I have exciting news coming up in the next few weeks regarding My Bella Vita, Il Cedro and some new products and services that are tailor-made to southern Italy travelers. I’m excited-and I can’t wait to share. Another thing I couldn’t wait to tell you about is the overwhelming support I’ve had from friends in the blogosphere who are in the travel industry. They’ve sent me emails, brainstormed with me on Skype and offered their two centissimi that was worth much more than I could have paid them in sterling, euros or even that pitifully low dollar. And even with all of the encouragement they’ve been giving me, they are still busy as elves at Christmastime.

Photo: Haven in Paris

Megan of Bella Vita Italia recently crossed the border with her blog and wrote about a luxury apartment rental agency, Haven in Paris, that was opened by an American in 1993. Megan is also staying busy planning weddings and events in Italy and she and her husband just celebrated their wedding anniversary. Auguri!

In other Italy travel consulting news, Madeline of Italy: Beyond the Obvious recently published an article on ItalianKids.com. In her article, Madeline describes the best restaurants in Torino for tiny tots and divides them into categories based on outdoor scenery, local food, atmosphere and more. It was a great article. But, heck. Don’t take my word for it. Go read it yourself!

Speaking of reading-and cool things to do in Italy-Melanie of Italofile recently wrote a post about the top five things to do in Le Marche. She has also been busy building a social networking site for Italofiles at Italofile.Ning.com. Check it out-and tell her Cherrye sent you.

photo credit: 1la

Paula Russell from Paula’s Tour Talk and Time of Your Life Tours released the dates for their Spring and Fall 2010 Tuscan Treasures Tour. If you are interested in Tuscany-and come on, who isn’t?-then check out their website or Paula’s Tour Talk blog for more details. And I’m not the only one with changes a’coming. Paula recently announced some impending changes at her place, too.

Here is hoping the end of 2009 and beginning of 2010 bring great changes to all of my Italy travel and tourism buddies. In bocca al lupo!

Next week is my second wedding anniversary-which means we get to start celebrating this weekend. Since I’m in such a loving mood, I invite you to have a great weekend, too. Enjoy!

I’ve spent the last few days honing my tour guiding skills, pushing the limits of where I’ll normally drive in Calabria and being an interpreter and translator for two of my closest friends who are here visiting from Orlando.

With all of the happy friend-vibes running through my veins, I figured there was no better time than now to write about my friends-and no better place, than in this column.

Like my southern Italy pal, Saretta of Amid the Olive Trees said in one of her very first blog posts, “food happens.” And, that it does, Sara. That is why all I’ve done with my friends since they got here … was eat.

To lose these newly-placed kilos, I should turn to Linda of Ciao Chow Linda and try out her Calabrian jarred green tomatoes or her pepper jelly … that’s not fattening … is it? And about the chocolate zucchini cake? What? They are vegetables!

My real-life blogging friend, Andrea of Andrea Unplugged is taking her newly married status seriously. She has posted two new recipes in the last few weeks-one for a chicken, biscuits and gravy casserole and another for a light mac and cheese.

Brooke of Everyday Bailey is taking a look at things to come with her daughter, Rachel while Erin of Fully Alive … Ready to Smile is making a mess of her own in the kitchen.

My virtual friend Emma of How to Italy is back to blogging, while Abigail of Inside the Travel Lab has quietly announced a break.

Melanie of Italofile recently posted October events throughout Italy, Jessica at Why Go Italy listed the best Italy expat blogs in the travel industry and Judy Witts of Over a Tuscan Stove was recently published in Travel + Leisure Magazine. Way to go, Judy!

And speaking of writing …

Linda of Milanese Masala urged bloggers to sign the petition in support of freedom of the press in Italy, something I was just discussing with my husband since his friend was recently banned from Facebook in Italy for posting negative comments about Berlu.

And that is hard not to do.

If you are in bella Italia, enjoy this beautiful weather we are having! Everyone else … Buon Weekend!

Watch out Hollywood! On September 7, German filmmaker Wim Wenders began shooting his latest movie in Calabria. The 3D film is set to explore the relationship between immigrants and natives in and around the medieval village of Badolato.

Does that name sound familiar to you? Well it should. Calabria’s own, Michelle of Bleeding Espresso calls this village home and rumor has it the film crew will be filming near her house all day today. Come on, Michelle … sneak in the background. We expect to see you there when the movie is released.

photo credit: Fiore S. Barbato

And speaking of just released, the Calabrian band QuartAumentata just released their fourth CD, “U Mundu Balla,” or, the world is dancing. If you’d like to add their concert to your Calabria vacation, click here to check their tour schedule.

For more information on the group, you can read this English-language interview from OnMilwaukee.com, check out their Calabrian proverb of the day-or watch this quick video from a live show they performed near Reggio Calabria.

If you want some Calabrian nibbles to go with those funky, new tunes, then check out this delicious new food blog, written and published by Calabrian-American chef, writer and tour guide, Rosetta Costantino. The idea for Calabria From Scratch was hatched in 2004 when Rosetta and her family were featured in an article in the San Francisco Chronicle, an article that, ironically, I read years before virtually meeting Rosetta. Today, Rosetta stays busy teaching classes, planning her culinary tours to Calabria and writing her new Calabrian cookbook, which is scheduled for release next Fall.

Oh yea … I can’t wait to get my hands on that!

If you are in Calabria, enjoy these last few weeks of sun and surf. And to everyone else … Buon Weekend!