The 2018 Blue Flag awards have just been released. If you don’t already know, the Blue Flag award is given out by the Foundation for Environmental Education to the best coastal areas, marinas and beaches which have demonstrated a high standard of water quality, safety and environmental protection and management. Last year, three beaches were...Read More
Guided village tours in Calabria offer a deeper understanding of the medieval life of long ago and can open doors that remain closed (and unknown to) independent travelers. Visitors are taught interesting tidbits, escorted around the main sights and introduced to local people and shops. But did you ever wonder how a day trip is...Read More
Last week I wrote about three of my favorite Tyrrhenian Sea beach towns and since I live on the Ionian, I couldn’t forget about my neighbors, now could I? Calabria’s Ionian coast is much less developed than its Tyrrhenian counterpart, so choosing three coastal towns that meet the criteria-exciting beaches, positive vibes, contagious energy, strong...Read More
It has been a week of firsts for me … my first Mother’s Day, which was celebrated beautifully by husband and son … my first afternoon of back-to-back-to-back phone calls with travel consulting clients … even a first-of many, no doubt-conversations with my newly engaged sister about wedding dresses and colors. But there was one...Read More
A few months ago I wrote about three of my favorite mountain villages in Calabria, but now that the sun is starting to twinkle behind that wide Calabrian sky, it’s time to hit the beach. With more than 500 miles of coastline, Calabria-bound travelers have plenty of options. Most of Calabria’s beaches are set with...Read More
I’m gearing up for my first Calabrian Easter celebration with my new bambino. Yes, my husband and I have done the traditional American Easter Basket vs. Italian Chocolate Egg thing in the past and we’re planning on continuing our Easter traditions, plus one. The weather is warming up and if it holds, we’ll spend an...Read More
Five years ago today I embarked on an adventure that would change the course of my life. Dramatic any? Oh yea. But it is also true. Five years ago today-on April 18, 2006-I bid a tearful goodbye to my mom, dad, sister, nephew and a culmination of 30 years of life as I’d known it....Read More
If you have spent much time around My Bella Vita, you know how I feel about renting a car in Calabria. You should also know that I sympathize with those of you who don’t want to drive and I realize that renting a car isn’t ideal for every traveler. So, I was happy when Anne...Read More
I recently purged my list of accepted stumblers over at StumbleUpon and ixnayed three or four self-promoters who had, in less than a month, sent me a combined 100+ articles to “please thumb up.” If you aren’t a stumbler, this might be lost on you, but I mention it today for a reason. With all...Read More
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
