Legendary mac and cheese

I hosted a friend recently for an overnight stay. Her long anticipated trip abroad had been cancelled and I invited her to spend a night in Albany, in place of her former itinerary of Amsterdam, Dublin and Edinburg. There were aspects I could add to our planned shared time which might provide experiences reminiscent of … Continue reading Legendary mac and cheese →

Seeing Rome as a middle aged woman

On this most recent trip to Rome, I had no agenda other than some restaurants which I hoped to visit. This left me with three consecutive days to simply wander around to my heart’s content. As I walked, seemingly up and down every hill in that magical city, maybe even twice, I had a realization … Continue reading Seeing Rome as a middle aged woman →

Hands on. Hands off.

The hotel where I spent the night in Ischia had spa facilities, a term which is not defined universally. In Europe, I’ve learned, it generally means an array of water and steam baths and showers and a generally low key attitude.  The view from my balcony I appreciate that definition because I enjoy moving from … Continue reading Hands on. Hands off. →

No man is an island, but Ischia is

The effort involved in my getting to Ischia was not insubstantial. Beginning from Rome, the journey involved the metro, a fast train to Napoli. and then another metro ride to the port, where I was fortunate enough to find my way to the correct pier for the specific ferry I had booked in advance. Any … Continue reading No man is an island, but Ischia is →

Roman dinner – Al Peperoncino

My first night in Rome, I pushed through my travel exhaustion and found myself almost immediately on Italian time and seeking dinner after 8:00. It was a Sunday, which limited my options somewhat, but I got lucky and stumbled upon Al Peperoncino, a neighborhood spot close to where I’m staying. Note: While I don't mind … Continue reading Roman dinner – Al Peperoncino →