s....
Nicole Reitter
Aug 4, 20206 min read
Remember Me, Run to Me
Oh my friend—where are you going? Are you struggling in your winter years Showing the signs of a life well-lived Or are you slowly,...
Nicole Reitter
Jun 3, 20202 min read
Lockdown: You're Gonna Miss This
“The world went & got itself in a big damn hurry”. Anyone recognize this quote? It’s from one of my all-time favorite movies, Shawshank...
Nicole Reitter
Apr 29, 20204 min read
Arrivederci, Au Revoir
I started this blog entry last Thursday, moments after we enjoyed a roadside picnic (pique-nique in French) a few kilometers before the...
Nicole Reitter
Mar 24, 20206 min read
My love affair with Italy: it’s complicated lately, but I still love her – perhaps even moreso now
I suppose I fell in love with her when I was 14—that was the first time I laid eyes on her & I must say, even as an unworldly,...
Nicole Reitter
Mar 12, 20209 min read
Kindred Souls: Our 'Special Italian Friends'
Life has lead us down a road of new experiences & new people where we've found Kindred Souls-- aka our 'Special Italian Friends'...
Nicole Reitter
Jan 21, 20204 min read
The Magic of European Holidays
Now that the holidays are officially over in Italy (this happened yesterday, January 6th, with the very important & celebrated La...
Nicole Reitter
Jan 7, 20205 min read
Living Abroad: What About Caiden...
The question Stephen & I get asked, probably more than any other, is how's Caiden doing with our move abroad. This was, & remains, our...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 23, 20193 min read
96 Hours in Madrid y Barcelona
Last week was Caiden’s Autumn Break & our first chance to take a mini-getaway within Europe; we chose Spain (what a treat to be able to...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 17, 20194 min read
Harvesting Olives & Memories
Last weekend we were invited to what is, likely, a somewhat mundane, annual chore for many Italians-- the harvesting of olives. We were...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 6, 20192 min read
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