There is no denying Italian is one of the most romantic languages in the world and I remember on my first trip back in 2000, being mesmerized by a guy who gave us walking directions to the Spanish Steps. Surely he said nothing more than “go straight, turn left, then keep on walking,” but his...Read More
Yep … that’s right. As I announced in my newsletter this morning, Bella Vita Travel Services and Il Cedro Bed and Breakfast are adding one new member to our travel-loving family. We’re expanding our team … but that’s not all that’s getting bigger. Just a few days before I left for my summer trip to...Read More
Italian is arguably one of the most beautifully seductive languages in the world but that doesn’t mean it is easy to learn. I’ve written quite a bit about my favorite Italian words, some nice … others not-so-sweet, and this month I’ve asked some of my fellow Italophile bloggers for their input. To kick off the...Read More
A couple of weeks ago I started really thinking about the things I love in Calabria. I wrote about my favorite meal-time experience … the long, leisurely lunch and today, I’d like to talk about what we do after that. And no, I don’t mean sleeping (although that is a pretty handy southern Italian tradition,...Read More
While the food of Calabria ranges from super spicy peppers, to fresh fruit and vegetables to meat, seafood and pasta, the breakfast food is sweet and simple. While it is true Italians eat pancetta–and they love a good frittata-they’ll probably scoff if you offer them for breakfast. In fact, one of my young neighbors asked...Read More
I’ve been in Italy more than four years and lately I’ve noticed I’ve started to take some of my favorite things for granted. Oh, I still appreciate mountain views and still get tingly when I see Stromboli from our friends’ house across the province. But some of my favorite traditions, especially the southern Italian food...Read More
When most people travel to Calabria, they think of sun-bathing on the beaches, walking through medieval towns, exploring ancient ruins and castles and heating things up with Calabria’s homemade food and wine. They don’t think about outdoor adventure. But maybe they should.Read More
I get a lot of hits and a good deal of personal emails from people who are either involved in a long-distance relationship with an Italian or are planning to tie the knot with a foreigner and want to talk to someone “who’s been there.” Interestingly enough, I’m actually the “foreigner,” in this relationship, but...Read More
With the recent influx of English-speaking guests visiting our B&B, it has come to my attention everyone might not get Italian coffee. Sure, Starbucks taught us the words “Cappuccino,” “Macchiato,” even “Grande,” … for its worth, but if you want a true Italian coffee experience, there are a few things you should know. I’ve been...Read More
I’ve spent hundreds of hours over the last few years reading blog posts and articles about Italy-many of which were written by my real-life expat friends and blogging buddies. Some of those posts serve their immediate purpose, offering a good laugh, a useful tip or an encouraging word of expat life-related advice. Other times, they...Read More
