I'm a big believer in reading about my intended destination — not only for valuable tips and information, but also to enhance the whole experience. I'm a nut on history, art, literature, wine, architecture and language. In addition to guidebooks, I enjoy travel narratives about the country. We all know what 'Under the Tuscan Sun' did for Tuscany and what 'A Year in Provence' did for Provence. There is a whole genre of books dedicated to expatriates moving to a foreign country like Italy or France and buying and restoring an old farmhouse. It's a dream that resonates in many of us, even when we live in places like California. I know, because I have a small library on the subject — right down to how to buy a house in Italy and France. Funny thing is that Peter Mayle and Frances Mayes both had to move because so many tourists were showing up at their door!
One of my favorite authors — not quite as famous as Frances Mayes, but a far better writer — is Ferenc Máté. He is a true Renaissance man: born in Hungary, raised in Canada and the US, and for the last 20 years a native of Tuscany. He has two excellent books on living the Tuscan dream: 'The Hills of Tuscany,' in which he relates how he came to live there, and 'A Vineyard in Tuscany,' in which he fulfills a lifelong dream of starting his own vineyard and restoring an 800-year-old monastery. In addition to being a world-class winemaker, he is also an expert on sailboats. Check him out.
