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