Italy never ceases to amaze me. I rolled into Vieste expecting a laid‑back little beach town — something like an Italian Folly Beach or Sullivan’s Island from back home in Charleston. At first glance, it even looked the part. But I was mistaken. My drive in had followed the winding mountain coastal highway, a white‑knuckle … Continue reading 26 Giugno 2026 — A Pinch of Salt: Arriving in Vieste
Tag: italy
24 Giugno 2026 Matera Walking the Earth
The next morning in Matera rose bright and clear, the kind of sun that can warm a pizza oven and dehydrate a human like a withered basil plant. Before I could descend from the Sassi and cross the ravine into an even older world, I needed a trustworthy ATM. Not all ATMs are created equal, … Continue reading 24 Giugno 2026 Matera Walking the Earth
22 Giugno 2026 The Oldest of Old Cities Savoring Every Bite
Leaving Laurenzana and heading east through the mountains made for a surprisingly easy drive. I’d been told to stop and see Castelmezzano or the ghost town of Craco, abandoned after earthquakes and landslides forced residents out. But with a tight schedule and after seeing the precarious roads leading to those hillside villages I continued straight … Continue reading 22 Giugno 2026 The Oldest of Old Cities Savoring Every Bite
18 Gino 2026 Headed North to Laurenzana
My trip from Tropea to the north was yet another trade-up of sea air for train platforms and bus stations consisting of two trains, the final one running on Italian time, twelve minutes late which caused me to miss my connecting bus in Battipaglia. I waited for the next direct bus to Potenza and was … Continue reading 18 Gino 2026 Headed North to Laurenzana
15 Giugno 2026 My Days in Tropea, The Sauce is Stirred.
With only a few days under my belt in Tropea, as any of my former co-workers will tell you, I take ownership of my surroundings. My surveillance upon arrival was key. Google kind of targeted my B&B but from here out it is up to my navigation sense or there lack of to negotiate my … Continue reading 15 Giugno 2026 My Days in Tropea, The Sauce is Stirred.
12 Giugno 2026 Tropea, A first Impression
I discovered the place by pure chance. I never planned on venturing this far south, but then a Facebook reel appeared and it was love at first sight. Tropea, Calabria, often called the most beautiful town in Italy. The unpretentious little train station feels like a deliberate ruse, as if the town is trying to … Continue reading 12 Giugno 2026 Tropea, A first Impression
10 Giugno 2026 Vietri Sul Mare Italy. Timeless Tradition
Vietri, a village from a time gone by where plaster and mortar anchor in place the toil of local artisans. Here the time old structures were never replaced by ply-wood and dry-wall. The elder men hold court from the shade trees of the piazza while balconies echo the sound of Nonas exchanging the news of the day. … Continue reading 10 Giugno 2026 Vietri Sul Mare Italy. Timeless Tradition