We share the story of our friend Edie's connection to the world famous Harry's Bar in Venice. We invited her to our recording studio and thought it only right to drink a Bellini while recording, since this refreshing drink was invented by Giuseppe Cipriani, the founder of Harry's Bar.

This understated, but world renowned bar, welcomes you as if you were part of it's rich history. It is truly one of a kind, and the Italian Ministry of Cultural Heritage feels the same since they declared it a National Landmark in 2001.

It's nice to have friends with such connections, but if you listen to the entire episode, you will hear how Kimberly and Edie are connected as well in America's history. Small world stories indeed!

From a morning ferry to the port of Napoli, then into taxi driven by a Napolitano with no regard for red stoplights or speed limits, into the chaos of the Central Train Station, dropping off our luggage hoping to see it again, and finally into the streets of old Napoli with the goal of feasting on pizza in it's birthplace, all of which we did on the last day of the festival Tutti Santi.

Did I mention there were about 9 million people on the streets with us? It was mayhem in all it's glory. It was Napoli at it's best!

We didn't have enough time to wait in line at Pizzeria Antica da Michele (the alleged birthplace of pizza), but we somehow managed to find a table for 7 outside in a perfectly Napolitano atmosphere. Yes, we ate pizza, drank Aperol Spritz and sat next to a Banksy. It was a perfect day!

This island deserved the honor of being named the Italian Capitol of Culture in 2022. They could have added Hospitality, Generosity, Kindness and Happiness to the title in my opinion!

We had the most perfect stay with the striking views from our terraces, the colorful palette of the island's architecture and the sound of fishing boats leaving the harbor at first light. The friendly locals and the seafood cuisine were yet even more perks to an island that I want to describe as, perfectly idyllic.

Even during a very busy travel season, you can still escape the crowds here if you know where to do just that. You can also walk the entire island, stopping at each little inlet for a swim in the Tyrrhenian Sea. Procida's big sister of Ischia is a short boat ride away, yet another bonus this teeny island has to offer.

Arriving to the village of Amalfi by boat, allows you to see the majestic beauty of the entire Amalfi Coastline. Once we arrived to our sweet accommodations, a glass of wine on the terrazza was just what we needed to confirm that this is indeed one of the most stunning landscapes on the planet.

As one should do, we ate pizza under lemon trees, sipped on limoncello like you've never had before (unless you have already been to Amalfi) and swam in the sea, in late October no less.

Then onto Pompeii with a uniquely charming and friendly driver, where we were completely absorbed in a 2 hour tour of Pompeii, by yet another friendly and insightful tour guide.

The Amalfi Coast offers so much, you just need to know where, when and how to savor it.

The most intoxicating part about Capri for me, is the geography. The jagged coastline and grottos formed by the sea and time, make for a stunning landscape. Yet, in addition there is tropical flora, cactus, azure water and the bluest of skies, which all makes for a captivating visual treat. In this episode we talk about 2 of the 7 main hiking trails on the island, and why they are such a treasure, for both the history and a feast for the eyes. Capri has inspired poet, painters and writers for hundreds of years, so perhaps you should join crowd, but preferably not at the height of the season.

If you can only visit Capri during the high season, you can still find quiet places to stay and stroll the piazzetta at night, when the day trippers are long gone. However, if you can go the end of October, do so! We were the only tourists in the restaurants, shared the beach at Marina Piccola with five Italians, and had the Arco Naturale hiking path to ourselves. The tropical foliage and the island's dramatic cliffs combine to make it one of the most visually stunning places on earth. It was Capri at it's finest, and my favorite visit yet.

We have received multiple requests for another pasta recipe, which we promised to do over a year ago! To make it up to you, we are sharing Sugo di Roma, a very tasty tomato based sauce from a friend of a friend in Rome, via Milano. This happens to be (one of) Tommaso's favorite sauces, due to the distinct taste that results from the yummy combination of ingredients that simmer on the stove top for hours. It is a definite commitment to make according to our instructions, but you can make an afternoon out of it... listen to music, drink some wine and invite some friends over to share this labor of love. Buon Apetito!!!

Links:

New York Times

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/19/world/europe/milan-italy-duomo-cathedral.html

Sugo de Roma Recipe

https://www.kimberlysitaly.com/sugo-di-roma/

This episode details the last few days of our time in Milano during our three week trip to Copenhagen and Italy over the holidays. We were thrilled to see the exhibition in Milano that highlighted the history of the patronage of the arts in Italy, from the Renaissance to 20th century. We also went back to the “scene of the crime” where Tommaso ordered a second cappuccino at the most iconic of all coffee bars in the city, Camparino. Milano holds a special place in my heart and I was so very happy to be back there with my fellow art and history lover, Tommaso.

Who would have known that that one event in a grand hotel in Milan, changed the way the world listened to music, and remote recording in general. Tommaso and I were lucky enough to see the room where this took place in 1902, and then we recorded our own podcast episode in another room, in the same hotel in 2023! The first remote recording of music is just one of the many historic events that took place in The Grand Hotel et de Milan. Opera stars, divas, actors, writers (Ernest), and eccentric artists all had one thing in common, a love for the Grand Hotel et de Milan.

January 1st was filled with our favorite things... cappuccino, gawking at Italian architecture, a second cappuccino, multiple church visits for Kimberly, pizza and Peroni with the locals at a tiny, yet perfect place, fulfilling our bookstore obsession, a late afternoon gelato treat, etc... The unique and charming city of Lucca delivered for us on our short, but sweet visit. It's history is apparent in all the buildings and narrow streets that wind through this walled city. We feel very fortunate to have started the new year in this Tuscan gem.