To Tip or Not to Tip?
For Americans in Italy, that is the question that’s bigger than a few euro; it’s a clash of cultures. My father once told me, in reminiscing about his days abroad in the 50’s, that a British expat approached him one day somewhere in Spain to say, “You Americans are ruining this place for the rest of us.” The man was referring to the tips Americans gave liberally. Apparently, the locals were coming to expect them when they’d been perfectly happy without them before the Yanks
a few seconds ago6 min read
My Cooking Class in Venice
My generous and thoughtful brother-in-law, Johnny G, treated me to a one-on-one class in Venetian Vegan Cooking with Venetian native Gioia Tiozzo ( accademiadicucinaitaliana.com ). Gioia is a food psychologist – that is, she specializes in food-related behavior and how the mind can mess with your appetite and appetites. The cooking classes are a side hustle and a curious one given her thoughts on tourists. She told me Venetians have always hated (her word) tourists -- partl
Mar 245 min read
Venice, Anyone?
The answer was si. To review, I'd booked an apartment for the entire month of January and invited friends and family to join me there. Allow me to introduce the cast of characters who said yes. They came in three waves. First wave: my sister Rosie and brother-in-law Jon, niece Victoria and her pal Kendra Second wave: sister Sheila and her sisters-in-law Cara and Chrissy (my sisters-in-law once removed or something along those lines) Third and last wave: Hammam, one of the dea
Feb 2012 min read
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