| Sometimes traveling isn't just about
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| | The green, aromatic oil tastes so fresh
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| going to a destination; it's a state of
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| | and so light that you taste what you are
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| mind. Physically, I've been trapped in
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| | meant to taste - the fruit of the olive
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| South Carolina for seven months now while
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| | tree - and not something reminiscent to
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| mentally I try and put myself back in my
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| | wheel bearing grease. So even if my
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| favorite European places. One of my very
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| | bruschetta is made from imported North
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| favorites is the Tuscany region of Italy.
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| | Carolina tomatoes, South Carolina french
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| While the city in South Carolina is a
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| | bread, parmesan from Kraft, and dried
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| blistering desert of concrete, Tuscany
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| | basil from a lousy little plastic jar
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| radiates a rejuvenating warmth that
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| | (out of fresh basil again...), I still
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| washes over you like the rolling green of
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| | have my beautiful drizzling Tuscan olive
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| the hills.
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| | oil.
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| Since I'm currently unable to experience
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| | Italians also understand and appreciate
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| the area in person, I can only do what I
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| | the concept of 'breaks' (and not the 15
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| can to substitute the experience. CDs
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| | minute kind). Time doesn't rule a
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| full of pictures taken during my travels
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| | Tuscan's day, rather it revolves around
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| bring back stifled laughs and fond
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| | life at the moment. I rush from one end
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| memories. The coffee table books I've
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| | of my current hometown to the other,
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| collected over the years are so full of
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| | running errands and trying to make it to
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| intense color and vivid landscape scenes
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| | appointments on time - in Italy, being
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| that it makes my ache even worse. I even
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| | late is 'normale.' And when it gets to
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| read "Under the Tuscan Sun" this week
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| | lunchtime, there's no rushing through the
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| (which isn't done justice by the movie).
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| | meal and then jumping back into a
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| Mayes is such a descriptive writer. She
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| | schedule. Between the shining sun at its
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| does such a perfect job bringing the area
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| | zenith and a full stomach that's pulling
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| to life and I believe, deserves much
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| | you into a food coma, the day calls for a
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| credit for putting Cortona on the map.
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| | siesta. This ingenious concept not only
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| Her book stirs memories of my one day in
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| | refreshes the body but it literally pulls
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| this little town - hot chocolate and
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| | your mind into another world. Why fret
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| pastries at a little café in the
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| | about the next two hours when everyone
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| morning, gelato under a patio umbrella in
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| | else's life has also come to a relaxing
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| the pouring rain, and linen shopping
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| | standstill?
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| after the sun triumphed over the stubborn
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| | Daydream, watch the tall grasses blow in
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| clouds. It almost makes me forget that my
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| | the wind, or drink a cappuccino among
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| 'gelato' is now Eddy's or something from
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| | friends with a vineyard as a backdrop.
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| Dairy Queen.
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| | Until the notion of a daily siesta takes
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| I also try to substitute with cooking -
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| | hold in America, I attempt to create my
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| of course, I'm far from the authentic
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| | own with plastic patio furniture and a
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| cuisine I once savored in the local
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| | Coca-Cola ...that is, until the phone
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| family-owned restaurants. Tortellini al
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| | starts to ring with endless telemarketers
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| forno, penne al'arabiatta, even plain old
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| | anxious to sell me siding or refinance my
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| spaghetti marinara is a work of art in
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| | mortgage.
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| Tuscany. I throw basil around like it's
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| | There are just some places that feed your
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| going out of style, get all giddy when I
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| | soul and remain in your heart no matter
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| find a sweet gorgonzola or pecorino
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| | where you go. The rise and fall of the
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| cheese at the grocery store, and keep
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| | graceful hills, the glittery silver-green
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| Verdi on full volume while I create my
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| | leaves of the olive trees, the way the
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| own personal Italy in the kitchen.
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| | aged bricks glow in the last rays of the
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| Fortunately, I've been able to bring back
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| | evening sun all call me back for more. In
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| the very best extra virgin olive oil in
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| | the meantime, though, I'll remain in a
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| the entire country - La Macchia.
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| | Tuscan state of mind.
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