Italian Insight to Travel Italy

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Italian Sunglasses 2007
2007-08-13 17:22:00
“Tutti al mare, a mostrar le chiappe chiare!” Ferragosto is at hand and the Italian s have deserted the cities for the beaches, the mountains and the province. The heat is unbearable and the sun is hot. An accessory that no respecting Italian will be without during the romps on the beach is a pair of sunglasses. When the clothes are reduced to a... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Fake Prosecco and Pinot Grigio on the Market – Protecting Quality 2007
2007-08-10 17:01:00
Thanks to the great Italian wine bloggers Aristide and Lizzy, the wine journalist, for the information necessary this article. Italian wines are the best wines in the world. I have not tasted all the wines in the world and I am not saying that there are not some fantastic wines produced in every country. I am saying that Italy has the strictest... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Market , Fake , Prosecco , Pinot Grigio , Quality

Lamborghini Alar – Quanto Sei Bella !
2007-08-08 18:06:00
Lamborghini Alar is a beautifully inspired work of art. I think many of the same characteristics I desire in women are the same as I look for in car. Thinking about those with significant disposable income, they have harems of cars. Each one loved and cherished. Each car has a unique attraction. I love cars with sinuous lines, unusual designs,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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The Mythical Fiat 500 Reborn
2007-08-07 18:01:00
I had my first introduction to the Fiat 500 in 1979. As a young pup along with a friend from Idaho we packed into the back seat of a friends 1965 Fiat 500 . We were somewhat concerned. The lawnmower engine strained with our extra weight. At every corner we laughed nervously as a grinding sound permeated the cabin. Although the car was not scraping... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Women’s guide to elegance according to Alberta Ferretti
2007-08-06 17:56:00
Traveling creates a problem difficult to solve for today’s woman. How can today’s woman dress elegantly with only one suitcase in tow? Albert a Ferretti, an established Italian designer, shares her ideas. Many believe that Alberta Ferretti is an “ethereal Goddess of glamour and grace.” I would not go to those extremes but the Alberta Ferretti line... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Travel Tips – Medical Care while on Vacation in Italy
2007-08-05 17:02:00
I have just started a new company, 4D-EMR, providing free storage and access for medical records so this post is a bit of self-promotion. You are quietly sipping a Prosecco, gazing over the cliffs of Positano as the sun sets over the distant horizon of the Mediterranean Sea when your arm goes numb and a sharp pain shoots into your chest. No one... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Travel , Medical , Italy , Travel Tips , Tips

The Nights of San Lorenzo – Wine, Food and Fireworks in the Squares of It
2007-08-03 18:28:00
The nights of San Lorenzo are always a festive occasion. Sometimes it is an opportunity to take your partner out for a romantic evening in the hills of Italy gazing at the universe’s fireworks show. With a family more organized events are in order. Either way the week of August 10th is full of festivities across Italy. The traditions of San... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Barolo Ravera 2003 DOCG Elvio Cogno
2007-08-02 01:31:00
Barolo is one of my favorite wines. Barolo is a full-bodied wine. Most Barolo express complex and distinct flavor. The price of Barolo usually is relatively high making it a difficult choice for an every day meal. We will spend the extra bucks when making a Brasato al Barolo or a Risotto Barolo and Sausage. Last week, I had the opportunity to... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Armani Prive’ – Women’s Fashion Fall Winter 2007 2008
2007-07-31 22:15:00
An interesting tendency has developed on the streets of Milan. The hottest accessory is a large bag purse in fabrics simulating metals. They are gold, silver, platinum. They are bright and shiny, very futuristic. This creates a problem. Last seasons Women’s Winter fashion was retro 50s, 60s, and 70s. How will this play out in the upcoming Women’s... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Fashion , Armani , Fall , 2008

Risotto with the flavor of Springtime – Risotto Primavera
2007-07-30 01:04:00
Risotto Prim avera has been around since they started making risotto in Crema. Primavera, whether in salads, risotto or pasta, indicates that the dish contains vegetables that begin to mature in the spring. There are many variations and many contemporary chefs have claimed paternity of Risotto Primavera. The fact is, while some recipes are famous,... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Italian Garden Gnomes go Missing – Save the Gnomes
2007-07-27 19:41:00
Northern Italian s are worried for the garden gnomes. Over the past couple of years they have been disappearing during the night. The thefts are propagated by an international organization dedicated to freeing the gnomes from the mediocrity of middleclass suburban gardens. Homeowners from Cuneo to Trieste are concerned for the well being of their... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Fantini Club - SPA and vacation destination on the Adriatic Riviera
2007-07-27 00:17:00
Italy is working hard to become the prime tourist destination for the entire world. The Adriatic Coast (on the east side of the peninsula) is the primary destination for Italians. Families come to this region when children are small. Teenagers continue to come for the nightclubs. When these teenagers get married and have small kids they come back... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Vacation , Destination , Club , Riviera , Viera

Gattinara 2001 Travaglini – A great Nebbiolo at a reasonable price
2007-07-25 21:56:00
I am embarrassed. I found Gattinara 2001 Travaglini at a small wine tradeshow here in Dallas. It is a marvelous wine. I do not pretend to know all of the Italian wines. Most likely I have tasted only about 10%, in twenty years, of the wines produced in Italy. Puglia wines have never been my “thing” and Sicilian wines have just recently become... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Great , Price , Rava , Sona , Biol

Italian Handbags for Fall / Winter 2007 / 2008 – Armani
2007-07-24 20:33:00
The sales of summer fashion have begun. Shortly fall and winter items will appear. The summer handbag fashion was about soft fabrics with country textiles and antique patterns. The fall winter handbag fashion is refined with polished leathers and shiny reptile skins. It is as if the handbag is represents leaving the provincial summer homes and... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Handbags , Winter , Italian , Armani , Fall

Aldo Coppola ? Hair Stylist for the Fashion Shows of Milan
2007-07-22 18:29:00
Milan is the perfect destination for those interested in meeting people in the fashion industry. On any given day in the city of Milan you can bump into more or less famous models, model wannabees, fashion designers and America?s famous of the big and small screen. In Milan you can find the best artisans and quality products from the world of fashion. This includes the hair stylists who care for the stars. The best of the best is Aldo Coppola.Coppola is the solution when all others fail. When the dye ruins your hair or a cut goes terribly bad then Coppola is the Answer. Raffaella swears by Coppola. She has her own personal favorite stylist and will wait several weeks for an appointment. Lorenzo travels with the fashion shows around the world turning every model into a diva. He can do the same for you. He will give you that next season look before others know it is about to happen.Aldo Coppola is about artistic creation supported by technical competency. Coppola employs the best styl...
More About: Fashion , Italy , Milan , Fashion Shows , Hair

Aldo Coppola – Hair Stylist for the Fashion Shows of Milan
2007-07-22 18:29:00
Milan is the perfect destination for those interested in meeting people in the fashion industry. On any given day in the city of Milan you can bump into more or less famous models, model wannabees, fashion designers and America’s famous of the big and small screen. In Milan you can find the best artisans and quality products from the world of... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
More About: Fashion , Milan , Fashion Shows , Hair , Coppola

Prosecco and Sabers ? Who?s your Daddy!?!
2007-07-20 23:58:00
A one-line headline on the newswires caught my attention:?Winemaker Gianluca Bisol, the group will gather in the northern town of Treviso at the weekend to display their skill at opening champagne bottles by slicing off the top with a saber.?The Bisol family makes a few really good Prosecco wines. Many know that the method of making many Prosecco wines is the Charmat not the Champagne method. It seemed reasonable to think that anything having to do with Bubbly would interest Gianluca Bisol. He is involved in most of the wine and educational associations in Veneto .Opening a bottle of Champagne or Prosecco with a saber seemed a bit sensationalist. I assumed that they were talking about some new bottle opener called the saber. I was amazed to find that it is exactly what it says it is, open a bottle of Champagne with a sword. There is a worldwide association of Saber Rattlers. The association counts 30,000 members in 12 countries. The newest chapter of the group is opening in Treviso.T...
More About: Travel , Italy , Daddy

Prosecco and Sabers – Who’s your Daddy!?!
2007-07-20 23:58:00
A one-line headline on the newswires caught my attention: “Winemaker Gianluca Bisol, the group will gather in the northern town of Treviso at the weekend to display their skill at opening champagne bottles by slicing off the top with a saber.” The Bisol family makes a few really good Prosecco wines. Many know that the method of making many... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]
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Italian Women?s Hairstyles 2007 ? Feminine and Romantic
2007-07-19 18:16:00
The underlying theme for all of 2007 is long and neat. The Summer 2007 hairstyles make wide use of the hair band, often woven into the style by the hairdresser. The continuing theme for the rest of the fall and winter 2007 / 2008 seems to be long hair and a neat look. The hair band disappears as summer?s heat give way to autumn?s colors. As autumn represents a more reflexive time following the giddiness of summer the hairstyles change accordingly. Braids, ribbons and embroidered hairnets woven into the cut replace bands and free flowing long hair.The ponytail is the easiest and most prevalent. Some allow the hair directly around the scalp to fluff. This is a resurgence of the 1960s flower child look.Other styles favor intricate braids woven together to form wreaths or crowns around tightly pulled styles.The most extravagant and playful braid rings into the hair. Ribbons or hairnets are then tied as if the hair were a bustier creating an air of aristocracy.Without a doubt these hairs...
More About: Women , Travel , Fashion , Italy , Romantic

Italian Grape Harvest 3 weeks early in 2007
2007-07-18 18:50:00
Whether climate change or a cyclical rotation of weather patterns, the temperature in Italy is significantly higher than normal. Grape harvest will come about 3 weeks earlier this year due to a warmer than normal winter and a scorching hot summer. This year the harvest will begin earlier than any year in the past 30 years. The Italian Wine Union believes that the quality will be good and in some cases exceptional however 2007 will be remembered as the year of pest attacks.Volumes will be slightly down over 2006 and sugar contents higher resulting in wines with higher alcohol content. In 2003 the harvest and resulting wine was ok. 2003 was also a year very similar to 2007 with an early harvest and high sugar content. While the Wine Producers are talking about good to exceptional I would think that the 2007 wines will be fair to moderate, just like 2003. This further supports my suggestion to buy Italian 2006 vintages (considered the best in the last 100 years) across the board.Wine i...
More About: Travel , Italian Wine , Early

La Perla - Lingerie meets Jeans Fall / Winter 2007 / 2008
2007-07-17 19:00:00
La Perla is the ?crem della crem? of intimate apparel and swimsuits. It is a quality version of Victoria?s Secret. Their fabrics are silks and refined linen. Their designs define femininity. They understand the subconscious attraction of a woman?s shape. They design their wear to accentuate a woman?s natural beauty instead of masking it. I usually will not write about the next season?s wear until it is on the street. Sometimes stylists lose their compass and present outfits that cannot be worn or, when worn by you and me, are horrendous. La Perla is worthy of an exception.La Perla presents three lines of jeans for the Fall Winter 2007 / 2008 seasons. Spikes accompany the elegant and seductive Uptown Jeans . The Perfect Jeans are for every occasion and every woman with a special cut to ?lift and separate? to use another producers slogan. The Jeans Addiction line is a series of unique and personalized fabrics and attention to detail.It is not an easy to transform jeans into evening att...
More About: Travel , Fashion , Italy

Sausage and Heavy Cream Sauce - Panna e Salsiccia
2007-07-15 17:11:00
Panna and Salsiccia is shunned by the modern world. No self-respecting woman would prepare this for her man. It is taboo, mothers do not teach their daughters how to make it. It is known only to those older and wiser matriarchs of the province and to all men. It is a magic sauce. It is the true gateway to the heart, by way of the stomach, for any man. Sausage with Heavy Cream has been banned from the modern cooking. Too much cholesterol and too much fat have caused this dish to be on the fat police?s top 10 most wanted criminals. In these days of prohibition, men, when left to cook alone with their buddies, will quietly prepare this dish. There is no need to discuss what we want to eat. It just is understood.The dish is known for the ingredients of the sauce because each region will use their favorite pasta. In the Marche it is Gramigna, Orecchiette in Puglia, Zitti in Lombardia, and Fusili in Avellino. Sausage with Heavy Cream will go well with any pasta including most types of rav...
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Agriturismo Villa la Favorita ?Alba ? Wine, honey, and Cucina Piemontese
2007-07-14 23:44:00
Piedmont is a great fall and winter vacation destination. The Italian Alps just a short drive away, some of the best wines in the world concentrated in a small area, honey farms on most every hill and some of the most refined Italian cuisine with wild game, hearty roasts and sauces, tartufo and cheeses that will knock your socks off. If that were not enough there is an agriturismo, located about one mile from the city center of Alba, that offers all of this in one place. Agriturismo Villa la Favorita is a little known agriturismo on the road to Cherasco.The primary residence was built in the early 900s and recently restructured to permit guest. The agriturismo is located on 10,000 mt2. Most of the land is planted with fruit trees and grapevines. This is the land of Nebbiolo. Villa la Favorita produces Nebbiolo d?Alba and Grignolino Piemonte . This is a family owned and operated agriturismo. Signora Roberta greets her guests with a wonderful and comforting smile. A quick tour around t...
More About: Wine , Honey , Cheese

Papal Dungeons open for Business ? From the Inquisition to the Scaffolds
2007-07-13 17:11:00
The chains clank in the dimly lit corridors descending into the bowels of Rome underneath Castle Sant?Angelo. Lightly armored guard guide the prisoners of the Papal state to their dank cells while they await interrogation. Enemies of the faith and enemies of the state meet the same fate, days and sometimes months of continuous torture until they confess their crimes. No haunted house can recreate the true horrors practices in the dungeons of the powerful.The Vatican has recently completed the 10 year renovation of the dungeons of Castle Sant?Angelo and opened to the public. The tours begin July 13, 2007 and conclude before Ferragosto. Every night at 21:30 (9:30 pm) a two hours tour guides visitors into the dank, oil-lit spaces where thousands of political and common criminals were shut away in the days that the Vatican held temporal sway over Rome and much of central Italy.Guides will recount the tales of famous inmates such as turbulent gold-working genius Benvenuti Cellini who spe...
More About: Business , Open , Lazio , Caff

Ornellaia 2004 Tenuta dell?Ornellaia Bolgheri
2007-07-11 22:29:00
In 1981 Marchese Antinori purchased numerous small vineyards in and around Bolgheri. The Italian wine industry was in turmoil. The area of the Super Tuscans was having a terrible time and the small farmers were looking for a way out. Antinori, one of the larger Italian winemakers took advantage of the moment and bought the best vineyards of the area. He was a savvy businessman. Instead of incorporating the vineyards into his existing structure he kept the personnel and the previous owners in the purchased properties he allowed them to keep making their traditional wines with the resources of the larger company. Some of the great success stories are Tenuta dell?Ornellaia and Tenuta Guado al Tasso.Recently many of these properties have been sold. Robert Mondavi purchased Tenuta dell?Ornellaia in 1997. In 2002 Frescobaldi purchased half of the company and in 2005 acquired the remaining 50%. While the ownership has changed the personnel making the wine has remained the same. It is true ...
More About: Dell , Italian Wine , Tuscany , Red Wine , Nella

Italy Summer 2007 Women?s Hairstyles
2007-07-10 21:13:00
David Lebovitz, a chef in Paris, wrote a humorous article about some cultural differences between France and the US. It could have been about Italy and the US. Looking good is important for most Italians, especially women. When friends visit, they will often comment about how people seem to have a different style, sometimes lacking in the US. The culture of fashion plays an important role but it is also about attention to the little things. An Italian primps whenever going out in public. Even here, Raffaella will get up two hours before she has to go out in the morning to ?get ready?. Her brother would teasingly call it the remodeling phase. She dedicates this time whether we are going to the lake or she is going to work. It is important for her. It is also important to most Italians. Recently an Italian poll indicated that 70% of Italians thought that "a gentleman" did not wear jeans.Italian women consider hairstyle is as important as silk blouses to the general look. The weekly ap...
More About: Women , Summer , Hairstyle , Hairstyles

Castello di Compiano ? Vacation at a Medieval Castle near Parma
2007-07-09 19:09:00
In the hills surrounding Parma there are numerous castles. Many of these properties have been transformed into hotels while maintaining their aura of mystery. Parma is famous for its prosciutto and Parmesan cheese. These products alone are a great reason to spend a few days in the area. Parma is also a land of scenic views and Medieval towns. Castello di Compiano is the anchor of the town of Compiano, recently recognized as one of the Borghi piu? Belli del Italia, the most beautiful towns of Italy.The town of Compiano develops inside the walls of the castle making this a perfect destination for a 3 or 4 day stay. Local shops, restaurants and products are all within walking distance of primary unit of the castle. Only a few areas have been dedicated to lodging. The major portion of the castle is a museum. Most of the rooms are on the upper floor or in the towers creating a suggestive atmosphere and beautiful views of the surrounding area. Rock walls and original fishbone wood floors ...
More About: Hotels , Vacation , Castle , Agriturismo

Traveling Italy by Car
2007-07-07 19:25:00
I always suggest traveling Italy by train however many will want the freedom of a rental car. There are a few rules to remember. No matter what the speed limit is, if someone wants to pass you, move to the right. On provincial roads, with only one lane most drivers will hug the right hand shoulder and faster drivers will pass in the middle of the road. Do not get mad if someone tailgates you. Slide toward the right hand side of the road.In the cities, lanes do not mean anything. A three-lane road, at a stoplight, will fit 5 cars wide. In many cities stoplights are timing starters for the daily drag races that is the commute to and from work. Do not get caught up in this, Italians are used to driving very aggressively and expect those who engage in this activity to know the unwritten rules of the game.Italian roads have been around for thousands of years. Many times a road was originally designed for a horse and cart. It may seem that your car will not fit but go slowly and forge ahe...
More About: Travel Tips , Traveling

Insalata Primavera ? Dandelion Salad
2007-07-06 19:05:00
Summer is here and the garden flourishes. I love the summer. It is a time to prepare really fresh dishes, directly from the garden. The flavors of your garden are just so much more intense. Simple ingredients become a culinary festival. I saw a dandelion, Taraxacum Officinale in Latin and in Italian Tarassaco Comune, weed yesterday. I had a love/hate relationship with dandelions. I spent most of my Saturdays as a child removing dandelions from my yard yet when the flower turned into those balls of fluff, I would look forward to blowing them into the wind. I guess this means that I did a poor job removing the weeds in the first place.Italy brought a new facet to dandelions. I was amazed to find them in my salad bowl. I looked in disbelief and asked if they were edible. I thought my friends were playing a joke, ?Let?s see what we can get the dumb American to eat.? When they scarfed down the salad I realized this was no joke.Tentatively I nibbled some of the leaves. I could not believe...
More About: Salad , Primavera , Salads , Prima , Deli

Luce della Vite 1999 ? Frescobaldi-Mondavi
2007-07-05 22:07:00
Luce della Vite is a relatively young blend. The first Luce della Vite Frescobaldi vintage was 1993. It was the first Merlot and Sangiovese mix produced in Montalcino . Interestingly Dallas was the place where I was introduced to Luce della Vite in 1998. One of my Roman partners was visiting. We had just moved to Dallas and our selection of wines was, let?s say, very limited. He wanted to prepare a Matriciana while Raffaella was seriously concentrated on Stracotto al Chianti. Both dishes have important personalities. None of the wines in house would have been appropriate. A quick trip to the local wine shop with our Roman guest and the problem could be solved.Choosing a wine at a wine store may seem like a simple task however Texas favored French wines over Italian and the California wines would have been an unknown. We carefully inspected the Italian wines, and were leaning toward an Amarone when Fausto moved toward the end of the isle and pulled two bottles of wine from the rack. H...
More About: Italian Wine , Tuscany , Red Wine , Ella