An Italian Journey

An adventure of the heart in the mold of literature's classic spiritual journeys._x000D_

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It began with a girl. Then it was Italian food. After that it was books and discovering that even Mark Twain had fallen for Italy. E.M. Forster was smitten too: Love and understand the Italians, for the people are more marvelous than the land._x000D_

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What is it about Italy and Italians?_x000D_

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Italian movies immortalize the mystique. Fellini called it La Dolce Vita. Tornatore's Cinema Paradiso took James Shaw back to the sweet memories of his childhood and the Italian family who operated the hometown theater. And just like in the movie, young James had an Alfredo who, by example, taught him about serving people._x000D_

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James learned that Italians don't feel they're special. Luigi Barzini, author of The Italians, repeatedly asked, Why are we the way we are? and found no conclusive answer._x000D_

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But James was convinced there was a reason why the Renaissance was born in Tuscany and It