On a whim, I got in my car this morning and drove about 1 1/2 hours south to a small town on the Albemarle Sound in eastern North Carolina. The day played out like a chapter in a summer beach read. Lunch included interesting conversation with a couple celebrating 50 years of marriage. The trolley…

One of my favorite things about my neighborhood in Norfolk are the Linden trees. I grabbed my scissors and went across the street and cut some Linden leaves. Linden tea is medicinal. Herbalists will say whatever you need is already growing in your back yard. The trees are in my front yard but we know…

That was what I was doing as I made the early ferry from the tip of the boot back to Sicily. I was giving myself the proverbial pat on the back, tooting my own horn. I ordered my train ticket. I was nailing this one. I got off the ferry to find myself about 1…

I am thinking of the catalogue and the Seinfeld episodes that featured the creative selling of silly things. That’s how I feel here on the tip of the boot, like I should be writing for that catalogue. A lovely simple bracelet becomes an adventure to a small fishing village in Calabria.

On outer walls of buildings all over Tropea (TRO – pee- ah) are small cubbie holes. This is where the starlings live as welcomed guests. My first impression of Tropea was, get me out of here! I stayed because I wanted to visit the Italian school today and my room was prepaid. I am high…