Sicily, It's Not Quite Tuscany

Author: Shamus Sillar
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
ISBN: 1742693865
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 422

Book Description
Packed with history, culture, misadventure, and a little Mafioso action, the story of a newly married couple and the year they spent in Sicily Gill and I had dreamt of living in Italy for as long as we'd been together. This is the story of an Aussie couple who sought a Mediterranean Sea change only to find themselves in the sprawling Sicilian city of Catania—the "anti-Tuscany" of Italy. There, any romantic visions they'd had of restoring a villa or stamping their entwined feet in vats of Chianti grapes disappeared faster than the chief witness in a Cosa Nostra trial. Shamus and Gill's tiny apartment in Catania was located in a grim neighborhood opposite a triple-X cinema and a shop selling coffins, nearby Mount Etna erupted soon after their arrival, a mystery ailment left Shamus in a neck brace, they crashed a Vespa, and they had regular dealings with at least one Mafioso. This, then, is an Italian sea change with grit. But it's also a story of optimism, endurance, and acceptance; an exploration of the minutiae of Sicilian culture, history, food, and religion; and an example of how to find beauty—and humor—in the most unexpected of places.

An Innocent Abroad

Author: David M. Addison
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1456777203
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 417

Book Description
When, in 1978, as a participant in a teacher exchange programme, the author, accompanied by his wife and young family, exchanged his boring existence in Grangemouth in central Scotland for life in Missoula, Montana, in the western United Sates, he could not have foreseen just how much of a life-changing experience it would be not just for him and his family, but for his exchangee as well. He was prepared for a less formal atmosphere in the classroom, while, for their part, his students had been warned that he would be Mr Strict. It was not long before this clash of cultures reared its ugly head and the author found himself in big trouble. But, as he had found out from the very instant he arrived on the continent, just because we share a common language it doesnt mean Americans do things the same way. And the Montanans, he was to discover, do things more differently still. There were times, in the beginning, when he wished he had stayed at home in his boring but safe existence in Scotland and there were times when life got more than just a little bit too exciting for comfort. But mainly this is a heart- warming and humorous tale of how this Innocent abroad, confronted with one culture shock after another, overcame his trials and tribulations and thanks to a whole array of colourful and kind people, finally came to realise that this exchange was the best thing he had ever done.

Not in a Tuscan Villa

Author: John Petralia
Publisher: Chartiers Creek Press
ISBN: 9780615762531
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 290

Book Description
Newly retired and looking for more than a vacation, John and Nancy Petralia intrepidly pack a few suitcases and head to the "perfect" Italian city for a year. Within days their dream becomes a nightmare. After residing in two Italian cities, negotiating the roads and health care, discovering art, friends, food and customs, the Petralias learn more than they anticipate -- about Italy, themselves, what it means to be American, and what's important in life.

The Hills of Tuscany

Author: Ferenc Maté
Publisher: Macmillan Reference USA
ISBN: 9780783887425
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 324

Book Description
Warm sun and rolling hills, olive oil with thick slices of country bread, stone walls three feet thick, porcini picked that day, and bottles of earth-flavored wines are but some of the ingredients in Mate's memoirs of Tuscany. This is the story of how Mate and his wife found their dream house and began their love affair with the place and its people.

The Misadventures of Hallisandra

Author: Elsie Medina
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1463439091
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 132

Book Description
The young girl was witness to an execution on the banks of the Rio Grande River near her home and went into hiding from the Drug Cartels. While on tour of Italy, she met and took a lover who also was on the lam from the Mafia. The unrelenting pursuit drove them to many places of the world, especially Switzerland, Mexico and Italy where they finally settled.

My Italian Bulldozer

Author: Alexander McCall Smith
Publisher: Anchor
ISBN: 1101871407
Category : Fiction
Languages : en
Pages : 219

Book Description
The best-selling author of the No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series returns with an irresistible new novel about one man’s adventures in the Italian countryside. Paul Stuart, a renowned food writer, finds himself at loose ends after his longtime girlfriend leaves him for her personal trainer. To cheer him up, Paul’s editor, Gloria, encourages him to finish his latest cookbook on-site in Tuscany, hoping that a change of scenery (plus the occasional truffled pasta and glass of red wine) will offer a cure for both heartache and writer’s block. But upon Paul’s arrival, things don’t quite go as planned. A mishap with his rental-car reservation leaves him stranded, until a newfound friend leads him to an intriguing alternative: a bulldozer. With little choice in the matter, Paul accepts the offer, and as he journeys (well, slowly trundles) into the idyllic hillside town of Montalcino, he discovers that the bulldozer may be the least of the surprises that await him. What follows is a delightful romp through the lush sights and flavors of the Tuscan countryside, as Paul encounters a rich cast of characters, including a young American woman who awakens in him something unexpected. A feast for the senses and a poignant meditation on the complexity of human relationships, My Italian Bulldozer is a charming and intensely satisfying love story for anyone who has ever dreamed of a fresh start.

A Vineyard in Tuscany

Author: Ferenc Maté
Publisher: Albatross
ISBN:
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 306

Book Description
In this intimate and uproarious story, two daring New Yorkers convert an ancient, abandoned farm into a world-renowned winery.

The Cuban Missus Crisis

Author: David M. Addison
Publisher: AuthorHouse
ISBN: 1504942957
Category : Biography & Autobiography
Languages : en
Pages : 320

Book Description
In this humorous travelogue round Cuba, the hapless author suffers from both urban myths and his Missus (aka the Drinks Police). The first he debunks as they occur; the crises his Missus causes, or would have caused but for his timely intervention, are a more serious matter. Acutely aware that Cuba is certain to change in the near future and probably radically, award-winning author David M. Addison was anxious to experience the country as it is now, under communism and Castro. Apart from describing what daily life is like for ordinary Cubans, he also delves into Cubas past from the original inhabitants and post-Columbian conquest to the Wars of Independence and the Bay of Pigs and its aftermath. On the literary trail, Addison pays homage to Hemingway as he follows in his footsteps. And if that should necessitate a visit to a bar or two, that cant be helped. Its not a lame excuse for a bar crawl despite what the Drinks Police may think. It goes without saying that in Cuba you cant avoid classic cars and cigars but the author also takes a close look at Cubas art and architecture, flora and fauna and not least, the countrys other most famous product rum. Another cause for a crisis as far as the Missus is concerned. A mine on all aspects of Cuban culture both past and present, this is useful background reading for anyone intending a visit to Cuba as well as being a handy accompaniment to your guidebook when you go. Or, if armchair travelling is more your thing, pour yourself a glass of rum or mix a mojito and learn and laugh your way round Cuba.

Italy from a Backpack

Author: Mark Pearson
Publisher: Pear Press
ISBN: 0974355275
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 252

Book Description
Better than guidebooks, these first-person accounts paint vivid pictures of a traveler's experience in Italy. Like familiar music and favorite scents, they'll awaken a taste for adventure in those who have yet to travel, and bring back memories for those who have. Romance, surprise, discovery and wisdom all bubble through these authors' inviting pieces. Dive into Italy with these fresh storytellers and* Sneak past Vatican guards to see Michaelangelo's Pietà* Break out of a locked hostel to catch the morning train to Rome* Find a surprise romance in the fresh sea air of Cinque Terre* Meet your c.

Central Tuscany

Author: Scott Grabinger
Publisher: Scott Grabinger Books
ISBN: 1470001500
Category : Travel
Languages : en
Pages : 150

Book Description
Note: There is a newer version of this book. Please look for the new title Central Tuscany: Casentino and Valtiberina. The cover says 2016 through 2017 Edition.