Italy, my great love

January 25, 2010 | Article Posted By - Claudia Everet, London

It getting to that time of year again when one's mind begins to imagine lazy days of summer, when the sun shines and the cares fall from one's shoulders, yes its holiday planning time.  I am a pretty modern girl and I dispensed with the quaint idea of visiting a high street travel agent some time ago now.  The internet is a great source of information and inspiration but I have a problem, my mind tells me to explore but my heart tells me no, no, no Italy, Italy, Italy.

 

Italy beckons me to return and I have know doubt that I shall ponder the alternatives, research my options, anguish over alternatives and then arrive neatly at a shortlist of Italian towns, villages and cities.  I suppose my fascination, some might say obsession with the boot in southern Europe began in far away days when I decided to go to night school and learn a language.  Like most of us I had done a little French at school, tried and rejected German quickly and thought Spanish to be the most useful, but Italian was the language that drew me closer, it may not be the language of love but it certainly should be. With the language comes food and with the food a series of loves and lovers. 

I am minded of a story I heard that I am sure is apocryphal, but it just might be true. Before the days of celerity cooks a well known chef was asked to travel the world and write of the finest foods, an encyclopaedia if you will of the best culinary delights the world has to offer.  A number of years later the chef presented his book to the publisher, the publisher was amazed to discover that the chef had only written of Italian food. The great Chef explained that he had indeed travelled the world that he had eaten much that the great cuisines had to offer but nothing, absolutely nothing, could match the great culinary delights of Italy.  For me, it is much the same, I love to travel but I live for Italy.

Tags : Italy

Disclaimer:
Has your comment not appeared? Try waiting a moment and then refresh the page. If it still doesn't appear and you've checked your comment meets the terms of our comment policy then contact Claudia Everet with the details of your comment so we can look into it.

If you wish to complain about a comment please contact the editor directly.