So you want to visit Calabria? Great … I think everyone should. But where do you want to go? What do you want to see? What do you want to experience? If you are Calabrese, chances are you’ll stop by your ancestral villages … maybe you’ll want to see some of the highlights or visit...Read More
I’ve written a lot over the last year about how to pack and what to wear when you are in Italy, including how not to look like a super tourist, a special how not to look like a tourist for men and even what to pack when visiting southern Italy. But today I want to...Read More
While it is always fun to travel around Italy snapping shots and capturing the bel paese in all of her thousands-year-old glory, sometimes it is fun to take a look at what others are doing. Over the next few months, I’ll be showcasing some of my favorite photos of Italy’s southern regions taken by fellow...Read More
When most people think of Calabrian food, they think of fresh, homemade pasta and super-spicy peppers, however, Calabrian foodies know there is more to love than initially meets the fork. Some of my favorite dishes in Calabria are created with hearty meat, rich cheese, freshly-grown vegetables and legumes and its the marriage of those last...Read More
Last week we discussed a few Christmas and Holiday greetings that are commonly used in Italy but as anyone who has ever been in the bel paese at “the most wonderful time of the year” will tell you, there is always more to learn. Here are five more Italian Christmas words you will see during...Read More
Many street corners, alleys and pathways in Calabria hold a unique find, an ancient artifact … a centuries-old secret. Just strolling through one of the many Medieval, Byzantine or Baroque towns in the region will give you a glimpse into its former life and nowhere is this more true than in the villages’ churches. With...Read More
As I’ve mentioned over the last few weeks, I’m missing my traditional Texas-style Christmas this year and will be celebrating a Calabrian Christmas for the first time since moving to the bel paese. A few years ago I wrote a four-part series on Calabrian Christmas traditions and since I’m most looking forward to Il Cenone...Read More
Although I’m still six or seven weeks away from being an official expat mamma, the stress, worries and insecurities have crept in and in addition to over-thinking diaper brands, bottle warmers and car seats, I’m perhaps even more concerned about our baby’s eventual bilingualism. Like many modern bi-cultural families, my husband and I want to...Read More
It’s that time of year when salespeople and signposts scream “Merry Christmas” and “Happy Holidays” from every street corner, crook and cranny throughout the US. Here in Italy, we have our own holidays greetings and soon enough they’ll be strung across our streets and whispered among friends. If you want to get into the Italian...Read More
It’s Black Friday and nothing says Christmas like leftover turkey sandwiches, shopping lists and Christmas-season bargains … yes, even here in southern Italy. No, no, our Thanksgiving was quiet this year … just a small lunch with a couple of friends, and with any luck by the time you read this post, I’ll be at...Read More
