Under the Tuscan Sun
Italy's eternal draw; media opps; and a few more bits and pieces.
Buon giorno, amici! Greetings from Tuscany, where I’m fantastically lucky enough to have visited twice in the last two months (grazie to my amazing husband for holding the fort down at home). There’s so much I love about this country: its world-class food and wine; villages and landscapes so beautiful they almost render me catatonic; and, of course, its people. Italians often remind me of Southerners: gracious, welcoming, and always inviting their guests to slow down and sit for a spell while enticing them with some culinary deliciousness that just magically appears from the kitchen.
Every time I visit, I’m tempted to go full on Under the Tuscan Sun and find some abandoned villa to snap up for my own slice of la dolce vita (which is why I was so inspired by a couple from Los Angeles and their Italian renovation adventure, which I wrote about for CNN Travel; link below). For now, though, I’m content to reflect on the highlights of my recent visits: discovering Florence’s wine windows with dear friends (story forthcoming), morning runs through fog-shrouded vineyards, my first truffle hunt (spoiler alert: the dogs found three), and an absolutely divine stay at Castelfalfi, a stunning resort set in a medieval village with its own 12th-century castle and winery.
Grazie mille for always filling my wineglass, er, cup, Italia.
Recently Published Stories
CNN Travel: How Taylor Swift’s The Eras Tour is Changing Travel
Backstory: I pitched it to my editor about six weeks ago, they passed, then came back to me about three weeks later saying, yes, it’s a go. Go figure! I did my best to fact check every last tiny detail, lest any hardcore Swifties come strangle me with a friendship bracelet.
Backstory: This story evolved from a pitch from a lovely rep who I’ve worked with before. She put together a spot-on pitch well suited to CNN’s “Living the Dream” rubric: just enough backstory; figures and numbers; and the enticing hook that this was a brand-new reno. I interviewed one of the sources and toured the property while I was visiting Italy on vacation with some dear friends from the States. I’d mentioned it to my editor during a summer in-person meeting, she was interested, and I followed-up with a more detailed pitch after seeing the property. SOLD. It took about three weeks between assigning/writing/editing/publishing.
Preferred Hotels: A super fun, cover-story profile on Nancy Silverton, a pioneering chef from Los Angeles who has a cornucopia of accomplishments in the culinary industry.
Backstory: My dear friend and fellow writer Kimberley Lovato referred me for this piece, which she couldn’t take on. (Champers on me soon, KL!)
Upcoming Media Opportunities
For CNN Travel, I have two more stories in the works:
A roundup of overcrowded, over-touristed destinations (cities and countries) and offering suggestions of where to go instead. I’m still in research mode, but if you have any personal insights or ideas, send them my way. Please offer some credible backup for your ideas (i.e., this destination is a good alternate because it’s off the beaten path but is cheaper/still has the same food/wine/whatever).
I’m still seeking sources for a story that looks at the pros/cons of moving abroad to about 10 different countries/destinations (likely inclusions so far: Portugal, Italy, Spain, Australia, Singapore, Dubai, and Germany). I’m looking to speak with people who have moved from the US to these places about their experiences, as well as financial advisors, moving specialists, and other living abroad experts who can speak to pros/cons, plus pitfalls to be aware of.
Deadline to get in touch for both: Mon., Dec. 4, 3 pm Amsterdam time
Email: blanebachelor(at)gmail(dot)com
A Few Things to Celebrate in this Insane Media Industry
The Freelance Isn’t Free Act was just signed into law in New York (hurray!!!). Let’s hope other states follow that lead ASAP … The beautiful Saveur is back in print, and good news for that, since gorgeous writing and food photography are best shown off on actual magazine pages … And Georgia-based Paste magazine bought Jezebel, a feminist online pub culture, back to life after it shut down earlier this month following a 16-year run.
Finally, I have to tip my hat to the cleverest product campaign I’ve seen in a while: the collab between Snoop Dogg and Solo Stove, which makes smokeless fire pits. The legendary rapper recently said on Instagram he was “giving up smoke,” followed by a press release announcing his new gig as “smokesman” for Solo Stove (and, of course, a limited-edition, SG-branded product). The whole thing is just absolute marketing and PR brilliance. And, if you’re looking for a last-minute gift for anyone who — like Snoop himself, apparently — loves a good outdoor fire without smelling like one, I can personally attest that Solo stoves are legit.
Random Travel Tip o’ the Week
Don’t forget to monitor your upcoming flights (especially if you paid an arm and a leg for the tickets) in case the price happens to drop. Which, in fact, it did for my upcoming trip to the States — even over the holidays! Out of curiosity, I checked the routes on Google Flights last week to see how much they surely had gone up, but mine showed up significantly cheaper than what I paid the same ticket about six weeks ago. It took about an hour of wrangling with Delta on the phone to get it sorted, but in the end I wound up with about $200 in credit. A Christmas miracle, indeed!
Up Next: Finland!
Finland has been on my travel bucket list forever, and I can’t wait to finally check out the country that consistently ranks as the happiest in the world. I’m a bit intimidated about visiting in the near-dead of winter (I’m a Florida girl, remember) but I’m hoping the holiday magic and maybe even seeing the Northern Lights might make up for the frigid temps. I’ll be there on assignment to review a brand-new hotel in Helsinki, and if you have any must-do tips, please share them in the comments below.
Finally, big thank you …
… to my first official paid* subscriber, Susan Jasper! I met Susan on a trip to Cuba in 2011, and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. We recently caught up for dinner in NYC and hatched a plan to return to Cuba ASAP to see how things have changed (or not) since our visit. I was tickled pink – and so honored – by her support of my work.
*I haven’t turned on paid subscriptions yet, but you can still sign up to become one as soon as I launch that offering.
And that’s a wrap!
Thanks as always for reading, and wherever you are in the world, get out there and explore it.
—bb