Every time I go to Texas I get hit with questions about Twitter. Most of my corporate friends don’t get it and they think it is just another social media outlet for people to tell the world up-to-the-minute details of their ever-changing lives. And well, some people probably do use Twitter for such communications.

However, savvy travelers know better.

Personally, I’ve used Twitter to get restaurant recommendations on the Amalfi Coast, to gather information on hotels in Rome and even to communicate with staff members at an airline. In fact, I love Twitter-I only wish I could find more time to manage my lists and participate in the #travel and #italy communities.

Not sure what all of that is about?

Well never fear.

Christine Gilbert, author of Almost Fearless recently published her first ebook, Twitter for Travelers. It is 49 pages of tips for finding travel experts, asking the right questions and cultivating your Twitter karma.

If you don’t know Christine-you should. She took the giant leap womankind has been dreaming of when she left her corporate job in the summer of 2008 and began traveling the world with her husband. Her website is devoted to helping others become the digital nomad she is today.

Christine’s second ebook 30 Ways in 30 Days to Redesign Your Life and Travel the World is available and is-get this!-free. At least for now.

Head over to Christine’s place, grab her RSS-that is RSS, down boys-and you’ll receive a link to download the book.

If you are considering using Twitter for your Italy travel plans, then you are in luck. Here are 25 (and counting!) of my favorite Italy Twits, in no particular order!

Italylogue

MichelleFabio

MyMelange

RomePhotoBlog

FlipFlorence

DierdreS

CalabriaMia

NewsFromItaly

AKNickerson

Calabrisella

DivinaCucina

InItalyTours

CiaoAmalfi

DreamofItaly

Amalari

LivingVenice

WhenInRomeTours

TasteOfItaly

CaribRagazza

KatieParla

BellissimaTina

BellaVentura

ItalyTutto

ExpatCoachMegan

MentalMosaic

Italofile

MissExpatria

Modicana

Oh and you can follow me at mybellavita.

What Italy travel Twittin’ gurus did I leave off of my list? I know I missed some great ones! Please add them in the comments (there is a bonus if you do …)

Don’t forget to see what travel tips Robin has for you today.

Speaking of Robin and bonuses …

Today’s My Bella Vita relaunch prize of the day is brought to you directly from Robin of My Mélange who is offering one lucky My Bella Vita reader an 8X10 frame-able photo of their choice.

There are three ways to win.

1. If you are on Twitter, all you have to do is “Tweet” this post using the green Retweet button above. I’ll see the tweet via the automated @mybellavita inclusion and you’ll be entered into today’s drawing.

2. If you also post it on Facebook (and tell me so in the comments) you’ll receive an additional entry.

3. List another Italy twitterer (one not mentioned above) in the comments, and you will receive a third entry.

This contest will run through Sunday, December 13 at midnight, Italy time. So get to twittin’ and don’t forget to enter to win a premium subscription to ItalianPod101 while you are at it!

If you can’t wait until Sunday to grab some of Robin’s photos, then head on over now. She is offering *free* shipping on the image of the week.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

American tourists often get a bad rap. We are stereotyped as being loud, single-language slobs who are demanding, obnoxious and egocentric.

And sometimes they are right.

For a long time I’ve wanted to write a post about American tourists in Calabria and how 95% of the time, they bust that stereotype wide open. Then, a group of Americans will visit us who fit that mold and make me rethink the idea of the great American traveler.

After two years of running our B&B in Calabria, both my Italian husband and I think American guests rock. In general, they are most respectful, the most gracious and the most grateful guests who pass through our doors-and we love them.

In honor of Thanksgiving week, I present to you my non-ode-because I can’t write poetry-to American Tourists. Here are 10 reasons why we love you, American Tourists in Calabria.

We love you for …

- the nervous emails you send while planning your trip

- how we often feel like we know you, before you’ve ever stepped foot in the bel paese

- how you offer to bring little reminders of home, whether it is a new coffee press, Ziploc bags or English-language books

- the glimmer in your eye as you explore Calabria

- the excitement that radiates from you as you tell us about your journey

- how you marvel at every little thing you see and think each place you visit is better than the last

- how you aren’t afraid to try new things or eat unidentified dishes

- appreciating the locals and respecting their way of life

- respecting us, our bed and breakfast and the other guests you meet here

But most of all, American Tourists, we love you for loving Calabria, for appreciating her rugged beauty and timeless charm and for leaving us like you found us. We are just a little bit better off for having met you.

Happy Thanksgiving Week!

I know, I know … it seems too early to think about Holiday gifts but I’m sure everywhere you look there are Christmas trees and nativity scenes, or maybe that is just here in Italy? They get ready for Christmas so early here, it is like Thanksgiving doesn’t even exist. It is like, they have skipped it entirely.

The truth of the matter is, it isn’t too early to be thinking about that perfect gift. Christmas is just six weeks away-six weeks!-and while I can’t speak for the travelers in your life, I can offer these five ideas to get you going.

photo credit: alancleaver_2000

1. Travel Gift Certificates

Frequent travelers love nothing more than traveling and when it is on somebody else’s dime, well that is the equivalent to having our own little private island holiday wrapped in bacon.

You know what I mean.

If your favorite traveler likes to cruise, check out Cruise Brothers, or consider Bed and Breakfast.com or CityPass for frequent domestic travelers.

2. Lightweight Luggage Scale

I wrote about the Travelon luggage scale last year, but I love this baby so much it is worth the repeat. This is an ideal stocking stuffer or inexpensive gift that I guarantee the traveler in your life will love, especially as airlines increase their Scrooge-like policies on luggage weight and carry-ons.

3. In-Flight Comfort

Speaking of Mr. Airline Scrooge, many of them now charge for blankets and since you don’t want your favorite traveler shivering-or sniffling from using a germ-infected blanket-why not hook them up with one. While you are at it, go ahead and think about other comfort items such as neck pillows, a lumbar pillow or ear plugs. Word to the wise: Be careful of choosing products that are too heavy or bulky for your traveler to take with them.

4. Books, Books, Books

Ok, this seems to be in direct contradiction to what I said above about weight, but if the traveler on your list is about to visit a new destination, why not get them a book set in that location? If your traveler is heading to southern Italy, for example, try In Etna’s Shadow by Karen Landes or My Cousin the Saint by Justin Catanoso. Also keep in mind that while hard cover books make nicer gifts, paperbacks are a traveler’s best friend.

5. Memories

Whether you are buying for a full-fledged travel writer-in which case, check out this list at Travel Writer’s Exchange-or a traveler who likes to document his voyages, notebooks, journals, pens and memory cards are always a good bet!

What other gift ideas do you have for frequent travelers?

I wonder what Robin has going on today at My Melange.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

* The Amazon links are affiliate links.

Little old men in southern Italy have been making homemade wines since they could walk, unfortunately, after taste-testing the different kinds of homemade wine … you can’t walk.

And that is pretty much where I was a few weeks ago when I agreed to go on an interpreting trip to Basilicata to help some fellow Calabrians communicate with long-lost American relatives.

Nice picture, eh?

Well, see that little ole man standing on the right? Let’s just say Ernest and Julio should have outsourced to Potenza, because this signore here has acres after acres of fresh grapes, sprouting on the vine, anxious to pop and share their wine-making juices with the world.

Since I was a special guest , he gave me one of his handmade baskets and let me fill it to the brim with fresh grapes.

Oh yea … those baskets are handmade. You have to be resourceful when you make this much wine.

Apparently, he used to sell most of it, but today, it is just a labor of love for him, his wife of 62 years and his children, grandchildren and special friends.

I like most homemade wines and love when the vino novello comes out each fall. What about you? Do you like homemade wines or are you more of the older-is-better type of wine connoisseur?

Like many travelers, I agonize over finding the perfect hotel-the ideal resting spot that strikes the balance between making me feel at home … and making me feel pampered.

And friends, I’ve found my home away home … in Rome.

My husband and I first met Paola, the perky, bright-eyed owner of Roma Axa 27 on that fateful February night when we rushed from our home in Catanzaro to join my family in Texas.

Not only did she open her home to us, but she welcomed us with open arms-and an open heart-and I’ll always be thankful for her graciousness.

In the last seven months, I’ve visited Paola and Roma Axa 27 on several more occasions-in fact, when traveling to or through the Rome airport, I wouldn’t stay anywhere else.

This B&B is everything a small, family-run hotel should be-it is spotlessly clean, the owner is generous and friendly and the extras-such as complimentary in-room bottled water, tea and crackers make it the perfect place to stop-over when traveling through Rome.

Both of the rooms have a private bath-one with en-suite bath-and transfers to and from the airport are included in the price-which ranges from €35-€40 per person.

There is a piazza located about 300 meters from Roma Axa 27, where travelers can venture to the heart of Rome via a 30-minute bus ride or choose to shop, have dinner or enjoy an evening passeggiata.

You can read more about Roma Axa 27 at RomeAirportAccommodations.com. To make a reservation or to check availability, email Paola at roma.axa.27 (at) gmail (dot) com or call (39) 340 3586057.

Be sure to tell her Cherrye sent you!

Happy Labor Day everyone and a very Happy Birthday to my little sister who is set to enjoy the last year in her current decade! Auguri, Charlee.

 
Welcome to the 2nd edition of “The Life of a Saint.” This week we’re honoring, Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira, the Portuguese saint who-although his followers had to travel more than 2,000 kilometers-had the loudest, if not the largest, cheering section at the Canonization.
 

 
This group was fascinating. They cheered and chanted and sang songs whose words were incomprehensible, but whose love and devotion to their hometown Saint illuminated the square.
 
Truth be known … I was a little jealous. I wanted to feign Portuguese, hop in the circle and join in with their singing and dancing … but my husband held me back.
 
So who was this saint they were cheering for? None other than Saint Nuno Álvares Pereira, also called Saint Nuno of Santa Maria, the 14th century general who helped Portugal secure independence from Castile.
 

 
Saint Nuno descended from Portuguese nobility and had-get this!-32 siblings. He married at 17 and had one daughter but was later widowed. He is described as a war hero and a knight  although he was often referred to as “the Peacemaker.” After his daughter married, he renounced his nobility and gave one-third of his wealth to the poor. He later relinquished all of his money and entered the monestary he had established.
 
At one point he was so famished, he traded his horse for six loaves of bread, then gave them to hungry English knights who were searching for food. But his blood line and sacrifice weren’t in vain.
 
According to BlessedNuno.Org,
 

“His direct descendants included Isabella the Catholic, supporter of Christopher Columbus, Emperor Charles V, who ruled over more territory than any other European monarch (including most of the Americans), and Archduke Ferdinand, whose death triggered the World War which was tearing Europe apart at the time of Our Lady’s Fatima apparitions.
 
Also descended from Blessed Nuno were the members of the Royal House of Braganca, monarchs of Portugal and Brazil, including England’s Queen Catherine, for whom the Borough of Queens, New York was named.”

 
November 6 was established as the Saint Day to celebrate Saint Nuno, although many people still recognize his life on the anniversary of his death which is April 1.
 
Did you miss last week’s “The Life of a Saint?” If so, click here to read about Saint Geltrude “Caterina” Comensoli or click here to read about Calabria’s own, Saint Gaetano Catanoso.
 
Happy Love Thursday!
 

 
It is that time of year again … schools are wrapping up, kids are heading to the nearest watering hole and their parents and friends are planning summer BBQs and outdoor picnics.
 
But just in case you don’t have time-or the desire to melt away under the glaring Texas sun-you have another option … especially if you are in southeast Texas.
 

 
Located on Highway 96 between Silsbee and Beaumont in Lumberton, Dippity’s serves up the biggest, freshest, juiciest burgers in southeast Texas … or so says my husband whose sole mission on each of his Texas trips is to find the best burger in town.
 
Like Burger King, you can have it your way-with lettuce, maters, mayo, even jalapenos all stacked on fresh ground beef and sandwiched between homemade buns … Who could ask for more in a burger?
 
Sink your teeth into that baby. Dippity’s famous Texas Tummy Tackler …
 

 
Or this one … for smaller tummies.
 

 
Dippity’s is located in a strip mall with an unassuming facade-neon sign excluded-and no frills interior, but the drastically affordable prices (the standard-sized burger is $3.89) and friendly hometown staff prove that Dippity’s is nothing more than your neighborhood burger joint-with kick ass burgers.
 
But don’t take our word for it-if you are in the area, check it out yourself.
 

Dippity’s

815 S. Main Street

Lumberton, Texas

(409) 755-3632

 
May all of your burgers today be Dippity-good burgers … Happy Memorial Day!
 

 
One of the best things about Rome, as in many Italian cities, is the undeniably delicious food you get to eat when you’re there. Know what’s even more fun? Bringing that dish home with you.
 
Of all of the typically Romano dishes, Cacio e Pepe, is one of the best-and likely the easiest-to make at home.
 
Here is what you need to whip this up at your house.
 
Ingredients:
(Serves two)
>> 200 grams / almost half a pound Spaghetti or Bucatini Pasta
>> 100 grams / 3.5 ounces Pecorino Romani Cheese
>> Fresh Black Pepper
>> One spoon of Butter
 
Directions:
 
1. Boil pasta in heavily salted water until al dente
 
2. In another pan, melt the butter and half of your Pecorino cheese
 
3. Conserve 1/2 cup of the boiling water, then drain the pasta and add it to the pan with the melted cheese
 
4. Generously pepper the mixture
 
5. If sauce is too thick, add the hot salted water, as needed
 
6. Dish the pasta into individual bowls and top with the remaining Pecorino and more black pepper.
 
Buon Appetito!
 
In case you missed previous Rome Week entries-where have you been?-we’ll help you catch up.
 
Weekend in Rome Overview
How NOT to Get Robbed in Rome
Where to Eat in Rome
A Pictorial Tour of Rome: Editor’s Pics
 
Have you tried other Roman specialties? What is your favorite?
 
Buon Weekend!
 

 
Nope. That isn’t a typo.
 
Believe it or not, I was only in Rome three nights-in fact, my feet were on ancient Roman ground less than 72 full hours yet I somehow managed to take 316 pictures.
 
I kid you not.
 
Continuing with Rome Week, I present to you a pictorial tour of the Eternal City-with just a few words thrown in. Come on, now. I’m a writer-I can’t leave it all up to the pics, now can I?
 

My husband doesn’t like to hold a camera straight … this time, I think it worked.

 
The most notable symbol of the Roman Empire was built between 70-72 AD for gladiator games and public shows. With seating for up to 50,000 people, the Colosseum also housed mock sea battles, animal hunts and executions before being converted into housing, a workshop site, a fortress and a Christian shrine. It is estimated that 500,000 people and over a million wild animals lost their lives inside the Colosseum.
 

Where else in the world are you led to ruins … by ruins?

 
In ancient Roman times, the forum-taken from the Latin word, foras, meaning “a place out doors,”-was the central hub for the community and served as a place for public meetings, assemblies and community activities. The Roman Forum is particularly enticing since it is a living-albeit, crumbling-history book. I recommend hiring a tour guide, or at least purchasing an audio tour or descriptive guidebook for your visit.
 

The builders of this temple arrived in Rome via Magna Graecia in southern Italy

 
Located in the Roman Forum, the Temple of Castor and Pollux was constructed to honor the Dioscuri, for their battlefield assistance. According to legend, two unknown horsemen, presumed to be the twin brothers, Castor and Pollux helped the Roman soldiers to victory in the Battle of Lake Regillus. The temple was completed in 484 BC.
 

An eerily clear photo of Pope Benedict XVI during Sunday Mass in Saint Peter’s Square

 
Pope Benedict XVI was born Joseph Alois Ratzinger and is the world’s 265th Pope. He was the oldest person elected to the Papacy since 1730 and has strong, conservative Catholic views. He stirred controversy in the church when he restored the Traditional Latin Mass as an approved form of Catholic church services.
 

Neptune is riding a shell-shaped chariot in the center of the Trevi Fountain

 
If you haven’t seen the Trevi Fountain in person you really can’t grasp its magnitude. Standing 85 feet tall and 65 feet wide, the Baroque fountain is where one goes to toss a coin and ensure a return to Rome. Each day €3,000 are tossed into the fountain and are used to subsidize a supermarket for Rome’s needy families.
 
In case you missed earlier Rome Week posts, we’ve discussed
 
- A weekend in Rome: An Overview
 
- How NOT to get Robbed in Rome
 
- Eating Out in the Eternal City
 
Be sure to come back tomorrow for a recipe for one of my favorite Roman dishes!
 

 
It is hump day here at My Bella Vita and we are smack in the middle of Rome Week, and with all of the sightseeing and wallet-watching we’ve had going on the last couple of days … I bet you are getting hungry.
 
I know I am.
 
Many people think a good vacation boils down to one thing-the food-and that your experience with that food can make or break your vacation.
 
While I’m not the kind of traveler to push it that far, I do know people who have all but written off a country because of their cuisine-or in some cases, their coffee … but I digress.
 
Rome doesn’t have issues with food or coffee, so as long as you know where to go,  you’ll be set.
 
La Pietra Scheggiata
 

 
Saturday night our Roman friends invited us to join them for their typical date night dinner in Trastevere, but after 45 minutes of circling the neighborhood in search of the ever-elusive parking place, we settled in Monteverde.
 
We entered the dimly lit La Pietra Scheggiata and were greeted near the door. The owner offered us our choice of tables, while his wife and young son-maybe four!-patiently waited to take our order.
 
With little urging, we each ordered the tortino di spinaci antipasto, made with cheese, spinach, cream and saffron and a large plate of assorted cheese, served with homemade honey and jam for the table.
 

 
The specialty of the house is the cacio e pepe pasta served with thick truffle sauce-my husband and both of our friends ordered that. Being the daredevil I am, and mostly because I wanted to try more than one of their house favorites, I ordered the carbonara, prepared with extra black pepper and topped with the same truffle sauce.
 
Oh. My. God.
 
I’m convinced the Romans were able to control the western world for more than 1,000 years because they mesmerized their enemies with dishes like these.
 
We ended our feast with homemade panna cotta, topped with caramel and chocolate.
 

La Pietra Scheggiata

Via Paola Falconieri

10/16 Roma

+ 39 0653 272058

 
Other places we enjoyed during our visit were
 

 
- Defronte e
 
Just a few blocks from the Spanish Steps, this restaurant is slightly away from the band of tourist restaurants and was one of the places I went with friends a few years ago. It was typically Romano and we loved the fact that the menus were only in Italian (always a good sign, mind you!)
 
This time, the menus were translated into English and it had more of a tourist-spot feel. The prices were still reasonable and the food was delicious but I’m not sure I’d return.
 

 
- Ai Tre Scalini
 
Located in the heart of Monti, Ai Tre Scalini is the wine bar where we met NYC/Caribbean Ragazza. Although we didn’t dine here, the wine, atmosphere and friendly staff had me at “buona sera.”
 

Ai Tre Scalini

Via Panisperna, 251

00184 Roma

+39 0648 907495

 
Have you eaten at a fabulous restaurant in Rome? Where was it? Please share in the comments!
 
 
Photos courtesy of menudiroma and asa-press