So glad you enjoy the posts. Cortona is lovely-what a great place to have a home. But yes, you must REALLY get the whole “Under the Tuscan Sun” thing. Everyone wants to believe the “dream”, but in the end, the challenging, crazy, frustrating reality is probably more rewarding, and amusing, than the myth. Thanks so much for the very kind comment and for supporting Life Lived Italian!
I’m an American woman that owned a home in Cortona for the past 20+ years and so relate to your experiences. When I try to tell people that living in Italy is not for the faint of heart, they look at me like I’m from Mars.
Sent a reply from the airplane, but not seeing it so I'm afraid it may be floating around at 31,000 feet. Anyway, a home in Cortona sounds lovely, but I'm sure you really get a lot of the "Tuscan Sun" references. It definitely plays out easier in the movies. But of course the challenges are part of the fun.
I can relate to everything you wrote about because as a person who’s not into Netflix and Amazon prime etc. etc. I have to say I did watch Emily in Paris last year. The whole thing and I loved it. It is just light and fun and easy and romantic And fluffy. Sometimes that’s what someone needs. Also having been to Paris, I loved it. I think she is the most darling new actress on the scene. So you’ve got my attention. I will be watching the new one about Emily and Italy and will appreciate it more now that I’ve heard your take on everything. Which is pretty dang awesome!! I think it’s an obvious franchise. It’s going to be Emily Geer and Emily there in this country in that country whatever whatever. Which is fine with me because all the negativity happening in the United States we need travel and fluff and puff however… Your insight and all this you learned so dang much about Italy. Anyway, it’s awesome. Loved it.🥇
When you get to live in a place that most people only dream of, there is a price to pay. We live in a small town on the Spanish Atlantic coast famed for food. I dare not speak its name. We have come to appreciate the winter.
Despite the bars and restaurants knowing you by sight and handing you drinks without you having to place an order, you still have to muscle your way to the counter to pick up the glasses....
But, as I now say to all the moaners: First World Problems. Get over it! ;0)
Lovely piece, Eric! Makes me want to finally get around to taking a tour of Cinecittà. As for Emily, I tried watching her early days in Paris, and yeah, no. Not to my taste—I'm all for fluff and fun, and I can squint past the "everything is perfect in Italy and you don't need a legal way to live here" vibe (though it makes me shudder), but somehow that show didn't grab me. That said, I think I may need to peek at her Roman adventures. Maybe I'll become a convert. The Decameron was total delight, though!
By the way the crazy Decamerone Netflix was also filmed in Viterbo and in the Renaissance gardens of Castello Ruspoli in nearby Vignanello, owned by the Ruspoli family since 1500s. Another wonderful place to visit next time you are here.
So very true all you have written…but then I look back on some of those heady years in the late 60s when as a star-eyed girl in Rome with no responsibilities and all of the glamour it seemed very close to an Emily film. Time to take out the old photo albums for a nostalgic look at.how things were back then instead of watching telegiornale! Thanks Eric for a wonderful piece!
You're so right-- there are a lot more serious problems to deal with than people who are overly fond of the place you call home. And you're also right-- there's always winter. I was surprised to find Rome unusually quiet and empty two weeks ago-- it was as if it was a holiday. Then I realized: oh, this is the end of November. This is Rome in the winter. It's a whole different world.
So glad you liked it! I think you're right-- we're at a point when some escape into a more beautiful world is very, very necessary. I'm sure that accounts for a lot of Emily's success. I suspect her life in Rome is considerably more glamorous than mine, but think of me if you watch :)
I would so LOVE to see those photos. You really were there in the golden age. I always felt a little bit the same about my time in New York-- arriving in the mid-1980s, just as the city emerged from bankruptcy, etc. It was a time when the art scene, the music world, and fashion were all intersecting. We have to be so thankful when we have those moments in our lives of being in the right place at the right time. Thanks always for all of your kind comments and support!
Thanks so much! Honestly, Emily's not my thing either-- it's the kind of American in Italy I generally try to avoid. But clearly a lot of people love it, and I'm not against a little fantasy when it comes to entertainment. I did think the Decameron was fun (although a pretty dark version of fun) and there was something about seeing it post-Covid that gave it an interesting twist. Couldn't help but think about all of the NYers who headed to their places in the country to live in their "bubbles"...
So glad you enjoy the posts. Cortona is lovely-what a great place to have a home. But yes, you must REALLY get the whole “Under the Tuscan Sun” thing. Everyone wants to believe the “dream”, but in the end, the challenging, crazy, frustrating reality is probably more rewarding, and amusing, than the myth. Thanks so much for the very kind comment and for supporting Life Lived Italian!
Hi Eric, you are hilarious and I love your posts!
I’m an American woman that owned a home in Cortona for the past 20+ years and so relate to your experiences. When I try to tell people that living in Italy is not for the faint of heart, they look at me like I’m from Mars.
Can’t wait to hear more-:)
Sent a reply from the airplane, but not seeing it so I'm afraid it may be floating around at 31,000 feet. Anyway, a home in Cortona sounds lovely, but I'm sure you really get a lot of the "Tuscan Sun" references. It definitely plays out easier in the movies. But of course the challenges are part of the fun.
I can relate to everything you wrote about because as a person who’s not into Netflix and Amazon prime etc. etc. I have to say I did watch Emily in Paris last year. The whole thing and I loved it. It is just light and fun and easy and romantic And fluffy. Sometimes that’s what someone needs. Also having been to Paris, I loved it. I think she is the most darling new actress on the scene. So you’ve got my attention. I will be watching the new one about Emily and Italy and will appreciate it more now that I’ve heard your take on everything. Which is pretty dang awesome!! I think it’s an obvious franchise. It’s going to be Emily Geer and Emily there in this country in that country whatever whatever. Which is fine with me because all the negativity happening in the United States we need travel and fluff and puff however… Your insight and all this you learned so dang much about Italy. Anyway, it’s awesome. Loved it.🥇
When you get to live in a place that most people only dream of, there is a price to pay. We live in a small town on the Spanish Atlantic coast famed for food. I dare not speak its name. We have come to appreciate the winter.
Despite the bars and restaurants knowing you by sight and handing you drinks without you having to place an order, you still have to muscle your way to the counter to pick up the glasses....
But, as I now say to all the moaners: First World Problems. Get over it! ;0)
Love your posts!!!!!
Lovely piece, Eric! Makes me want to finally get around to taking a tour of Cinecittà. As for Emily, I tried watching her early days in Paris, and yeah, no. Not to my taste—I'm all for fluff and fun, and I can squint past the "everything is perfect in Italy and you don't need a legal way to live here" vibe (though it makes me shudder), but somehow that show didn't grab me. That said, I think I may need to peek at her Roman adventures. Maybe I'll become a convert. The Decameron was total delight, though!
By the way the crazy Decamerone Netflix was also filmed in Viterbo and in the Renaissance gardens of Castello Ruspoli in nearby Vignanello, owned by the Ruspoli family since 1500s. Another wonderful place to visit next time you are here.
So very true all you have written…but then I look back on some of those heady years in the late 60s when as a star-eyed girl in Rome with no responsibilities and all of the glamour it seemed very close to an Emily film. Time to take out the old photo albums for a nostalgic look at.how things were back then instead of watching telegiornale! Thanks Eric for a wonderful piece!
You're so right-- there are a lot more serious problems to deal with than people who are overly fond of the place you call home. And you're also right-- there's always winter. I was surprised to find Rome unusually quiet and empty two weeks ago-- it was as if it was a holiday. Then I realized: oh, this is the end of November. This is Rome in the winter. It's a whole different world.
Thanks for the insightful comment!
So glad you liked it! I think you're right-- we're at a point when some escape into a more beautiful world is very, very necessary. I'm sure that accounts for a lot of Emily's success. I suspect her life in Rome is considerably more glamorous than mine, but think of me if you watch :)
I would so LOVE to see those photos. You really were there in the golden age. I always felt a little bit the same about my time in New York-- arriving in the mid-1980s, just as the city emerged from bankruptcy, etc. It was a time when the art scene, the music world, and fashion were all intersecting. We have to be so thankful when we have those moments in our lives of being in the right place at the right time. Thanks always for all of your kind comments and support!
I did see that it was filmed not far from you. Would love to visit that. Everything always seems to lead back to your neck of the woods!
Thanks so much! Honestly, Emily's not my thing either-- it's the kind of American in Italy I generally try to avoid. But clearly a lot of people love it, and I'm not against a little fantasy when it comes to entertainment. I did think the Decameron was fun (although a pretty dark version of fun) and there was something about seeing it post-Covid that gave it an interesting twist. Couldn't help but think about all of the NYers who headed to their places in the country to live in their "bubbles"...
Thank you so much! I so enjoy yours as well!