I came to the realization that not all Italians lived “la dolce vita” but instead, struggled with many hardships of everyday life. Political chaos, poverty and corruption have been major issues that are deeply embedded in this country. Actually, Italy made a significant impact on the film industry during the Neorealist movement at the end of World War II.

Washington Post July 14th article that appeared under the heading:

“Brits remain reticent to wear facemasks, despite having the highest Coronavirus death toll in Europe”

On reading this—before I even read the article—I could feel my hackles rising on two counts…

What do escalators have to do with democracy?

Sounds like a riddle, right? Well, as with most riddles, the answer is pretty obvious when you hear it. In this case, Medellín, Colombia’s second city, provides the clue.

As Filippo came into the living room and registered who he was being called to talk too, he immediately stood up straighter and said hello. He later told me his mind was racing about what he might have done to provoke a visit from the police, this officer, who everyone calls “Jackson”, once scolded him for skateboarding along the road, but nothing he had done recently came to mind. Then from Jackson’s bag, came an envelope which contained…

After a lifetime of travel, one starts to think a new destination will not hold any unique surprises. Such was the case for Morocco - my expectations for Imprint’s first Morocco tour were way too low. This is an amazing travel destination. And perhaps more importantly, it is a country where Western travelers can experience a democratic, moderate Muslim culture.

In 2016 the Accademia had a special exhibit of the Flemish painter Hieronymus Bosch, who apparently spent some time in Venice. He was a successful late 15th-century Flemish artist. That success seems to defy all reason for me. It’s not that his art is not fascinating, arresting, and thought provoking (all good things in art), but rather that it was successful 500 years ago.

In Italian the word for “bread” is pane, the etymological root for which is pà meaning “nourishment.” We find the same root in the translation of “meal”, pasto. I personally love our idiom for describing a very good, honest, humble and true man: “buono come il pane” (“as good as bread').

Few places in Europe are as diverse and spectacular as Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and the rest of the Balkans. But there is also a lot of recent history here from the spark of the First World War in Sarajevo, to the partisan’s guerrilla warfare against Hitler, and onto the 24-hr news cycle of the wars here in the 1990s. 

Pamplona might be best known for its annual Festival of San Fermin and its tradition of the Running of the Bulls, but the architecture holds a strong place in the heart of its citizens and its visitors alike. This beautiful baroque building was constructed in the 1600s in order to replace our old city hall. Its location was not a coincidence. Back then, this square was the exact center of the city.

It is that time of year again when the garden is full of tomatoes and it is time to make la conserva, the base for most of our tomato sauces that we learned from Mauro’s parents. It is truly a labour of love. We enjoy good food and knowing what is in our food. In this case, it takes some hard work.

Many of my guests know that I moved here to Slovenia from Seattle. It’s been over 6 years now and it seems like I get asked these 3 questions a lot: How often do I go back? (Never). What do I miss most about Seattle? (Having great and plentiful Asian food). And what’s the biggest difference in mindsets between Americans and Europeans? For sure that’s our DIY spirit - the belief that the idea and experience an individual has trumps their formal education.

After years of organizing wine tours in the Piedmont region in Italy, I still have to warn travelers about traveling in August. From an Italian’s perspective, Ferragosto lasts for almost the entire month, although the official date is August 15th. Italians traditionally take the whole two weeks off surrounding this day.

There’s something so evocative to me about pictures of food and the power they have to vividly remind me of mouth-watering meals and moments that I’ve had on my travels.  I can look at my culinary photos and remember exactly where I was, the scent of the dish just placed in front of me, and the way the flavors open up on my pallet. 

Think about the way you envision a stereotypical Frenchman: black beret, a striped t-shirt and a baguette under the arm.The beret is from the Basque country. The stripes are common in Brittany. But what about the baguette?

As a guide for Rick Steves’ Europe, I have been through Florence Italy quite regularly over the years.  I had noticed the funny artistic additions to Florence's street signs over the years without really taking a close look. In 2016, I started to get the joke. Clet Abraham, a street artist, had been secretly adding clever images to the street signs in Florence for the previous half decade or so.

Oh, the smell: Fresh. Inviting. Tasty. Do you remember how it feels when the smell of fresh bread is filling the whole room, coming from the kitchen table? This mouthwatering experience is a sensation that you can have at home almost every morning. You take a fresh roll and your knife. And then comes the sound: The crackle, the splintering—when the sharp steel slices through the crust and cuts the roll in half.

Today’s recipe is my own take on a Sicilian recipe. I am going to be making a fish ragout using tuna steaks that are cut up into bit sized pieces.  It is relatively easy to make but will take about an hour between prep work and cooking.  Of course, it is delicious and worth making the effort! Another thing I really like about this recipe, is that you can substitute different types of firm fleshed fish, I often make it with swordfish steaks that I keep in the freezer.

Bread is a universal staple in all countries. In Spain, the types of bread and traditions surrounding it relate strongly to the rich history of the country. To understand this simple food better, it is best to start with a quick review of the history of Spain and how it has blended international traditions over time. 

Regardless if you’re the type that takes up the challenge of driving while overseas, here are some memorable scenic driving routes to consider. Underneath each pick, I’ve put in prefered method of getting around, as well as starting and ending points.