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Ticking another one off our Firenze bucket list: Giotto's Bell Tower
As summer barrels toward us and with that, throngs of travel-starved tourists in newly-opened Italy, I've been taking a hard look at our...
Nicole Reitter
May 24, 20212 min read
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'Italyism' 2: Roadside Marys
I'm saying it here & now... if Stephen, Caiden & I ever start a band (Stephen on drums, Caiden on bass and/or violin, me on piano), we...
Nicole Reitter
Apr 30, 20211 min read
131 views
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Introducing 'Italyisms' #1: 'Tic Tac!'
We've lived in Firenze for about a year & a half & in that time we've created over a dozen 'Italyisms', as I affectionately call them....
Nicole Reitter
Apr 16, 20211 min read
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Spring has sprung in Firenze!!
Last year we missed seeing Florence's glorious spring when Covid booted us out of this country. I've been so enjoying seeing the pops of...
Nicole Reitter
Apr 15, 20211 min read
78 views
1 comment
How you (yes YOU) *may* be able to visit ITALY this summer!
As Americans begin to address their dying-to-scratch-it travel itch, my inbox is starting to fill up with “I want to go to Italy, where...
Nicole Reitter
Apr 14, 20217 min read
348 views
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My 2 greatest fears of living (& staying) abroad
One year ago to date my husband & I went to a beautiful pranzo (lunch) at a nearby trattoria with one intention—to decide whether or not...
Nicole Reitter
Feb 19, 20218 min read
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Buon Appetito Time!
One of the most spectacular things in Tuscany, truly, is the cuisine. Go to just about any town, any trattoria, osteria or ristorante &...
Nicole Reitter
Jan 18, 20214 min read
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Holidays in Italy 2020 - far more 'red' than green
We wrapped up the holiday season yesterday as it was the final day of Caiden’s school break & also the day we drove Stephen to the...
Nicole Reitter
Jan 7, 20213 min read
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Not your Grandma's fruit cake...
When I walked into a local bar (cafe) last week, I was struck by the tables, shelves & even space above the commercial refrigerators that...
Nicole Reitter
Dec 2, 20202 min read
64 views
2 comments
My perfect day in Italy (in the midst of lockdown)
Yesterday ranks among my most perfect days in Italy thusfar. It was Sunday & it was bitterly cold, I think about 30 degrees F (-1.1 C),...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 23, 20204 min read
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2 (uninsured) trips to the ER in 1 week! Wait 'til you see the bills...
These past few weeks have tested my functioning-in-Italy prowess as I needed to take Caiden to the Pronto Soccorso (ER), twice, in two...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 21, 20206 min read
276 views
1 comment
Purple tier for you, red zone for me, lockdown for everybody!
Well, here we are again, commencing lockdown #2 in Italy. Last week at this time we (Tuscany) had been moved from yellow zone (good) to...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 16, 20204 min read
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New friend helps me ‘find my way to the end of this very long tunnel’
I made a new friend about 6 weeks ago. He’s a most unexpected friend & yet he brings me immeasurable, yet utterly simplistic joy… You...
Nicole Reitter
Nov 12, 20204 min read
103 views
1 comment
Covid gotcha down? Take a hike! (Cinque Terre 2020)
This weekend Caiden & I made an overnight jaunt to Cinque Terre. I have wanted to do this for months, & the 3 of us actually did visit in...
Nicole Reitter
Oct 19, 20205 min read
73 views
1 comment
Buon viaggio, mi amore
Half of my heart is walking around Rome right now (soon to be on its way to London & eventually will land in Reno where it’ll travel...
Nicole Reitter
Sep 22, 20204 min read
234 views
2 comments
I conquered the lido today!
So we all have those things, when traveling, that seem very difficult to understand & are even a bit intimidating. For me, one of those...
Nicole Reitter
Aug 23, 20201 min read
83 views
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One year Italia-versary!
One year ago today we arrived at SFO late morning for our flight to Los Angeles & then onto Paris. We were beginning our “Italian...
Nicole Reitter
Aug 14, 20204 min read
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Self-quarantine day 11!
Hooray! Caiden & I made it to day 11 of our self-quarantine, just 3 days remain! I must say, we kinda shine at self-quarantining... we...
Nicole Reitter
Aug 12, 20202 min read
71 views
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Zanara e cinghiale
Last night I was awoken by one of the worst sounds ever-- the zeeeeeeeeeeee!!! of a mosquito in my bedroom (zanzara in Italiano). Having...
Nicole Reitter
Aug 7, 20202 min read
59 views
0 comments
We eat (noi mangiamo)!
I have a girlfriend who’s been my secret rock when I’d first debated coming back to Italy, all the way through finally taking the plunge....
Nicole Reitter
Aug 5, 20202 min read
81 views
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