fascinating and exciting tour of Italy

See You in the Piazza: New Places to Discover in Italy by Frances Mayes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"See You in the Piazza" is a fascinating and exciting tour to many of the places in Italy that don't show up in the guidebooks. Ms. Mayes and her husband (and sometimes family) drive, read, and eat their way from the top of Italy's mountain ranges to the southern tip of Sicily. Many of the seemingly endless amazing meals are shared in the form of recipes given by the chefs. Because of Ms. Mayes notoriety, she shares with us many special glimpses into the places and people along the way. By sharing her experiences in this wonderfully written account we are able to experience many places, people, and food that we could not on our own. In our upcoming trips to Italia, we plan to add to our itinerary some of the places visited in this book. Our trip will be richer for it. A couple quotes that really stuck with me:

Mayes, Piazza, p.332
Author reflecting on a trip to Italia w/ friends from the US (author lives 1/2 time in Cortona, 1/2 time in Hillsborough NC)

"A discovery for me: A new context deepens friendship. At home, we have our dinner parties, walks, fund-raisers, birthday parties, etc. Traveling together moves us out of preconception. Though some travel only to confirm their held convictions, this group is ready to be amazed. Seeing what is new gives our friendships new grounds. We'll be reliving Puglia for years."

Mayes, Piazza, p.406 epilogue

"The greatest gift of travel: the steep learning curve. Second best: how your vision refreshes and you see with infant eyes. Third: memory. How the places seen will layer into life as time moves on."

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