Smaller text Larger text

Destination: Italy

Posted on

Acqua Alta: Venice Under Water

Venice has battled rising water levels since the fifth century. But now, the water seems to be winning. The Italian government declared a state of emergency today after Tuesday’s historically high tide — an event that the mayor is calling the “apocalyptic” result of climate change.

I’ve been thinking about a conversation I had a couple of years ago with the Italian archaeologist Dr. Salvatore Settis. We talked about what it’s like to live in Venice, the challenges of rampant tourism, and the efforts to address flooding in this gloriously canaled city. If you missed it the first time around on my radio show and podcast, you can listen to that conversation now right here. Just skip to minute 13:00 for the Venice segment — and then share your thoughts below or on Facebook.

(As a traveler, I see the reality of our changing climate everywhere. And as a business owner who promotes and profits from carbon-emitting travel, I understand that I play a big role in that — which is why my tour company has pledged to donate $1 million a year to nonprofits that fight climate change. This money comes straight out of our profits as a self-imposed carbon tax — and until we have a government that sees the wisdom of fighting climate change, we’ll keep paying it. )

Posted on

Climate Change in the Alps: Snowmaking Machines

As a traveler, I see signs of climate change everywhere. Europe is grappling with unpredictable weather in lots of different ways — and in the Alps, that means artificial snow.

It’s summer here now, and this area is filled with hikers. But in the winter, this is ski country — and the local economy depends on ski tourism. All across the Alps, ski slopes are being plumbed for artificial snow. Take a look with me now at some of the reservoirs that supply water to this mountain’s snowmaking machines.

A round-trip flight to Europe emits roughly as much climate-changing carbon, per passenger, as six months of driving. I own a tour company, and we profit by taking about 30,000 people to Europe each year. Standard accounting practices allow our company to ignore the environmental cost of being in this business — but we believe it’s more honest and ethical to pay our share of that cost. So, at the expense of our profit, we’ve made a yearly commitment to invest $1 million in a portfolio of nonprofits that are making a big difference. 

Posted on

Don’t Overlook the Italian Alps

Hello from the Alps of northeastern Italy! I’m here in the Dolomites with my friend Stefan, just grabbing a sunny day and making the most of it. The wonders of nature are so accessible here — we just rode the Seceda lift up, and here we are.  

I’m here to film three new episodes of Rick Steves’ Europe about the Alps — Italian, Austrian, Swiss, and French. Stay tuned for more.  

Stefan runs the Hotel Cavallino d‘Oro in Castelrotto (a.k.a. Kastelruth), where I like to stay when in this region. 

Posted on

Discovering a Great Tool for Wine Lovers: The Coravin

I was dropping by the various wine bars in Bellagio (as one does when working) — and at Aperitivo Et Al, Andrea demonstrated a clever tool that pulls wine from a bottle with the ease of a nurse pulling blood from an arm. With the Coravin, he can serve fancy wine by the glass without worrying about finishing the bottle before the wine goes bad.

Maybe I don’t get out much. (When I got back to my hotel and Googled the Coravin, I learned that it was invented in 2011 in Massachusetts.) Is this old news?

Here’s how I wrote up Andrea’s wine bar in the Rick Steves Italy guidebook:

[$$] Aperitivo Et Al, slick and jazzy, is a trendier wine bar; it offers mixed salumi and formaggi plates and light lunches, paired with the right wine. Andrea serves a great selection of wines by the glass (daily 11:30-24:00, Salita Serbelloni 34, tel. 031-951-523).