Daily doses of Italy

Every morning I wake up to my daily dose of Italy through my email. I found a great site called the Italian Notebook which suprises me everyday with random stories from a handful of writers, most living in country. They have written about everything from art and history to food and customs. I have included to the website and encourage you to sign up for your daily italiano fix!

www.italiannotebook.com

Moving and Marriage Madness

After logging into my blog I realized with horror it has been over a month since I have posted anything at all! I cannot believe how deceptive time can be. So as an explanation...or apology...I thought I would update everyone on the excitement in my life.

I recently got back in touch with an old high school boyfriend and before we knew it, we were head over heels in love with each other. I have been wanting to move back to the mountains since this summer so it was not a difficult decision to pack up and head to Idaho to be with him. Of course that sounds so easy when writing it on paper, but organizing myself, my five year old and ALL OF OUR STUFF was anything but. I did manage to shed about half of the things we had acquired over the last six years, load the rest in a moving van and drive two long days to eastern Idaho. My daughter loved every minute of it and refused to sleep for fear of missing out on something exciting. We made it safe and sound (minus the 'chocolate milk incident' in the van) and spent the next week unloading, unpacking and settling in. My daughter immediately fell in love with her new teacher and school, making friends every time she turns around. So now we have the summer and our Montana mountain wedding to look forward to.

As the dust begins to settle I find that tenacious travel bug starting to bite again and I'm ready to jump in right where I left off. My travel planning business will continue uninterrupted from Idaho and I am already preparing for my next research trip. Stay posted as I bring you fun little Italian tidbits...

Ciao a presto!

Vento di Rose

I am always striving to find unique and out of the way experiences for my clients. A few years ago I stumbled upon an enchanting B&B that exceeded my expectations in every way. Tucked away in the beautiful but rarely visited area of the Marche, you will find yourself miles away from any other tourists and completely immersed in the authentic Italy.
Surrounded on all sides by quaint hilltop villages is the Vento di Rose, run lovingly by Emanuela and Emidio. On my arrival after a long drive from Rome, I was met at the door with a flourish of kisses, a bottle of wine and a light snack. How refreshing to enjoy the scenery with a glass in hand. The property is set half way up a hill giving you great views from their patio. In the spring and fall you will be surrounded by the color and scent of her numerous roses which overflow from every possible corner.

They have converted their home into a small three room B&B, but don't let the amount of rooms fool you. Each is tastefully decorated in a different theme with impeccable attention to detail. Finding a comfortable bed in Italy can be a challenge, but I had no problem sleeping here and looked forward to crawling into bed each night. Breakfast was my only reason for leaving that bed each morning. In a country that survives on cappuccinos and skimpy croissants, the food here is one of a kind. I will never forget the first morning sitting down to an immaculately set table, rose petals scattered across the cloth. Emanuela and Emidio arrived with plate after plate of food. Each time they left I was certain that was the end, only to have them appear with yet another dish. I was overwhelmed at the amount and variety. Everything they served was homemade, fresh and of the highest quality. There were regional cheeses, sausages and meats; fresh bread, pastries, baked vegetables, fruit preserves, fresh juices....I could go on and on. We were never able to finish everything and they would neatly wrap our leftovers so that we could graze again at lunch time.

But what truly makes a stay here exceptional is the personal attention from Emanuela and Emidio. They are able to provide excellent information about the surrounding area, set up reservations for dinners and activities, and even personally escort you to out of the way locations to avoid getting lost. Nothing is impossible. She was able to arrange a visit to the oldest pottery studio in the area and we were given the chance to throw clay on one of the wheels, an experience that I will never forget. We wanted a traditional dining experience, and the next thing I knew we were sitting elbow to elbow with Italians at a long wooden table in an ancient village passing around chunks of cheese. They have an uncanny knack for always being available without giving their guests a sense of intrusiveness.

You arrive a guest at Vento di Rose but leave a good friend. I found myself wishing I was staying longer as I grudgingly packed my bags into the car and sadly drove away.

Website
http://www.ventodirose.it/

Location
Monterubbiano in the Marche region

Highlights
Quiet location
Charming small accommodation
Garden and grounds for relaxing
Comfortable beds
Large gourmet breakfast
Concierge
Kitchen available for use with longer stays
Other things to do
This is a haven for artists and photographers.
Pottery classes
Shiatsu massage
Walking and cycling
Fishing (private boat available for sea fishing)
Horseback riding

Some of my favorite reads

Non Fiction:

Too Much Tuscan Sun, Dario Castagno- A hilarious book about life as a tour guide in Chianti. A great book to help understand cultural differences.

Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert- A woman search for herself spanning across three different countries. Although Italy is only the first stop, this book is worth reading because of the way she makes Italy come alive, as if you were right there with her.

Under the Tuscan Sun & Bella Tuscany, Frances Mayes- A story about an American writer making a home in Italy.

A Thousand Bells at Noon, Franco Romagnoli- Experience Rome through the authors eyes as he returns to the place of his youth.

Travelers' Tales Guides: Italy- A collection of stories about Italy from dozens of authors.

Italian Affair, Laura Fraser- A young woman struggling after her divorce finds love and so much more in Italy.

As the Romans Do, Alan Epstein- Rome through the eyes of an American family as they struggle to set up roots. Very accurate view of Roman culture.

Stolen Figs, Mark Rotella- The author re-discovers the land of his parents in Southern Italy.

Italian Days, Barbara Grizzuti Harrison- A journal of the author's traveling across Italy.

A Thousand Days in Venice, Marlena de Blasi- A story about finding love and a new life in Venice. Complete with real recipes.

A Thousand Days in Tuscany, Marlena de Blasi- The author takes another leap of faith as she and her new Italian husband move into a renovated house in Tuscany.

The Reluctant Tuscan, Phil Doran- Burned out with life in Hollywood and close to losing his marriage, the author moves to Italy to restore a farmhouse and find his inner Italian.

Songbirds, Truffles and Wolves, Gary Paul Nabban- Join the author as he walks the sacred Franciscan Way to Assisi.

Italy Fever, Darlene Marwitz- 14 ways to satisfy your love affair with Italy, written by a self proclaimed Italian addict.

Desiring Italy, Susan Cahill- A collection of stories written by women to celebrate the passions of the country and the culture.

La Bella Figura, Beppe Severgnini- The author helps to reveal the essence of being Italian.

Extra Virgin, Annie Hawes- A young woman's adventures along the Italian Riviera and her experience with living among a different culture.


Fiction:

The Broker, John Grisham- A fast paced book about a man on the run, set mostly in Bologna. A great peak into the language and food of the area.

Playing for Pizza, John Grisham- A cute story about a washed up NFL quarterback who finds himself playing football in Italy.

Angels & Demons, Dan Brown- Before the Da Vinci Code, there was this book. Set in Rome and features most of the great sites in the city.

Biographical Novel:

The Agony and the Ecstasy, Irving Stone- A beautifully and very detailed account of the life and works of Michelangelo. This book will make Florence and Michelangelo's work come to life.

Michelangelo and the Pope's Ceiling, Ross King- Recounts the amazing four years Michelangelo spent painting the Sistine Chapel.

Brunelleschi's Dome, Ross King- Recounts the incredible story of the completion of Florence's Duomo, an architectural wonder. Reading this will help you appreciate the true genius of this landmark.

My travel philosophy

Living Locally

Over the years, I have had the opportunity to watch other travelers as they interacted with locals and responded to their new environment. I have witnessed some wonderful encounters but I have also had the unfortunate chance to see some horrific examples of “ugly Americanism”.
Travel is a unique experience in that it is a two way street. The tourist is obviously there to take in and receive all that the foreign land and its people have to offer. While seeing sites and discovering far away places is exciting, it is only the first part of the journey. What so many do not understand, and therefore completely miss out on, is the gift of reciprocation. Most travelers are there to receive, worried mostly about what they are “getting” out of the trip. I say that true traveling begins when the visitors find themselves concerned about what they have brought into each interaction. When they begin to wonder what else they can give to each situation. As traveling shifts from a one-way express lane to a two lane gravel road, opportunities begin to appear that would have otherwise been missed in a cloud of self-absorption. The traveler becomes less of a strange and forgettable tourist and more of a temporary local. I call this Living Locally.

Living Locally is actually quite easy and very addictive. Before long you will find yourself shaking your head in dismay at other tourists, wondering why they have not learned to blend in and become a part of their surroundings like you have.

The steps are simple and straight forward:

1. Put yourself in their shoes. When you begin to try and trade places with the locals, you see things in a new light.

2. Make the first attempt at communication. I do not speak any other languages fluently, but I learn say a few simple and polite phrases in the language of any country I visit. Always ask the person if they speak English-in their language. Nothing screams “I don’t care about you” like a tourist rattling on in English on the assumption that the listener understands. While most foreigners do have at least some understanding of English, everyone appreciates even a simple effort on your part. You will also find that people are more likely to go out of their way to help if you have tried to communicate on their terms first.

3. Try to blend in. Watch the locals….and copy them. Sometimes I feel like a private investigator, as I try to figure out where they hang out, where and what they eat or why they do what they do. Forget trying to explain “double tall non-fat sugar free vanilla latte” and belly up to the bar for whatever they are having.

4. Forget what you’ve known to be true and keep an open mind. It’s a big world out there, and nobody does it exactly like we do. You never know, you might actually discover something you like better.

5. Relax and enjoy. Because of good preparation and smart traveling choices, you will have created time to experience encounters that you have been dreaming of.
Travel, like life, is full of ups and downs. The trick is to be prepared for the worst while enjoying whatever is thrown your way.

Traveling is fun, but Living Locally is pure joy.