Just finished reading this fine book. Highly recommend.

Holy Cow, what a creche this is! An over life-size complete creche from Naples! Accompanied at Christmastime with Baroque music piped into the gallery. One of my favorite Christmas traditions ever!

I just finished reading this wonderful new novel, set in Viareggio, Lucca, Marseille, and Scotland. I highly recommend!

Thanks to Putin and his war. As you must know, he cut off energy flow to Europe. The only good thing that can be said about it is that it is high time for Europe to be independent from this dictator.

In preparation for the arrival of the Nazis.

Living in Florence for many years gave me a lot of opportunities to visit Siena, whether by car with friends, or by bus or train. Bus was the easiest because it drops you off near the center of the historic district with no headaches of car parking or taking a taxi up from the train station to the center.

Oh, Siena! You are a marvel!