Southern Italy has it all. There are ancient Medieval towns, peaceful fishermen villages, stretching beaches and swooping mountains. There are even Roman and Greek ruins. We learned about some of the most famous places in southern Italy as children and some of us grew up dreaming of the day we’d visit our grandparents’ homeland. But that doesn’t mean we know it all.

My then-boyfriend/now-husband grew up here in southern Italy and I was still surprised at some of the assumptions I made that were downright wrong!

With that in mind, here are three things I wish I’d known before I traveled to southern Italy.

(c) Leanne (pictured above) of From Australia to Italy

1. It Gets Brrr … Cold

Calabria has this fabulous reputation of being a hot, steamy, tropical getaway for northern Italians and other Europeans. Unfortunately, it’s crap. It gets downright cold here in southern Italy and depending on when and where you visit, you might see a lot of snow.

It’s true. Laura at Ciao Amalfi! recently posted some videos of a thunder snowstorm on the Amalfi Coast and Leanne of From Australia to Italy was recently snowed in near Cosenza (Calabria.)

2. All Restaurants/Trattorie/Pizzerie Were Created Equally

Regardless of what you may have heard, you *can* get a bad meal in southern Italy. I know. I’ve done it. Still, it is surprising to me when I hear people proclaim sweeping generalizations like, “It doesn’t matter where you eat-you are in Italy,” or “You can’t get a bad meal there!”

Trust me. You can.

If you are traveling to southern Italy and don’t want to be victim to an overcooked pizza or tasteless ragu, then search the Internet for recommendations made by locals or consider hiring a travel consultant who can help with the details.

3. Don’t Assume Anything

Seriously.

Anything.

For example, many restaurants in the US offer free soda refills, in Italy, you will pay full price. Also, don’t assume that just because opening hours are posted on a museum’s website that they are correct, or that the museum is even open. Oh yea, and don’t assume that your hotel will have washcloths. In fact, they probably won’t. Italians don’t use them.

What other things do you wish you’d have known before you visited Italy?

Don’t forget to check out Robin’s travel tips today at My Melange.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan the trip of a lifetime.

Last week Andrew Whittaker of Speak the Culture wrote a post about coping with culture shock. It was interesting because Whittaker didn’t take the stance of an expat or long-term traveler trying to adjust to a new culture but rather that of an average traveler.

Although I’m slightly obsessed with culture shock and the stages expats endure on our path to security, I’d never given much thought to what travelers experience when they enter a new country.

Whittaker is right on when he describes the sensation of disorientation we  experience in their first few days of a foreign vacation. Adjusting to the new sounds, a new language, eating habits, climate and customs can be exciting for some travelers, but most would agree that the vacation really starts once your comfort level rises and feel a sense of security.

Speak the Culture listed five tips for helping travelers adjust to culture shock. I’d love for you to read the article-so I’m not going to list his tips here, but I am going to add a few of my own.

Here are five more tips to help you quickly adjust to culture shock so you can get on with your Italian vacation.

photo credit: acearchie

1. Read Books Set in Italy

Most travelers agree nothing gets them “in the mood” for an upcoming trip more than a good novel or nonfiction book that is set in the country they are planning to visit. While it is a good way to learn history of an area  or get an idea for a new place to visit, books are also a great way to introduce you to the country.

The more you learn before you get here, the easier your transition into Italy will be. To get you started, here is an extensive list of books that are set in Italy.

2. Interact with Bloggers

and don’t dismiss the negative things they say.

Many Italy-bound travelers dismiss negative comments made by expat bloggers and I’ve been personally-well, virtually-attacked for alluding to Italy’s flaws.

However, by reading and interacting with bloggers who are based here, you can be conscious of the country’s eccentricities before you arrive, thus taking the shock out of culture shock.

3. Follow Twitterers and Facebook Fan Pages of People Who Live (or Travel Often) to Italy

Take your research one step further by following Twitter users who live or travel often to Italy or by joining their Facebook Fan Pages.

Here is a list of Italy Twitterers you should follow if you are heading to the bel paese.

4. Don’t Dive In

As I’ve said before, you shouldn’t jump into your Italian vacation without taking a day or so to get settled.  Don’t plan anything big the day you arrive in Italy. Instead, get settled into your hotel, then take a stroll around town, enjoy an apertivo at a nearby bar or sit in a busy piazza and people watch.

While this helps you feel more relaxed and ready for your adventure, it also serves as a way to slowly introduce you to Italy’s culture.

5. Document It

Journaling is therapeutic for many people and can serve as a way to help you connect your home culture to the new experiences you are having in Italy. It can help you release any frustrations by getting them on paper and will later serve as a fond reminder of your vacation.

What other tips do you have for travelers wanting to quickly acclimate to Italy?

Don’t forget to check our My Melange’s travel tips today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

A few days ago I received an email from a guy who is planning his first trip to southern Italy. He’ll be visiting his grandfather’s homeland in Calabria-just about 50 minutes north of me in Catanzaro-and like any would-be international traveler worth his passport, he’s researching the area.

He bought my Calabria travel tips ebook-thanks, Robert!-and browsed through the travel tips and Calabria travel sections on this site.

But he still had a problem.

“I saw your post on How Not to Look Like a Tourist in Southern Italy,” he told me, “but that seemed more geared towards women. Do you have some tips for guys? I get the sense my Pittsburgh Steelers t-shirts won’t be a good choice!”

Well, Robert. You are right. I’d leave the Steelers t-shirt out of my bag. Of course, I’m a Cowboys fan, so I’d leave the Steelers out of any bag, for any trip, regardless of the destination, culture or climate.

But maybe that’s just me …

With that in mind, here are three more travel tips for men traveling to southern Italy.

1. Follow Robert’s Rules

and by that, I mean the Robert who mentioned the sports shirt. He was right on target with that idea, but in addition to ditching American sports paraphernalia, you guys should also leave out graphic t-shirts that talk about how much beer you can drink, when you went to Hard Rock Cafe and why or why not you voted for “the other guy.”

And really, nobody cares if you are with “stupid,” or if she’s with you.

2. What’s Good for the Goose

also goes for her well-dressed gander. Even though the post about dressing in southern Italy seemed like it targeted women, many of the tips apply to men. They still dress in season-translation: no shorts in winter months, carry bags instead of backpacks and are pretty big on designer sunglasses.

Men in Italy take pride in being well-dressed and rarely go out in slouchy sweats.

3. Think Solid Colors (and long pants)

I knew a guy who came to southern Italy last year who was hell bent on fitting in with the locals. The problem? “I’m American,” was stamped on his forehead (and no amount of over-the-counter bronzers or hours basking in the Calabrian sun would fade it).

Personally, I think that is ok. I love American tourists, remember?

But if you really want to look the part, wear long pants, dark-colored jeans and solid colored t-shirts or polos. (Please forgo the red and purple pants, even they can’t pull them off all of the time!) Add dark socks and dark shoes and you’ll be on the right path to southern Italian style.

What other tips do you have for men who want to blend in with the locals in Italy?

Be sure to check out Robin’s travel tips today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

A couple of months ago I was contacted by a producer at KPAM Portland Radio. He wanted to know more about my favorite little region in Italy and asked if I’d be interested in talking to them about Calabria.

Me? Talk about Calabria?

Now, that’s not fun at all.

photo credit: Dave Kleinschmidt

Due to time zones and sleeping habits, we decided to do the interview once I was on American soil, so one day after my flight(s) home for Christmas, we got down to business.

Via the great telecom system of AT&T (and least on my end), I met with radio talk show anchor and host of The Azumano Travel Show, Pat Boyle.

The segment aired the day after Christmas in Portland, but for all the rest of you, it is right here.

Enjoy!

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Congratulations! You’ve saved your pennies and set a date and now you can start planning your trip to Italy. You are bubbling over with excitement and can barely pull yourself from your laptop at night to cook dinner or tend to your children-or answer your boss’s emails, for that matter.

You are in my favorite stage of travel planning-the pre-trip planning-where your options are endless and everything you do, see and eat remind you of your upcoming trip to Italy. Just don’t make these five common mistakes in the process.

photo credit: Ed Yourdon

1. Not Researching Well

If you are reading this in preparation for an upcoming trip to Italy, then this tip is akin to preaching to the proverbial choir. However, you’d be surprised how many people spend thousands of dollars-not to mention their hard-earned vacation days-on a trip they fail to properly research.

I’ll be writing more about how to prepare for and research your trip to Italy in the next few weeks, so be sure to subscribe to my feed or receive updates via email so you won’t miss that.

2. Listening to Too Many People

… but not listening to yourself.

When your friends returned home from their Italian vacation, they gushed over the sites they saw, cities they visited and museums, ruins, beaches-hey, we are Italy, so fill in the blank-of things they most enjoyed. It is natural for them to recommend you reenact their trip and is a good idea for you to take notes.

But let it end there.

Listen to what they say and let them get you even more excited about your trip-if that’s possible-but remember their personalities and preferences are likely different from yours. Plan your trip based on what you want to experience-not on what your friends did.

3. Not Allowing Enough Time in Each City

Few people travel to Italy-especially on their first trip-and decide to spend their entire vacation in one area. However, the biggest mistake you can make is believing you can visit various parts of north, central and southern Italy-all within a few days-and really enjoy it. You might get to physically “see” everything on your list, but you won’t get to explore them-and that’s where the real fun begins.

4. Over-planning Activities

This mistake is closely connected with mistake #3 and often happens when vacationers try to squeeze as much as possible into their two-week Italian trip. I understand this dilemma, really I do, but you will have a more enjoyable and memorable vacation if you slow down. Here are four tips to selecting your Italian destinations and the first five things you should when planning your trip to Italy to help you get started narrowing your options.

5. Not Believing the Experts

You’d be surprised how many people email me with questions about traveling in southern Italy, then decide they know better. As I said earlier, it is your vacation and you shouldn’t let your friends or your travel consultant encourage you to do things you aren’t interested in. However, if someone from your hotel or B&B tells you it is four hours from ABC to XYZ and Google Maps tells you it is two, you should listen to the experts. After all, they live in the area and know much more about the ins and outs of a foreign country than a search engine.

What other mistakes have you seen people make when visiting Italy?

Be sure to check out Robin’s travel tips today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

I type this post-one day before it’ll be published and you’ll read it-on the one year anniversary of the day my life  forever changed.

Yes, that sounds dramatic-and those of you know me know I have that flair … but this time, it is true.

One year ago today I received that middle-of-the-night phone call from my mother that spurred my last-minute trip to Texas, the fight to arrive at my father’s side “in time” and the inevitable services and formalities that follow when things don’t go as you’d hoped.

One year ago today, I was still a rather naive American living the dream in southern Italy.

One year ago today, I had that sense of indestructibility of people who’ve never been crushed.

One year ago today, I didn’t think we’d make it.

But we did.

I’ve been thinking lately about the events in our lives that forever change us. It doesn’t have to be something as dramatic as a middle-of-the-night phone call or as traumatic as the death of a loved one. For many of us it is the moment we met our future spouse, the day your children were born, the day we moved abroad.

And it is that positivity of change I want to focus on today.

photo credit: dodo1976

For starters, I want to welcome Leanne of from Australia to Italy to bella Calabria. She and her bel ragazzo (aka: new fiance) recently relocated to Malito in the province of Cosenza-about an hour northwest of me here in Catanzaro. They have a lot of things in the works up there and I wish them good luck with their new endeavors.

Elsewhere in Calabria, Michelle of Bleeding Espresso has been talking about Zen in the Pen and one of her kids, Pasqualina, was recently entered into a photo contest at Huffington Post. I gave her a “10″-and you should, too … but I still don’t see the family resemblance, Michelle.

Natalie Trusso Cafarello of Letters From Tuscany recently wrote about a love affair of a different kind-a love affair with a woman, whose tough past and complex future is often at odds with Natalie’s own plans for this lovely lady. It is poignantly written and soulful, and I’m sure this woman’s other lovers feel the same way about her.

Speaking of love affairs, the Italophile site has information on dating and mating in the bel paese, complete with facts and data about marriage in Italy, who the Italians are marrying, when they are marrying and why, while Jessica at Why Go Italy has helpful hints for anyone wanting to snag-snag, guys, not shag-an Italian.

If you already have that someone special, visit Melanie at Italofile for a roundup from the Twittersphere of the most romantic places in Italy locals go with their sweethearts.

As for me and my sweetheart, we are going to lay low this weekend, reflect upon the events of this past year and give thanks to all of the loves of our lives. Valentine’s Day is not just a day for lovers, it is a day for love. It’s a day for friends-both real-life and virtual-and a day to celebrate the impact these people have in your life. And I, for one, am glad you are here.

Happy Festa di San Valentino!

It should be known I am an avid budget traveler. I advocate counting pennies, budget B&Bs and low-cost airlines and for some reason, I always seem to enjoy a trip more if I feel like it was a good deal.

That being said, Italy’s not cheap.

Yes, yes, I’ve done a Saving Euros in Italy series and highlighted ways to save on your flights, in-country travel and food and hotels. But still, a few new tips never hurt. Right?

With that in mind, here are five new tips for saving money on your next trip to Italy.

photo credit: mauriziobalestrieri

1. Look Outside the Boot

… or at least, outside the high-priced part. Southern Italy is often less expensive than its northern counterparts for rooms and meals-and it can be just as adventurous. Instead of focusing your vacation on well-known cities, look around for lesser-known villages or coastal towns. It might pay off.

2. Get Out of Town

Whether it is your first trip or your 100th, your heart might be set on seeing the Eternal City. No problem. (I get that!) However, staying in a B&B outside of the historical center could save you €30 per night or more. Just double check public transportation routes and ask about travel distances before you book.

3. Find-and Use!-Freebies

Once you have decided where to go, Google “Free Things to Do in … “ and see where it takes you. You are likely to find posts and articles written by local experts who know where to find the freebies.

4. No, I mean REALLY Look

While you are in cheapskate mode, go ahead and search for free Wi-Fi hotspots and research attractions to see if they have free or discounted days during your trip. Also search for free tours, either guided or audio, that will complement your vacation.

5. Do the Math

I often advocate staying in a B&B or hotel that offers breakfast. However, before blindly booking a bed-do the math. Consider that a typical Italian breakfast consists of coffee or cappuccino and a croissant and usually costs just a few euros at a local bar. Make sure the room you book is really worth it.

What other tips do you have for saving money in Italy?

Let’s see what Robin has to say today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

You might have heard about a little blogging contest called Blogging from the Boot, being hosted by yours truly and Tina Ferrari of Tina Tangos. The contest is in full swing, finalists have been selected and voting is now open for the Best Italy Expat Blogging from 2009. (So please go vote!)

During the process of reading submissions and chasing down finalists, I stumbled upon some top-notch travel writing, written by some of my fellow expat in Italy bloggers. I’ve pulled some of my favorites together here for you today.

Enjoy!

Photo by: Scintilla, finalist for Best Expat Photography, 2009

- Danielle of When In Rome Tours tells her story-and the thought process behind the decision-to take 17 of her closest friends and family with her on her Big, Fat, Italian honeymoon and offers a spotlight on Emilia Romagna’s fast cars and slow food.

- Katja of Driving Like a Maniac shares her Roman Holiday-Part I and Part II while discussing the wisdom of wearing the same pair of shoes for the entire trip.

Photo by: Lucia, finalist for Best Expat Photography, 2009

- Laura of Ciao Amalfi! talks about one of her new favorite Sunday traditions-listening to the old men play Bocce ball and offers an up-close-and-personal tour of her backyard … the Amalfi Coast.

- Linda of Milanese Masala writes about learning to love nature in a peaceful Tuscan agriturismo while watching a not-so entertaining game of cat and mouse.

Photo by: Lucia, Finalist for Best Expat Photography, 2009

- Lucia of Dim Sum, Bagels and Crawfish (dang, now I’m hungry!) offers her take on Palermo with kids and talks about discovering Posidonia Sphereoids in Sicily.

- Francesca of Burnt by the Tuscan Sun writes about how much Rome has-or hasn’t-changed in the last 2,000 years, offers travelers tips on tipping and even gets into a little Italian potty humor with her post, A Royal Flush.

While these post highlight great Italy expat travel blogging from 2009, I know I’ve missed some fantastic writing. What were some of your favorite Italy travel posts from 2009? Feel free to leave them in the comments!

I wonder what Robin would say about it … let’s hop on over and see what travel tips she is offering up today.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

One of my favorite things about meeting other Italy expats is learning about their lives-both before they moved to the bel paese and now that they are here-and understanding what it is about Italy that made them stay.

Today, I’m thrilled to share with you an interview I recently did with long-term Italy expat, Judy Witts, who visited Tuscany in 1984, decided to stay, got married to a local and has established herself as one of the most popular cooking divas in Italy.

Thank you so much, Judy, for taking time out of your insanely busy schedule to chat with me. I hope the rest of you enjoy the interview.

1. At 26 years, you are one of the longest-running expats in Italy I know. How did you end up in Italy and specifically, in Tuscany?

I bought a one way ticket in 1984- for a month in France ( I was a French pastry chef in a 5 star hotel in San Francisco) and then a month in Italy, to check it out and study Italian. I was told the Tuscans spoke Italian and not dialect- and picked Florence over Siena as it was not a hill-town. Once I arrived in Florence, it was love at first sight.

2. Back in the US you were a pastry chef. How did that experience shape your Tuscan Kitchen?

Being a pastry chef, regular cooking was easy- I think one of the things I do best is to simplify recipes for the home kitchen. I learned how to do everything the classic way for restaurant cooking, but teaching home chefs with little experience needs recipes you can do easily after a hard day at work. Having fabulous ingredients, you need to do very little to make a meal great! Keeping it simple is my mantra.

3. In addition to the Divina Cucina cooking school, you also teach classes in the US and offer Monday in the Market market tours. What other services do you plan to offer in 2010?

I have begun teaching classes out in Certaldo, where I live. Not at my home, which is small, but at a lovely Villa with apartment rentals near my house. I also do custom week-long programs both in Tuscany and in Sicily.

Sicily programs will be offered in June and September and November next year. I have fallen in love with Sicily and can’t wait to share it with my students.

My Monday at the market in Florence is a great intro for people to what to expect in Tuscany for food and wine and a great chance to get info on trip planning from me while we have lunch. Cooking classes will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday out in Certaldo.

4. You make it all look easy! How do you juggle all of your services and be honest now, what is the most stressful part of the job?

Variety keeps it interesting, I also run a Master Chocolatiers program in October yearly for students from a friends school and collaborate with cooking schools and chefs that want to bring their students to Italy. I act as their Italian connection and plan the tours and accompany them to artisans all over, off the beaten track.

Since it is seasonal work, I have a lot of time for planning. Than God for Internet. I spend a lot on time online, with my blogs, Facebook and Twitter as well as staying in touch with clients planning trips. It takes six months to a year often to get groups together for a week-long program, lots of little details.

5. Besides the scrumptious food, what part of your job is most rewarding?

I adore getting emails back from successful students, repeating recipes at home! Also return students, some I had when they were here in college and I taught student dinner classes, now return with their families.

***

Thank you for the interview, Judy-I, for one, can’t wait to get up to Tuscany and take a class. In bocca al lupo for another great year!

*Photos by Judy Witts

Other Italy expat business owner interviews include:

Judith Greenwood

Marla of Bella Baita B&B

Diane of Baur B&B

Megan of Bella Vita Italia

** Today is the last day to enter Blogging from the Boot: The Best of 2009 contest for Italy-based bloggers! **