One earplug had popped out and I woke up, luxuriating and stretching in the large comfortable hotel bed my friend Lisette found for me upon my arrival in Venice not 24 hours before. It wasn’t time to get up. Street noise from below had gone on making […]
The Italian Classic Dessert It was close to my last day in Lucca while visiting my cousin Roberto, that one of the secrets of an Italian classic dessert was revealed to me. One of the family’s favorite gelato shops was on the other side of town, and Roberto […]
What does one buy on an Italian vacation in Florence? Are you a souvenir junky, an antique addict, clothes monger, an art advocate for all those handcrafted watercolors on the street, or do you just go for that giant hunk of Florentine steak to share with your party? […]
Turns out the Florentine Medicis did more than maneuver themselves into banking, trading, art and money making. But before we give them all the credit, let’s back-track to note that ancients used olive oil as a base for plants, herbs, and botanical extracts—tons of them, such as […]
Bagni di Lucca and Beyond Spring is dragging its feet this year. Spring blossoms are just beginning to appear. However, the season is blooming in the shop windows in Florence and there is lots of colour, from pastels to bright and florals. The accessories are pretty this year. […]
Last Sunday I was immersed in an over-the-top exhibit at the Palace of Legion of Art in San Francisco. Giacomo Casanova (Italian, 1725-98) was our guide, though pictures of him were only a likeness at best. Through the art of painters of the time, including Tiepolo, Longhi, Boucher, […]
Published March 15, 2018 Mountain Democrat, Placerville, Ca. Betty Albert Special to the Democrat A crowd of camellia lovers gathered Saturday, February 24, 2018 at Historic Murer House and Gardens for the 4th Annual Camellia Show. Joe Murer planted camellias from local nurseries in 1926 in the Murer […]
Nectarine and Cherry Blossoms from Fausel Family Farm, Placerville Betty Albert photos from: seecalifornia.com “Just days ago on Feb.16 the California almond industry celebrated National Almond Day with a big campaign to get the entire nation eating one of California’s […]
If you haven’t seen my new webpages yet, take a look! Green Chef Press has switched over to BettyAlbertChronicles.com now that writing has taken over the travelscape; but never fear, I’ll still be writing about food, farming and organic living. And, if you haven’t heard of Untours (our […]
My travel planner (Norma at ItalyEasy.com) sent this. I guess it reminds us of the spirit of the the people in Italy who take up an oar and pronounce the spirit of the season. The gondoliers are no exception. A strong community spirit rows through Venice among the […]
Meet the passionate people of central Italy's farm-to-table wonderland.
Travels About Town 