Anti-facemask propaganda

For All You People in the U.S. Whining About Wearing a Mask…

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, and we’ll get to that in just a little bit. First, though, let me tell you a story about how some things went down here in Italy recently.

Early on in the coronavirus thing, Italy became one of the world’s hotspots. Cases here were surging. There were thousands of new cases a day. Hospitals were overwhelmed. Hundreds of people were dying — every day. It all …

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Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon

The Only Reason You Need…

A couple of years ago, before we moved here to Italy, I wondered aloud (well, at least on Facebook) if I would be able to find my favorite drink, Jim Beam Kentucky bourbon, after we got here. I had no idea what kind of alcohol they sold or enjoyed in Italy — well, except good wine and Peroni beer, of course — so I was a little apprehensive that my bourbon cravings might no longer …

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Mrs. Captain Eddie Has Written a Book!

How Did I End Up Here? book coverYes, it’s true! Mrs. Capt. Eddie (alias Vicky Perrone) has written a book, which is now available at Amazon.com. The description at Amazon pretty much sums it up:

“Vicky Perrone has led an imperfect life, but many would say she is now “living the dream.” A prize-winning photographer and former photojournalist, she has gone from troubled teen to adventurer and world traveler. Along the way, she’s learned about life, relationships — and herself. In

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Celebration of the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene in La Maddalena, Italy (video)

The feast of St. Mary Magdalene (Santa Maria Maddalena) on July 22nd is a big deal here in La Maddalena. She is the patron saint of the city and the island, and the church here is dedicated to her as well. So when her feast day rolls around,  the locals, tourists, and dignitaries all turn out for a celebration.

Here’s a video from last year’s celebration (2018). It contains everything from prayers to fireworks to …

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Fun at the Farmacia (Life in Italy)

You may or may not know that in 2012 I had a minor heart attack, caused by a blocked coronary artery. My cardiologist cleared the artery and inserted a stent, and I’ve been in good shape ever since. But he also put me on some daily medication: three different prescription drugs, plus a baby aspirin, every day.

As we were planning our move to Italy, I had to give some consideration to making sure I …

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Using a U.S. Credit Card in Italy, Even When They Don’t Want You To…

Assuming you have notified your credit card company ahead of time that you’ll be traveling or living outside of the United States, using your U.S.-issued credit cards in Italy should not be a problem. They are “every place you want to be,” as the advertising slogan goes. Restaurants, grocery stores, tourist shops — pretty much every business around accepts credit cards, and the country where those cards were issued is basically irrelevant.

There are situations, …

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Adventures at the Anagrafe (Life in Italy)

Voice of the Narrator (who sounds remarkably like William “Bill” Conrad): “Last time, you remember, our hero was waiting for the local police to arrive at his apartment to verify that he actually lived there. They needed to do this because he had applied for residency in his new town of La Maddalena, and this police check was part of the process.

“Just after the closing theme and the running of the closing credits for

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