Chaos and Sadness As we entered the last days of 2022, we began preparations to leave Anghiari and return permanently to Hickory, North Carolina. By mid-December most of our furniture had been picked up by the shipping company, leaving us with a bed, a couch, a chair and a desk, which will be left behindContinue reading “Good-Bye Anghiari”
Author Archives: margaretbirney
At the Table in Tuscany
Along with the extensive history, natural beauty and art of Italy, the country is famous for its food. Stanley Tucci made a popular CNN series touting the deliciousness of Italian cuisine in six regions of Italy ranging from north to south across the peninsula.(Searching for Italy: What’s on the Menu; CNN, premier 02\14\2021). When TerryContinue reading “At the Table in Tuscany”
Italian Summer 2022
This summer has brought exceptionally high temperatures to much of the world. Photos of dry, cracked earth and diminishing lakes and reservoirs provide visual evidence of the severity of the weather. Although it is hot in many parts of the U S, notably Texas, the greatest impact has been in Europe, Asia and Africa. whereContinue reading “Italian Summer 2022”
Selling A Home in Italy
After much debate about the pros and cons of living in Italy versus living in America, we made the difficult decision to return to the states and our home in Hickory, North Carolina. There are so many advantages to living in Italy–it’s without question safer as the mass shootings that have become a fixture ofContinue reading “Selling A Home in Italy”
Where Did the Good Karma Go?
The War in Ukraine as Seen from Italy Part II As I write this Russia has claimed victory in conquering the Ukrainian port city of Mariupol on the Azov Sea. Several thousand Ukrainian citizens and military forces had holed up in the steel mill, Azavstol, which functioned as a bunker made up of approximately 4.2Continue reading “Where Did the Good Karma Go?”
WHERE DID THE GOOD KARMA GO?
PART I The War In Ukraine as seen from Italy For many years I believed that my generation had “caught a wave.” We were kids in the 1950’s when playing outside all day and into the evening was the norm, refreshing. ourselves with drinks of Koolaid made from a packet of dry powder or, ifContinue reading “WHERE DID THE GOOD KARMA GO?”
The Continuing Adventures of Pinocchio
Italy’s most beloved export may be neither olive oil nor wine, but the children’s story “The Adventures of Pinocchio,” the tale of a puppet who wanted to become a real boy. The story is Italy’s third most translated book, published in 260 different languages. The author of this phenomenon was Florentine Italian Carlo Lorenzini (NovemberContinue reading “The Continuing Adventures of Pinocchio”
Market Day in Anghiari
In 1385 the Florentine Republic granted Anghiari the right to hold a market every Wednesday. The grant was confirmed in 1502 and the market continues to this day regardless of season or weather. Originally the market was held in Anghiari’s major square, Piazza Baldaccio; now it spills beyond Baldaccio through the Galleria leading to PiazzaContinue reading “Market Day in Anghiari”
Our First Italian Christmas
We had been coming to Anghiari since 2019 but never spent the holiday season here. As non-residents we had been obligated to leave periodically and our times away always coincided with Christmas. Finally in 2021 we were residents and looked forward to experiencing our first Christmas in Anghiari. Although we had a balcony well suitedContinue reading “Our First Italian Christmas”
Apologies to followers
Having just published my latest post, I see that once it is emailed, the same flaws that appeared in my last post still exist. That is, the title is not centered and captions are not placed under photos but instead appear as the first line of the following text. I worked with a WordPress representativeContinue reading “Apologies to followers”
Remodeling, Italian Style
When we were first looking at what would become our home in Italy, I was surprised to see that there was a bathroom just off the entryway–common enough in the U S but not necessarily to be expected in an ancient Italian house. It was, in fact, a three-quarters bath, that is it had aContinue reading “Remodeling, Italian Style”
Ferie in Muggia Part I It would be fair to ask why a couple living in one of the most beautiful towns in Italy, and in fact living in Italy at all, would think a vacation was in order. We had, after all, already spent several months in Balkan countries, returned to the U SContinue reading
Lurching Towards Italy
Act Two: Lurching About in Italy Anyone who is a regular reader of this blog has followed the story of our adventures in relocating to Italy. It was not always an easy path, but ultimately we were able to celebrate the sunrise of our new life as we literally watched the sun come up onContinue reading “Lurching Towards Italy”
Pigeon Tales
In the small town in which I grew up, there may have been pigeons but I was unaware of them. We certainly lacked the kind of presence seen in larger cities where flocks, or ‘kits’ gather in parks, public squares or on the ledges of buildings to either charm or dismay the population. Now though,Continue reading “Pigeon Tales”
Anghiari Through the Ages
Part II–World War II A neighbor stopped by one day to chat with Terry and mentioned that when the municipality of Anghiari rebuilt after the damages of World War II, it was decided that the upper floor(s) of our house would not be replaced. What? In the first place, what brought that war to tinyContinue reading “Anghiari Through the Ages”
Lurching towards Italy 