Frances Mayes's Journal Travel, Food, Books, People

Italy is rocking today with the verdict, finally, of Amanda Knox’s innocence.  I’ve yet to meet an Italian who thinks she’s innocent, though some concede that the evidence for conviction was not there. What is behind this loud-mouthed certainty? I am struggling to understand it. My daughter, a forensic psychologist, says women almost never commit [...]

» Read More...

Not really a commercial moment, just wanting the share my good luck of having an agenda published every year by Chronicle Books.  The pleasure is that I get to work with Steven Rothfeld. He is also the photographer of BRINGING TUSCANY HOME and of the cookbook coming in March. Travel is his passion and he [...]

» Read More...

In Cortona, half way into September, summer still reigns. The lack of rain has turned the fields the color of lion’s fur but the geraniums love the intense sun and are blooming their hearts out.  Looking through my notes and photos from the greener part of summer, I wanted to get out my watercolors and [...]

» Read More...

Italy grinds to a halt in August.  If you’ve not had that leak repaired in July, it won’t be repaired until September.  Everyone is al mare, at the sea, up north in the Dolomites, or visiting relatives back in the old home town.  Festa is the word.  Here in Cortona, we have the Sagra della [...]

» Read More...

Cortona was hit by an intense hailstorm. Looking out the window, it was easy to imagine that the gods were enjoying an ice ball fight.  With the lashing wind, the hail whizzed by sideways, straight up, down, and on the diagonal.  I stepped back from the window when one hunk the size of a golf [...]

» Read More...