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The Discovery CompassThe Discovery Compass

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Culture & Lifestyle

My Life in Italy, Part 16: Two Weddings and a Funeral


What do The Nazis, Audrey Hepburn, Ronald & Nancy Reagan, Mikhail Gorbachev, Pope John Paul II, Margaret Thatcher, The Chernobyl meltdown and Mother Teresa all have in common? I knew you would ask! As always, if you are just jumping in, this will make a lot more sense if you start at the beginning of the series....

  • Michael Kovnick
  • September 2, 2026
  • 0
Culture & Lifestyle

My Life in Italy, Part 15: Race Against the Clock


Every time I think about a wedding, Wallace Shawn shows up in my head lisping about “mawwiage” and “twue wuv.” Sorry, can’t help it! It ruined weddings for me forever… in the best possible way. As with every post in this series, if you’re jumping in here, it’s like...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 29, 2026
  • 3
Small Group Travel

Small Group Tours in Croatia: 8 Checks Before You Book


Full disclosure before you read a word of this: I run one of the companies that offers small group tours in Croatia. So treat what follows as a method, not a recommendation, and run it on us too. Our own numbers are in here wherever they apply, including the place where our price comes in higher than every operator I...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 19, 2026
  • 0
Personal

My Life in Italy, Part 14: He Speaks! & Mirror in the Bathroom


As with every post in this series, if you are jumping in here, it is like jumping into the middle of a movie. Please start with Part 1, or this will make absolutely no sense. Yikes, it has been a long time since I wrote the last part of this series! This part is going to cover a fair amount of ground because by...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 17, 2026
  • 4
Small Group Travel

Best Small Group Tour in Italy: 10 Checks Before You Book


Full disclosure before you read a word of this: I run one of these companies. So treat what follows as a method rather than a recommendation, and run it on us too. I have put our own numbers in wherever they are relevant, including the two places we come off worse. The useful thing I have learned after 20 years of...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 16, 2026
  • 0
Culture & Lifestyle

Why There’s No Little America in Italy: 6 Reasons, and Only One of Them Is Romantic


I first came to Italy in 1983 and moved here in 1985. Nineteen years old, straight out of The Valley. There was no Facebook group. No welcome committee. No English-speaking realtor with a golf tan and a business card. Nobody handed me a list of “the American bars.” I found an apartment because a a friend...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • August 11, 2026
  • 0
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Small Group Travel
Small Group Travel

We Tried The Mannequin Challenge


If you haven’t heard of The Mannequin challenge, you probably weren’t very active on social media around the end of 2016. Much like the Ice Bucket Challenge, the Harlem Shake and every other internet trend,...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • May 3, 2018
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Culture
Culture

Aglio, Olio e Peperoncino Recipe


    Spaghetti Aglio, Olio, e Peperoncino, although has a very complicated looking name, is one of the most simple dishes of pasta you can possibly make. With very few ingredients, almost none of which need to be...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • April 27, 2018
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Culture
Culture

Amatriciana Recipe


  Amatriciana sauce is a red pasta sauce, usually served with Bucatini or Spaghetti pasta that comes from the small town of Amatrice. Amatrice is in northern Lazio, not too far from Soriano or Norcia (two of our locations)...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • April 16, 2018
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Culture
Culture

Carbonara Recipe


If you’ve been on our Soriano tour, you might remember Carbonara from our Thursday night class. It’s a very rich spaghetti dish made with pancetta, eggs, and a whole lotta cheese :). I wouldn’t suggest it if...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • April 9, 2018
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Culture
Culture

What To Expect From Italy in August


As you might know, August is an off month for us, we don’t usually offer tours during August for a few reasons. Kids and Teachers are out of school and the idea of vacation is on everyone’s mind, lots of...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • August 5, 2017
  • 3
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Culture
Culture

The Tuscan Connection to Groundhog Day & Punxsutawney Phil


Groundhog Day in Italy?   Well, not really, but let’s say Punxsutawney Phil may just have a long lost ancestor in Tuscany.   Every year, Phil gets taken out in a bug celebration for what we, in America...

  • Michael Kovnick
  • February 2, 2017
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Culture
Culture

Italian Christmas Cookies: Brutti ma Buoni


Total Time: 55 min Prep Time: 15 min Cook Time: 40 min Yield: 2 pounds of cookies Ingredients 1 pound sliced almonds, lightly toasted 2 1/2 cups granulated sugar 7 large egg whites 1 tablespoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • December 20, 2016
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Culture
Culture

Italy’s Earthquake- Questions Answered


What Happened? As I’m sure everyone knows by now, central Italy got hit pretty hard with a 6.2 magnitude earthquake. For those that did not grow up in a very earthquake prone area, that may not mean much, so here is a breakdown...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • August 26, 2016
  • 3
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Culture
Culture

How To Do Rome in 2 Days


So you don’t have tons of time in Rome, that’s okay! You definitely can’t see Rome in a day, but you can get a good amount of Rome checked off your list in two. -Day One- First things first, you can’t...

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • June 2, 2016
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Culture
Culture

The Medieval Chestnut Festival of Soriano nel Cimino


Each year, the town of Soriano nel Cimino holds a huge festival called “Sagra Delle Castagne” or the Chestnut Festival. The town is well known for its top of the line Chestnuts and there is no shortage of them....

  • Alyssa Saltzman
  • February 19, 2016
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Culture Discovery Vacations
Leading Small-Group Culinary & Cultural Immersion Tour Operator
Authentic culinary experiences with Culture Discovery Vacations

Experience the true meaning of luxury travel with Culture Discovery Vacations - the leading small-group culinary tour operator, offering immersive experiences that go beyond traditional opulence.

  • Hands-on cooking classes with local families
  • Authentic all-inclusive pricing with no hidden costs
  • Boutique accommodations with character
  • Exclusive access to family vineyards
★★★★★
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"We didn't feel like tourists—we felt like family. The cooking classes changed how I think about food."
Mark S., Tuscany Tour
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Recent Comments


  • My Life in Italy, Part 14: He Speaks! & Mirror in the Bathroom - The Discovery Compass on My Life in Italy, Part 15: Race Against the Clock
  • My Life in Italy, Part 16: Two Weddings and a Funeral - The Discovery Compass on My Life in Italy, Part 15: Race Against the Clock
  • My Life in Italy, Part 15: Race Against the Clock - The Discovery Compass on My Life in Italy, Part 2: Where are the Walls? and How do I Flush?
  • My Life in Italy, Part 16: Two Weddings and a Funeral - The Discovery Compass on My Life in Italy, Part 1: “The Warm Table”
  • Robbie Huddleston on My Life in Italy, Part 15: Race Against the Clock

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