“Why Are They Honking At Us?” “Because You’re Stopped At The Red Light!”

Today we bid an early farewell to Naples. We barely got to see her, but she is a grand city. In some ways she reminds me of Detroit. She puts on no airs. She is grungy. She is a little bit dangerous. And she is, without a doubt, real. We have eaten of her foods, […]

I’ll Have the Pizza

Walking here is a full contact sport. There is an Italian view of personal space that is, basically, nonexistent. It would be very easy to have your pocket picked because people are bumping into you everywhere. As a result of the many cautions we were offered both D and I spent the whole day with […]

“You’re Going to Naples?! Be Careful!”

First full day in Rome, and we get up eat breakfast, and check out of the hotel. Here is the downside of traveling in December: Days are really short. With the sun setting between 4:30 and 5 pm, we don’t want to waste any daylight hours traveling. Instead our grand plan is to travel in […]

Settling In, Getting Reoriented, and Eating

The arrival into Rome was painless. We arrived early, I zipped through passport control and customs, and caught the train to Rome. D was already checked in. We are in room 605 with an incredible view of the Pantheon. D was having issues with electricity. His very nice plug adapters kept blowing fuses, so I […]

Alitalia Knows Italian Food

I get on the plane it is an A330 widebody (twin-aisle) jet plane and I have a window seat. As I stow my baggage I feel as though I am hogging the overhead bin, but think “there aren’t many people in the cabin. The people in the middle section can use the bins above them.” […]

It Looks Like Champagne. It Bubbles Like Champagne. It’s ….

I am in Boston as I write this. Yes, dear readers, Butterblogger is again on his way to Italia. I have friends who question my many visits to Italy, but I love it there and I almost speak the language. I had not initially planned this trip, but D wanted to burn some frequent flier […]