Pamper Your Hair

The next time you visit Florence, take time out to pamper your hair at GabrioStaff Olimpo Hair Spa. This simply gorgeous salon has a variety of personal beauty treatments for the hair that will leave you feeling and looking glamorous (seducente) and oh so Italian.

GabrioStaff Olimpo is located at Via de Tornabuoni 5, Firenze, telephone 055/214668. Tour their website http://www.gabriostaff.it/ to see what awaits you in Firenze. And don't forget to make an appointment well in advance!

Ciao e a presto,

Remember The Smart Car?

Here is a Not So Smart Car in Roma

The Decision

After eleven years of travelling between the US and Italy, I came to the realization that it was time for me to pursue my passion for All Things Italian which led to my launching When In Italy LLC in the fall of 2005.

When In Italy LLC offers like-minded Italophiles a chance to fulfill their dream of owning and living in Italy through a fractional share ownership program.

Picture yourself celebrating life's special moments, like your hard earned law degree, or 25 years of marriage, surrounded by family and new friends in the privacy of your own home overlooking the Tuscany valley.

Fractional share ownership is an affordable and practical way to live overseas where you can truly savor and immerse yourself in the culture and lifestyle Italy has to offer. To read more about fractional share ownership, visit my website at http://www.myitalianhideaway.com/

There's more to follow in the days ahead about Italian real estate, wine, food, festivals, hideaways and All Things Italian.

Ciao and a presto,

The Potato Croquette

The end of a two-week business trip is coming to a close and my italian team and I will need to make some decisions on which properties best meets the high standards for U.S. fractional share offering by My Italian Hideaway. We covered over 160 kilometeres of driving and inspected over 15 villas, apartments, and townhomes immediately eliminating 5 properties.We have met with the geometra (surveryor) poured over technical floor plans for hours.

Now I take the day off and am getting an early start because I am going to have lunch with my friend Claudia and it's my turn to bring pranzo. I love the drive to Asciano as it takes me through the Le Crete Senese rolling hills of limestone and clay, a landscape too surreal for Toscana. The surrounding hill towns of Montecontieri, Val d'Asso, and Trequanda shimmer in the light of early morning.

Just beyond the hills, I see flocks of sheep sway their heads to the music of the morning sun. I am determined to get to the fresco mercato in Rapolano Terme ensuring my arrival for just after the vendors place the finishing touches to their meticulous and mouth watering stands of fresh fruits, flowers, herbs and vegetables.

Parking can be tough because the market, my italian hideaway market, is set in a tiny parking lot outside the tabaccheria (smoke shop where you buy bus tickets, phone cards) and by 8:00 a.m. the locals have scooped up the perfectly shaped deep purple carciofi (artichokes), roasted chickens, fresh fish. - so by 9:00 a.m. it may be too late!

Fresh outdoor local markets usually open by 7:00 and close by 1:00 p.m. and can be found in nearly very town, village, and neighborhood on a given day.What makes this market so special is, well, ok, I'll tell you. The Potato Croquette. Nonna's Potato Croquettes. Not just any potato croquette, but Nonna's potato croquette made with sheep's milk!!

Parking is easy so I begin my morning stroll up and down each isle selecting a few pieces of fruita, un po di pecorino, and a large loaf of Toscana bread (which is made with no salt). I head to Stefano's for chicken. Per piacere (polite for please) un pollo. I order one roasted chicken.

Si, signora, ritorna in un ore. Come back in an hour. Now I peak down the isle and see that Nonna has started to prepare the croquettes with her tiny but strong hands. It's too early, she won't be ready to fry them for at least an hour.

Time to get an espresso and see Eva. We spent some time chatting, laughing, and catching up on properties for sale when I check my watch and an hour has gone by. O dio mio I must get back to check on my pollo.

Stefano sees me approaching and grabs my plump beautiful golden skinned chicken, I pay and head to Nonna. Perfect timinig. She has started the frying. The line is long and I think I will faint from the smell of the potatoes . Now its my turn.

Dica! Tell me! Nonna, io vuolo (I want or take) cinque patate (potatotes). Cinque? (5). Si, cinque (5). She asks if I am sure that I want only 5 croquettes. Si, yes, certo (certainly).

I am taking pranzo to my friend and I need 5 patate croquettes. Nonna takes her hands and the croquettes and gently places them into the beautiful golden olive oil . Within minutes they are golden and bagged for me.

I've got everything I need. Claudia will have the table set, wine glasses in place next to her beautiful torta. It's not long before I steer my Opal thru the gates crazily beeping my horn. Now it is time to have some fun with Claudia. Ciao, Claudia, sono qui! Hi Claudia, I am here. I have goodies just like you asked.

Do you have the bread? Si, Claudia, I have the bread. What about the cheese? Did you get cheese? Yes, Claudia I have the cheese. How is the chicken? Just like you asked. A beautiful plump farm raised golden roasted pollo - look Claudio how fresh and juicy. Ok, I hope you didn't forget the croqettes! No, Claudia, no. I got 4 just like you asked.

To Be Continued Monday - The Decision

My Italian Hideaway

Italy, there is no place like it in the world. As I take my morning stroll through the piazza to the local mercato where fresh produce awaits me to prepare today's pranzo, I gaze at the breaktaking views of the swaying cypress trees over the Val d' Orcia.

Italy, there is no place in the world like it. Stopping for my morning espresso to catch up on the news of the village. Marco is ready to bring in the Brunello grapes and Maria just had another baby girl, Isabella.

Italy, there is no place like it in the world. You have lost your way back to the road and no cars around when you hear the chug of the tiniest car and a shy man calls out "follow me" and suddenly you are back on the main road. You yell "grazie signore, grazie" and he replies with a soft whisper and a twinkle in his eye, "prego signora" .

Follow the my story which leads you to finding and owning a charming italian hideaway somewhere in romantic Italy. Foolow me and you will find hidden gems and authentic italian products, and before long you will embrace the time you have to spend in Italy discovering and exploring hideaway villages and towns. Immerse yourself and feed your passion for All Things Italian.

TO BE CONTINUED...A DOMANI