Ciao a tutti! I'm just going to get right into it... Italian Nightlife Italian summers are full of parties. Of course there are discos (clubs) which can be really cool with multiple dance floors and outdoor locations. But each little town has a summer party with tables of food and drinks for the whole family and a band and dance floor. Some bigger towns have larger parties where you can walk around to different little parties with different food and music and people. And remember that this is all taking place outside, in classic Italian towns with cobblestones, fountains, churches, etc. The concept is just beautiful. And then there are festivals which are almost the same thing but they may have a theme and last for days, like Art in the Street in Verduno where street ... read more

I'm back in Rivalta to work on my favorite farm after about 2 weeks at the farm in Lake Como. (I must apologize in advance: as I learn more Italian, my english vocabulary deterriorates, so...yeah.) It was certainly an escape from reality and...I can't think of the words but like a cleansing spa experience. I ate healthy, got lots of exercise, read books, studied italian, and soaked in the beautiful surroundings. I must admit that this last week (or however long it's been) hasn't been the best. My mood is always dependent on the weather, and it was rainy and cold, combined with the unusual lack of people around and there's not much work to do in the gardens when it rains. Also, Silvana, my Italian mother, talks constantly. Before I liked it, because it helped ... read more

Ciao a tutti! It has been a wonderful week or so back in Italy. I've been staying with Mattia and his family in Rivalta di La Morra. I've basically been living the lazy lifestyle of 20-somethings in small Italian town. Sitting around, talking, drinking, eating, smoking (not me), going out every night, etc. We did some touristy things around Alba and Bra like visiting a corkscrew museum and the Gastronomic Science University. We also spent an entire day on the beach in Finale with his sister and another friend and I was so vigilant with the sunscreen that I didn't get a sunburn! The beaches in this area aren't the best in my opinion, but there was a beautiful view of mountains and a castle and the sand was full of beautiful sea glass which we ... read more

Allora... I have had many dreams in the last week from desires about my future to nightmares. I'll tell you about some of these in a bit. I've done a good job avoiding thinking about reality up until now. It was easy when I was oblivious to what was going on in the world and didn't even know when I'd return to America. But now, I'm catching up with people and news, and my return date and all the responsibilities I will face after then are slowly creeping into my thoughts... But, that's my only complaint. Everything else here is just peachy. I do something different every day, while the schedule remains the same. Some new things I've done: pick pears using a wobbly ladder, harvest grapes and began to make a sour liquor, caramelize and ... read more

I am on another agrotourismo for 2 weeks, but this so is very different from that previous hell hole. The scenery certainly isn't as beautiful, but everything else is better. I was worried about coming here, but after one day I was sure I would have a wonderful stay. Check out the website: http://www.boscodelfracasso.it/ There is a husband Maurizio and wife Anna. She speaks excellent English, and he speaks a little. They have 2 sons in their 20s, who are like the guys on the other farm in that they are into American rock music and don't help out much. The parents of both the husband and wife live here, too, I think. I've ended up running into them at some point. The whole family is really laid back which is perfect for work. They grow ... read more