italy

Living in another culture, not just visiting it, has reshaped our view of the world.

A wise walker will set out early, keeping an open mind on how far to travel, allowing each day's adventure to evolve.

One of the great joys of traveling through Italy is discovering firsthand that it is, indeed, a dream destination.

It is a place that 'grows upon you' every day. There seems to be always something to find out in it. There are the most extraordinary alleys and by-ways to walk about in. You can lose your way (what a comfort that is, when you are idle!) twenty times a day, if you like; and turn up again, under the most unexpected and surprising difficulties. It abounds in the strangest contrasts; things that are picturesque, ugly, mean, magnificent, delightful, and offensive, break upon the view at every turn.

Remember that a little learning can be a pleasant thing. Italy gives much, in beauty, gaiety, diversity of arts and landscapes, good humor and energy__illingly, without having to be coaxed or courted. Paradoxically, she requires (as do other countries, probably more so) and deserves some preparation as background to enhance her pleasures. It is almost impossible to read a total history of Italy; there was no united country until a hundred years ago, no single line of power, no concerted developments. It is useful, however, to know something about what made Siena run and stop, to become acquainted with the Estes and the Gonzagas, the Medicis and the Borgias, the names that were the local history. It helps to know something about the conflicts of the medieval church with the Holy Roman Empire, of the French, Spanish and early German kings who marked out large chunks of Italy for themselves or were invited to invade by a nervous Italian power. Above all, it helps to turn the pages of a few art and architecture books to become reacquainted with names other those of the luminous giants.The informed visitors will not allow himself to be cowed by the deluge of art. See what interests or attracts you; there is no Italian Secret Service that reports on whether you have seen everything. If you try to see it all except as a possible professional task, you may come to resist it all. Relax, know what you like and don__ like__ot the worst of measures__nd let the rest go.

You are what you read.

We've grown accustomed to living smaller and more simply.

Veni, vidi, vici. That was easy for Julius Caesar to say; he crossed Italy in a chariot, not on a stupid bike." - Vivia

The calm skies that drifted above us lulled us into thinking this traversée would be smooth, but after several hours, the unsteady sea had taken its toll on me and after a light lunch and a brief swim in the open sea failed to do so, I attempted to remedy my mal de mer with rest. When I awoke, the sun had already set and the cool air and soft light of twilight helped recalibrate my disoriented thoughts. Although my seasickness had subsided, I lay starboard side facing the heavens - that were now a deep shade of purple - so as to not provoke another episode. We set to anchoring behind several large volcanic pillars just a stone__-throw away from where the Tyrrhenian Sea kissed the east of the island. A handful of wishes scattered the skies as we approached the shores of Aci Trezza. As these stars traced their dying song across the void above, part of me felt ashamed for even entertaining the notion of wishing upon a star, but that voice was speedily silenced by words He had once shared with me in Scotland: __here is always some truth to fiction.

Here we are at last. The Italian proverb says __ee Naples and die_ but I say, see Naples and live; for there seems a great deal worth living for.

We are all pilgrims who seek Italy.

Everything you need to know to enjoy your trip to Italy is in my Conversational Italian for Travelers books!

As the sun rose I could see Etna, a truncated cone with a plume of smoke over it like the quill of a pen stuck in a pewter inkpot, rising out of the haze to the north of where I was treading water.

When life gives you twists and turns, Chique Yourself Up in Italy!

__he Emersons who were at Florence, do you mean? No, I don__ suppose it will prove to be them. It is probably a long cry from them to friends of Mr. Vyse__. Oh, Mrs. Honeychurch, the oddest people! The queerest people! For our part we liked them, didn__ we?_ He appealed to Lucy. __here was a great scene over some violets. They picked violets and filled all the vases in the room of these very Miss Alans who have failed to come to Cissie Villa. Poor little ladies! So shocked and so pleased. It used to be one of Miss Catharine__ great stories. __y dear sister loves flowers,_ it began. They found the whole room a mass of blue _ vases and jugs _ and the story ends with __o ungentlemanly and yet so beautiful._ It is all very difficult. Yes, I always connect those Florentine Emersons with violets.__

Italy and London are the only places where I don't feel to exist on sufferance.

It__ almost as if all the sleazy men in this country attended the same seminar, where they learned that all American women go to Italy to sleep with them. The teacher at the seminar told them, __ou don__ need to learn English to seduce an American woman, you only need to learn one word: __ella._ If you say it, their belts will snap and pants fall from their hips.If I ever find that seminar teacher, I__ going to kick him in the shin.

There are many of us who live alongside others, less fortunate, watching them go through everyday suffering for one reason or another, and we__e not moving even our little finger to help them. It__ in human nature, unfortunately: for the most part, the only people we genuinely care about are ourselves. However, once in a while we encounter different species, different kind of human beings among us: full of compassion, willing and wanting to help, and doing so with joy and happiness. Those are a rarity. But you know what, my dear? Being one of them is not a special calling- it__ a choice. So what will you choose, huh?