Not Oprah’s Favorite Things – But Mine!

There’s an advantage to being your own boss and one of them is the executive decision to watch Oprah, when possible, at 4 p.m. each weekday. That’s my coffee break. Today she presented “Oprah’s Favorite Things” – the episode people wait for all year with her recommendations for gift giving. It got me thinking about my favorite things.

Cinema Paradiso: Hands down my favorite movie of all time. I have the movie poster hanging in my home and the tag line on the poster says it all – An enchanted village. A wonderful friendship. Star-crossed lovers. And the magic of the movies. That’s why I have decided to give the 2-DVD Deluxe Edition of Cinema Paradiso – a $24.95 value – FREE along with all subscriptions, renewals and gift subscriptions this holiday season! My gift to YOU.

Rome: When people hear that I edit a subscription newsletter on Italy and that I have been there some 20 times, they invariably ask me what my favorite place is. Well, it is the Eternal City. I just feel so alive when I’m in Rome and so in tune with human history, thousands of years of it, as well as the joys of everyday life. That’s why this holiday season, I’ve created the Dream of Rome Travel Gift Basket – to celebrate the city I love so much. (The photo is of me, on the right, and my best friend from growing up, Mary, at the Rome’s Trevi Fountain.)

Enrico Bruschini: And who is my favorite Roman? Well it has to be the incredible Enrico Bruschini who brings that city and the treasures of the Vatican to life unlike anyone can. If you haven’t seen Rome with Enrico, you truly haven’t seen it. You can read more about my friend – the official Guide of Rome, the humble friend to presidents and world leadeers – in our FREE sample issue. All the way from Rome, Enrico has sent me 12 inscribed copies of his book In The Footsteps of the Popes – exclusively available to Dream of Italy customers.