reinagattuso's Blog

Reina Gattuso's Blog

Reina Gattuso is a writer, foodie, and travel junky with a knack for rhapsodic exuberance and awkward questions. Someone once told her she wrote the most lyrical description of clam chowder ever in existence, a compliment she may or may not have promptly tattooed on her bicep.
Authenticity in the Cinque Terre
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In a fritteria in Vernazza, Cinque Terre, at a fried seafood counter, the golden oily crunch of salty anchovies and calamari is served greasy in paper cones. The proprietor stands behind the counter, talking to me. “A glass of wine?” the woman... Read more
I Finally Discovered Aperitivo
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Yessiree, Navigli bar sign, aperitivo is indeed fun and cool. Why has it taken me six weeks into my time in Italy to discover ten-euro alcoholic beverages plus all-you-can-eat buffets of--surprise!--scrummy Italian food? Oh yeah, because I'm a whiny-pants... Read more
Talking to Strangers: Best Encounters
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Having dourly posted the warnings of talking to strangers while abroad , I am now going to post the rewards. While, let's face it, there are some people out there (...maybe you?) who would tell me to shut up about the Eurozone and get my dance on, I would... Read more
Tips for Talking to Strangers Abroad
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You should talk to strangers. Especially when you’re traveling in a foreign country without the benefit of a homestay or local friends, talking to strangers is one of the only ways you’re going to really get into the soul of the place, into... Read more
Five Poems to Nutella
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In honor of Torino’s ultimate achievement as the home of the Nutella factory, I have let my poetic muse loose in a number of forms to imagine what some of the world’s most famous poets would have written had, instead of being preoccupied with... Read more
Ode To My Backpack
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The relationship started at the end of last August. That morning I was supposed to be on my college’s campus as a wee little freshman pulling up shiny and new for the pre-orientation camping trip. I had been motivated by my profound athleticism and... Read more
Free Subway Literature
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This is indeed my third post about free art in Milan. It also about vending machines in metros. But guyysss. Besides the utterly incredible selection of vending machines, the wildly awesome array of food for aperitivo, and the unabashed nudity in art... Read more

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