I have been working since I can remember. Since I was 18 years old to be exact. I was the only one of my siblings who did not go to after graduating from high school. (Eventually got a degree in business science later in life). I have a sister, Carla, who is a journalist and another, Elisabetta, who is a doctor. Instead of going to college, I  worked on the family travel business from the time my father died in my late teens, until I moved to New York in 1995.

Working in the travel business had its advantages.  My education was comprised of trips around the world, from Africa to the Far East, New Zealand, the Caribbean and North America. What I enjoyed the most was meeting people from all walks of life; from princes to artists, from migrant workers to revolutionaries, and everyone in between. The travel agency was called Viaggiare, and it  sold 30,000 tickets each year. I personally met many of those travelers and was able to hear their stories.   Nothing is like the knowledge you acquire by travelling and meeting the people of our fantastic planet. 

I have a lovely wife Suzanne and two grown children Julian and Sofia, everyone is very supportive or my sailing “habit”.