With reference to the book "Italy Fever", I just spoke with the author. The book is in limited distribution right now but will be more widely available in the Spring. It is available right now on Amazon! It sounds like a great read. Ciao

Howard, <BR> <BR>Thank you, but I have been a classical music fan for years (since the age of 11 actually) and have about 12 Vivaldi CDs, my favourites being the series of Sacred Music with the angels on the cover. I have had the lute & mandolin CD in my collection for many years and listen to it frequently. I also love Allegri, Monteverdi, Albinoni and other early music. Not that keen on opera, though I do love a good aria.

Bringing this to top for nancy

How interesting that the first time I am seeing this thread is the night that I am having my Italian class over for dinner. I take a class one day a week, and at the end of each quarter the teacher has us to her house for an authentic homemade Italian dinner (she is from Milano). Her mother (from Napoli) is in town now, so I am returning the favor and having the class of 12 over for prosciutto e melone, rigatoni alla Norma, salmone e vedura grigliata and cantucci con Vin Santo. What better way to live la dolce vita. <BR> <BR>Another thing I like to do is rent an Italian film I have seen several times, like Cinema Paradiso or Medeterraneo and tape a piece of paper on the bottom of the screen over the subtitles. A great way to keep up the Italian between visits. Ciao tutti!

Try this site for Italian language learning: <BR> <BR>http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/langu...an/index.shtml <BR> <BR>Also, search the B B C site for other Italian-related sites, including recipes.

I buy CD's of contemporaty Italian artists when I am in Italy. That way I can relive the experience for months after my return.

I have purchased, and rec'd as gifts, several great italian cookbooks and have made several wonderful authentic dishes. I love serving them on the platters I brought home from my trip. This forum also helps keep the love alive. We're going back in Oct.

We have a great Italian deli in our town (Kenosha, WI) that I love to go to. You walk in the door and the smell of the sausages, cheeses, and food cooking is like sensory overload. At times, there are even elderly people in there speaking Italian.

Russ: is this it?

Maria, We too love buying Italian CDs. We have bought and enjoyed Bocelli ofcourse, Eros Ramazotti,Michael Zarrillo,Zucherro,Baglioni and my husband picked up MIna and Battisti and Adriano Celentano last week and so I ahven't heard them yet. Though we once bought a CD recommended by a shop assistant in Milan which was a disaster - Franco Battiato.

Thanks for the book and CD recommendations. In addition to trying any Italian restaurants we can find, we try to cook dishes that are authentic. We suggest Marcella Cucina by Marcella Hazan. My husband always buys a cologne or aftershave when we are in Italy, and it reminds us of our trip every time he wears it. I also bought several scarves while there 2 yrs ago and remember the Florence market I purchased them in. Can't wait to return in three weeks!!!

For Russ

Nancy, If you like mandolin music, get the CD 'O sole mio, Gino Del Vescovo. <BR>It's on an Ariola Express label F:RC 730 <BR> and another number on the jacket is 295 89 Enjoy it.

Sebastian, <BR>Grazie mille per il suggerimento! <BR>Molti anni prima che,sonavo (the mandolin). <BR>Domandero ordinare questa CD, a il mio negozio di musica. <BR>nancy <BR>I hope; <BR>1) I did not presume (by your name) that you speak italian. <BR>2) That I did not butcher the language *too* much!!

Try visiting anywhere else in the world. You may enjoy yourself but appreciate coming back to Venice all the more.

I'm going to Italy for my second visit in the spring. I'll re-read Barbara Grizutti Harrison's Italian Days because I consider it the best for the evocation of the spirit of the Italian people and their food and art. I've just bought and begun reading Italy, the Places in Between by Kate Simon and think it's wonderfully written and it provides excellent historical background. <BR> Keep this thread going. I couldn't do without this forum when planning a trip or, for that matter, when remembering one.

What a great thread. Add new thoughts, please.

Hi Threader, I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one who delves back into the distant threads to resurrect those with possibilities. Has anyone said that they watch "Enchanted April" from time to time? Probably so. I also try to cook a low-fat version of rigatoni with gorgonzola. (all attempts have been failures as you can imagine) J.

Just back and I'm missing Italy already! <BR><BR>Here's what I do to keep Italy on my mind: I play all types of Italian music (my mom gave me some of her old recordings- ah, the mandolins), cook Italian meals - sometimes trying to replicate delicious meals we had in Italy but more often I will cook traditional family favorites which my grandparents prepared, buy a bottle of Italian wine and have a glass while I cook, look at our photos from our trips or look at my mom's old family photos and old Italian postcards, wander through stores buying items such as flower pots, prints, towels, tablecloths, pillows, clothing, plants etc. which remind me of Italy, read books with Italian settings, try to speak what little Italian I remember whenever I get the opportunity, and take a ride into the North End of Boston to really get those Italian memories revived - sounds, smells, food - just like being back in Italy!

You Italy fans will love this book: Italian Intermezzo, recipes and music from Italian restaurants. You can buy it online at http://www.menusandmusic.com/Italycopy1.html<BR><BR>I love reading the recipes and the comments about the inns and restaurants. My dream trip would be one staying at all these places.