
Summertime is just around the corner and here in Calabria things are heating up and everyone is preparing for the beach. If you are planning a trip to southern Italy this summer, you might be wondering what you should pack for your beach bum days.
Well never fear.
Here is a list-or three-to help you prepare your beach bag for a Calabrian summer.
Many women in Calabria use an over-sized beach bag, oftentimes choosing one that accents their swimsuit or cover up. It’s not necessarily an expensive bag-but it is functional.
Some things to put in your bag if you are single include:
- Creams, lotions and oils for your face, body and hair
- A hat
- Big sunglasses
- Lip balm
- A big towel
- Book or magazine
- iPod or MP3
- Bottled water
- Tissues, because you just never know
- Your cell phone
- Small wallet
If you are packing a beach bag for you and your family, also include:
- Fruit
- A knife to peel your fruit, since Italians never eat the skin
- Extra hand towels for the kids
- A Frisbee
- A volleyball or other kind of bouncy ball
- Pencils and paper
- Pail and shovel and other assorted beach toys
Other things I’ve noticed that men and women carry to the beaches in Calabria are:
- Snorkel gear
- Earplugs
- Eye drops
If you are planning to spend the day at the beach, consider packing sandwiches in addition to your fruit and water or plan on having lunch at one of the beach kiosks that are found on busier beaches.
What other items do you suggest travelers pack in their beach bags?
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Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.
Photo: Bella Bags
Nintendo Introduces Portable Entertainment in 3D
Manufacturing Close-Up April 6, 2011 Nintendo said it is introducing portable entertainment in 3D – without the need for special glasses.
The company said the Nintendo 3DS system comes with a collection of pre-installed games and fun features, with more on the way.
“Nintendo 3DS can play 3D video games and take 3D pictures, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” said Nintendo of America President Reggie Fils-Aime. “The 3D display is amazing in its own right, but just as compelling are the new forms of game play it delivers, and the groundbreaking ways it will connect players to new content … and each other.” To celebrate the arrival of the system, Nintendo is holding a midnight launch event starting at 9 p.m. Eastern time on March 26 at the Best Buy store in Union Square in New York City. The event will feature hands-on Nintendo 3DS demos with food, music and giveaways (while supplies last), all leading up to a countdown to midnight, when the Nintendo 3DS system goes on sale. For those who can’t make it to New York, additional midnight launch events will be held at several Best Buy stores throughout the country. Fans can visit http:/ /www.bestbuy.com/3DS for more information. Nintendo is also installing more than 6,000 kiosks at retailers across the country over the next couple of months to let people demo the new Nintendo 3DS system. papermario3ds.org paper mario 3ds
Nintendo 3DS has 18 games available on launch day, with more than 30 total available by early June. Nintendo-published games available March 27 include:
-Pilotwings Resort, a high-flying aerial adventure that lets you soar over a tropical island in a plane, on a hang glider or with a rocket belt. You can take on more than 30 challenging missions, or go sightseeing and snap pictures in the game.
-nintendogs + cats, which lets you train and interact with your very own puppy and kitten. They react to your voice and will even welcome you with a lick of the face as you lean in. There are three different versions of the software, each featuring a different starting breed: Toy Poodle, Golden Retriever or French Bulldog. In each version, players can eventually unlock all 27 different breeds to enjoy. go to site paper mario 3ds
-Steel Diver, an action-packed and immersive 3D submarine combat adventure. Take command of your sub to control its speed, depth and pitch, and use both the touch-screen and motion-sensitive controls to navigate through lush undersea environments and fire torpedoes at enemy ships and obstacles.
Meanwhile, Nintendo is working on Nintendo 3DS games from its top franchises, including The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and new installments in the Super Mario, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing and Paper Mario series. The system is also ready to play nearly every single Nintendo DS game with its original 2D graphics. Nintendo DS games that required the use of the Game Boy Advance slot are not compatible with the Nintendo 3DS system.
Nintendo 3DS features two screens. The top screen displays 3D images without the need for special glasses. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive. It also has three cameras. One inner camera points at you, while two exterior cameras let you take pictures of your friends and family in 3D or 2D. It weighs approximately 8 ounces and is available in Cosmo Black or Aqua Blue.
Built-in games and applications include Mii Maker, which uses facial recognition technology to create a Mii character that looks just like you; Face Raiders, which requires you to shoot at comical depictions of your own face as well as others around you; AR Games, which superimpose graphics and animations on the real world using the included AR Cards; and Nintendo 3DS Sound, which lets you listen to MP3 or AAC music files, or make your own recordings and play with them using fun filters. The StreetPass feature lets some of your games and applications wirelessly swap small bits of game data as you pass other Nintendo 3DS users throughout the day, if you choose. SpotPass, on the other hand, lets the Nintendo 3DS system detect wireless hotspots or wireless LAN access points and allows users to obtain information and game data when the system is in Sleep Mode. Free software and videos will also become available with future system updates.
Soon Nintendo will roll out a series of additional features for Nintendo 3DS, including an Internet browser, an online store called Nintendo eShop, the ability to access 3D Hollywood movie trailers, automatic and free access to more than 10,000 AT&T Wi-Fi Hot Spots nationwide and the ability to stream Netflix movies (Netflix unlimited membership required).
More Information:
www.nintendo3ds.com ((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Baby wipes, whether you have kids or not, they are soooo useful for so many reasons.
T shirts for the kiddies because sometimes cream is just not enough.
Definitely. I didn’t include wipes b/c I usually have some in my purse! Agreed-you always need them.
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I usually freeze a large bottle of water and take it to the beach as a giant ice cube. It gets so hot in Italy at the beach, so it’s nice to have ice cold water handy. Especially when the bar nearby won’t serve ANYTHING truly cold because they are afraid of being sued for attempted murder!
That made me literally, lol.
Good tip!
.-= regina´s last blog ..Mbrella Mbrella =-.
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More food. We also take cheese, bread, sliced meats, cookies.
I *love* beach picnics-they are the best. Especially when you are there all day and have your umbrella … ah… .
.-= running42k´s last blog ..Labels =-.
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GOGGLES!! To watch out for those meduse (jellyfish). I also wear tevas or similar shoes so when i go in the rocky bits i don’t cut my feet (esp when carrying kids).
Good tips!
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Let all your readers know that they no longer have to worry about spilling their drinks at the beach. Really cool new drink holder: http://www.drinkinbuddy.net/the-drinkinbuddy-story/
Just checked out your site. Clever name.
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