Ciao a tutti! I hope you are having a wonderful summer. Ours started in Italy, where the dollar is stronger than it has been in a long time and the cities don't seem as crowded as usual this time of year. If you haven't chosen a vacation destination yet, I enthusiastically recommend "lo stivale" (the boot). The highlight of my trip was the presentation of LA BELLA LINGUA at Società Dante Alighieri in Firenze, where I first studied the history of the language. I am deeply grateful to my hosts: Presidente Enrico Paoletti, Antonella Paoletti and Cristina Romanelli (my teacher and inspiration). I was honored and touched by the words of the distinguished "relatori" (presenters or commentators). I would like to thank once again Giuliano Da Empoli, Florence's deputy mayor for culture; Domenico De Martino, Secretary General of L'Accademia della Crusca; Gigliola Sacerdoti Mariani, an acclaimed international scholar; Ludovica Sebregondi, a professor of art history at the University of Florence and curator at the Palazzo Strozzi; and Portia Prebys, head of the Association of American College and University Programs in Italy. You can read more about the event here. I have posted photos of "LA BELLA LINGUA in Florence" on my website. Half a world away the Australian edition of LA BELLA LINGUA has sailed to third place among travel books down under. My editor has forwarded lovely blurbs from local reviewers, who called it "an upbeat and inspiring journey," "a robust romp" and "powerfully seductive." Grazie, mates! Over the last few weeks I've written several travel articles on topics that range from eating etiquette in Italy to a fascinating exhibit on love and marriage in the Renaissance in Florence. You can find links to all my articles here. If you live in Southern California, I will be presenting LA BELLA LINGUA at the Italian Community Center in San Diego on Thursday, August 12. And to all of you heading off on summer holidays, buona vacanza! Affettuosamente, Dianne