The Italian Affair
Some men collect stamps. Brandon Pearson collects experiences. The Mediterranean sun was at its zenith when the helicopter blade sliced through the azure sky, carrying him from the sleek Italian yacht to a villa perched on the clifftop like a crown jewel.
The yacht—a 140-footer with teak decks that had seen more champagne than seawater—had been merely the appetizer. The villa, owned by a count whose name escapes memory but whose wine cellar does not, was where the real adventure began. Between courses of handmade pasta and conversations conducted in three languages (none of which were English), Pearson demonstrated what it means to be truly at home anywhere in the world.
The secret? Never act impressed. Whether you're being helicoptered into a Positano villa or ordering takeout, maintain that Robert Redford cool. The world is your playground, gentlemen. Act accordingly.