Easter’s here and I’m off to Naples and Capri, two destinations I’ve never visited before.  Stay tuned for reports (and photos) when I get back.

Easter’s big in Italy, in some ways bigger than Christmas.  Festivals and religious processions abound, as do sumptuously-wrapped chocolate eggs and special foods. I’m going to be hitting the pastry shops, that’s for sure; not to mention pizzerias for which Naples is famous.  Oh, here’s a diet rule to abide by – when on vacation, ditch the diet!

Look at this marvel called Sfogliatelle; it’s a work of art! – “To thoroughly appreciate this pastry, you need to eat it right out of the oven while it’s still warm.  The crust is crunchy and flaky and the filling creamy and not overly sweet.  A sort of puff pastry, it’s formed into its famous clam-like shell and filled with a custard-like mixture of semolina, ricotta, eggs, sugar, candied citrus and a pinch of cinnamon.”

I’m imagining it right now with an espresso doppio (double espresso).

Oh, mio Dio. Italia, sto arrivando !  (Oh, my God.  Italy, I’m coming!)

I love Italy.  Last June I spent 10 magnificent days in Puglia, the region in the heel of Italy.  If you click on Destinations up top, you’ll see travel posts I wrote during that trip.

Happy Easter!

Joyeuses Pâques!

Buona Pasqua!