Today’s highlights focus on Florence in the illustrious Tuscany region. Come to the historic center, a pedestrian only zone to experience the cradle of the Renaissance.    Long before Bill Gates and Warren Buffet began The Giving Pledge for philanthropic causes. The House of Medici, besides having formidable wealth and political influence, were great patrons of the arts in the 15th century creating a cultural movement and giving rise to a strong artisan tradition that endures to this day. During this period artists including Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci made their works when they received their commissions in advance.    One of my favorite meals was at the tiny 24 seat Trattoria Al Tranvai on the south side of the river in the Oltrarno quarter which literally translates to beyond the Arno. Come here to eat with the locals. The fried zucchini flowers and arrabbiata, perfection. I love when my search for food also leads me to the hippest neighborhood in the city.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Today’s highlights focus on the Italian Riviera in Liguria. This area is famous for its olive oil and pasta. Ligurian olive oil is lighter in fragrance, soft and subtle in flavor.  I’ve had the pleasure of coming to this region twice. It’s about a 45 minute drive from Nice.   My time here was mostly spent lounging around a villa in La Mortola. The Hanbury Botanical Gardens are here - she’s like a lady who hasn’t always had the easiest of times. The views are amazing but the cafe is nothing more than a place for the local cat to rest in and perhaps a quick espresso. Un caffe per favore!   https://www.ft.com/content/a006969a-3631-11e7-bce4-9023f8c0fd2e   Nearby Ventimiglia has a wonderful open air market right on the boardwalk on Fridays. I’ve had beautiful cheese, cheesecake, pasta and pesto from the markets here. Imagine home made pasta with pesto made by hand with a  mortar and pestle.   On a final note, there’s Apricale a picturesque hilltop town. I had a simple and perfect meal at Apricale Da Delio, an authentic Italian experience.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Today’s highlights focus on Piedmont or Piemonte in northwest Italy. I loved everything here. The region is famous for Barolo and Barbaresco wine from the nebbiolo grape. Definitely come in truffle season during October to experience Alba’s white truffle fair. The veal here is also fabulous.   Bonnie had just completed her residency and we kicked off her celebratory tour of Europe. We flew into Turin and bravely rented a car to eat our way through the Italian countryside. We stayed in an agriturismo which was a real treat. Imagine a converted farmhouse turned bed and breakfast.    The low of the trip was getting pickpocketed by gypsies. Instead of filing a police report, we scraped together enough moolah to each have a glass of wine and share a plate of vitello tonnato which is on every menu.    The highlight of the trip was agnolotti del plin, a delicate mini ravioli. If it’s done right, the sage butter sauce will create a beautiful sheen coating. I’ve tried to order it many times elsewhere and have always been disappointed.    Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

This week I’ll be expanding on Italy. Today’s highlights focus on Milan. I’ve been 3 times.   The first time in 2009 I did indulge in the popular tourist tradition of taking a spin on the bull’s balls, a mosaic in the Galleria next to the Duomo.   One of my favorite things about Milan is the Milanese aperitivo. Happy hour! I remember arriving in 2017 just before Thanksgiving and relaxing into some lovey rose and delectable bites at Savini after checking-in.   It was so delicious we came back the next day for dinner and it was here that I experienced my first white glove truffle service while viewing the sparkling Swarovski Christmas tree being assembled in the center of the Galleria. The truffle arrived on a small glass-domed platter with a tiny scale to weigh the truffle before and after being shaved over my fresh pasta. Bliss!   My most recent visit was as a jumping off point for Lake Como. If you’re headed to the train station, be sure to schedule a meal at the lovely Figli dei Fiori. I had an absolutely divine lunch in the charming garden terrace.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Country #40 Holland or The Netherlands. When I got to Europe last month I learned that I had one week left to visit Keukenhof in Amsterdam. I found a flight and headed straight to the gardens after landing to sit amongst the fields of gorgeous tulips.   That night I was walking through the red-light district just absorbing the experience. A man near me suddenly barked, “Hey, no pictures. Show some respect!” at a blond female tourist in her 20s. She had her phone in hand directed at one of the windowfronts. She was clearly startled out of her ignorance and fumbled a bit as she walked away. That was when I noticed the “No Photos” sign. He was monitoring the gawkers not the women in the windows.   I thought about consent and respect. And that as people sometimes we’re oblivious to our fellow humans. I was glad that the man was there and for the words he chose.   The next morning I woke up early to wander about. I caught the dappled reflection of a beautiful blue sky and clouds off the surface of a canal. It was like being absorbed into a Monet painting. Unforgettable.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

If you want to see where Champagne is made, you’ll need to go to Grand Est, a region in northeast France which you can get to in under an hour from Paris by train. A sparkling wine can only use the Champagne label if it’s produced with grapes grown here following the rules of the appellation.   This region borders four countries: Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, and Switzerland.    Three of us were in Paris and took a day trip to the town of Reims, spelled R-E-I-M-S but pronounced Rance with a rolling R. /ri:mz/ would be incorrect. Say France with a french accent and then drop the F. Frrrance….Rrrrance!    The vineyards and tasting rooms are functional and quaint except for the largest Champagne houses like Ruinart.   Ladies, wear comfortable and flat shoes. The roads are cobbled and the cellars are uneven. One of the houses I went to had no sign and a chicken running through the small undecorated yard we entered through.   You’ll need to make appointments at each house or better yet book a tour with transportation included.    Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

Today’s highlights focus on Nouvelle Aquitaine in the southwest corner of France, it’s the largest of the 13 regions.   I’ve traveled through many of its towns as a day trip from Spain or on the way to and from some other destination in France.   We passed through or stayed in Arcachon, Merignac, La Rochelle and Niort on the way to Mont Saint Michel and then Bordeaux on the return. I passed through La Rochelle again on the way to Noirmoutier en l’ile.   I’ve also been to Biarritz and Bayonne as a day trip from Pamplona.   I think I enjoyed Biarritz the most. I was indeed biased by the pleasant weather I experienced there. I also found the blend of Basque and French culture fascinating.   It has a strong surfing culture which probably reminds me of the South Bay back in Southern California. Except the Europeans are way more stylish, no flip-flops in Biarritz.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

My friend planted a seed in my head about an abbey rising from the sea on the northwestern coast of France in Normandy called Mont Saint Michel. It captured my imagination and the rest is history. What started off as a road trip from Pamplona to Arcachon to see the highest dune in Europe, fittingly became a great pilgrimage though France. It was pouring rain in every town we arrived in and we just kept pushing to get north of the storms. I’m certain the abbey was beckoning us north. When we got to Rennes, things started to clear up. Sure enough we were greeted with sunshine and blue skies the morning we reached the Abbey.    The view upon approach is impressive. Imagine a spectacular Gothic Benedictine abbey and tiny medieval village perched atop a small rocky island surrounded by nothing. The view is even more surreal at high tide when the island is surrounded by water. The climb to the top is a delightful maze of cloisters, twisting staircases, gardens, and ramparts.    During the Hundred Years War, it became a fortress. During the French Revolution, it served as a prison. Today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.   https://www.travelingmom.com/destinations-international/essential-tips-for-visiting-mont-saint-michel-france/   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

I was immediately smitten with Lyon. It’s the gastronomic capital of France and the heart of the Rhone Alpes region. I only had plans for a quick overnight in the Old Town. I checked into my hotel and asked for a dinner recommendation. As I was walking to the restaurant, I peered down a narrow alley and the sound of warm laughter was spilling out over the cobblestones. I wanted to soak up the convivial atmosphere so I sat next to a table of about 10 people with a jumble of accents who eventually shared their food and wine with me and absorbed me into their festivities. One of the couples lived in Lyon. They insisted I stay longer and offered me a room in their nearby flat an extra night. We were up until all hours. In the morning, I quickly checked out to start my explorations.   Lyon is a dream for a nervous cyclist. Paris is too large and unwieldy for me. Here I was nestled safely between the Rhone River and Saone River making it a breeze to get around. I ventured to the steps of la Croix Rousse for panoramic views of the city. I had a lovely Lyonnaise salad before boarding my train as a final seal on my memory of Lyon.   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!

JT’s family has a summer home in Noirmoutier en l'Ile in the Bay of Biscay on the western Atlantic coast of France which I had the privilege of visiting. While it may be in the new Pays de la Loire region now, historically this area was part of Brittany.    I could imagine my friend growing up here in the summers riding a bike through the maze of salt marshes lined with blackberry brambles and coming home with telltale purple smudges on his lips. I found a bicycle in the garage and rode everyday rain or shine discovering a new beach or getting happily lost amongst the bright white mounds of salt.   Adding to the authenticity, the only language I heard spoken was French. The main food offerings were crepes and moule mariniere. And then local specialties like the Vendee brioche. You order oysters here by a number rating, the bigger the number, the smaller the oyster.   If you can come the first Saturday of May for the Bonnotte festival, you’ll be treated to hand harvested potatoes eaten with local salt and lashings of butter.   https://www.ile-noirmoutier.com/en/savourer/nos-produits-locaux/potatoes-noirmoutier-island.html   Want answers? Send your questions, comments and thoughts about life [email protected]   Thank you so much for listening to The Lin Life Universe. I hope you’ve been enjoying it. Please leave a review!