Miles from any major tourist stop, Calabria is what many people imagine when they think of Old Italy. Hundreds of quaint villages dot the coastline, where the local barista knows everyone by name and where your friends’ brothers, dads or uncles own 90% of the town’s establishments.

It is charming. It is quaint. It is authentic Italy.

But while this Old World charm and lack of tourism are appealing to many travelers, it also means there is a lack of infrastructure in place that caters to them.

For many Calabria-bound travelers, this is scary and knowing what to expect before you go could make the difference between that once-in-a-lifetime Calabrian vacation of your dreams and a week full of stress, hassles and cultural misunderstandings.

Hi there.

I’m Cherrye Moore, a Texas-born freelance writer, travel consultant and bed and breakfast owner living in Catanzaro, Calabria. For the last three years I’ve watched ill-equipped travelers struggle with the inconsistencies and annoyances of Calabria travel and I’ve made notes of what former B&B guests have told me regarding their difficulties.

And that is where this booklet comes in.

Don’t Get Caught With Dirty Drawers … and 64 other tips for traveling in Calabria is fully revised for travel through 2011 and is the result of my personal experiences of traveling throughout Calabria, as well as a compilation of the most common mistakes Calabria-bound travelers make when visiting this region.

In this ten-page PDF booklet, I unravel the mysteries of
- communicating with Calabrians
- navigating the southern Italian highway system
- locating an open restaurant, café or gas station
- blending in with the locals without getting ripped off
- finding an open business office, museum or attraction

You’ll also discover
- what to do if you get stopped by the police
- how to have confidence when you order food and wine in a Calabrian restaurant
- how to adjust your expectations of southern Italy
- where to go for important medications
- who to call in case of an emergency

Click here to order Don’t Get Caught With Dirty Drawers … and 64 other tips for traveling in Calabria now for just $9.99.

100% Money-Back Guarantee
If you aren’t 100% thrilled with your order, just let me know and I’ll refund your money – no questions asked.

Order Don’t Get Caught With Dirty Drawers … and 64 other tips for traveling in Calabria today.

For about 10 bucks, you will gain access to the insider secrets of traveling in Calabria – secrets that are guaranteed to save you valuable time and money once you are on your Calabrian vacation.

In bocca al lupo …

and Buon Viaggio!

 
A couple of months ago I received an email from fellow blogger and travel enthusiast Geggie of So … What Else, What Else, What Else?, who was promoting a fabulous new organization called The 3/50 Project.
 

 
The idea behind the project is to support your local businesses $50 at a time, or actually only $50 a month. Regular customers like you and me pledge to spend $50 a month combined at three locally-owned businesses we’d miss if they went out of business.
 
While it may seem easier in a place like Calabria, where fresh bakeries, homemade cheese shops and fresh produce stands are easy to find, I still have to make a point to shop with the little guys. As Joe pointed out in a recent post on Italyville, large supermarkets and shopping malls are popping up throughout southern Italy and Bella Calabria is at risk of losing its charm and becoming a cookie cutter destination like many others.
 
An idea that isn’t limited to southern Italy.
 
Back in my small southeast Texas hometown, my 8 year-old nephew was dismaid when yet another dollar store made its way to our main drag.
 
“I hate it,” he said sadly as he rode past the now-empty buildings of long-forgotten shops.
 
“Now Kountze looks like every other little town around here. We were just fine before … with Mama Jacks and Brookshire Bros.”
 
And so we were.
 
So, today I challenge you to join the 3/50 project and help keep small businesses alive in your community. Your kids-or at least your nieces and nephews-will thank you.
 
In Calabria, I’d miss the bakery and cheese shop that are next door to our bed and breakfast, as well as the shoe store in nearby Soverato. What about you? What businesses would you miss in your hometown?
 

 
If you’ve been around the Italy expat scene for a while, you have likely heard tale of disheartening shopping trips, overpriced shoes, bags and bras or the never-ending search for a properly-fitting pair of jeans.
 
Shopping in Italy when you are on vacation=fun.
 
Shopping in Italy when you live here and a pair of pants costs a week’s salary=not so fun.
 
Until now.
 
Tuesday, April 7 was the Grand Opening of a new centro commerciale near Catanzaro Lido. Located about seven kilometers from my house, Le Fontane Shopping Center-senza le fontane-is a sight for a shopaholic’s sore eyes.
 

 
The center’s main attraction is France’s “walmartesque” Auchan superstore,whose top exterior walls are covered in quaint Calabrian village scenes.
 

 
Inside, the store is typically Italian, but the Calabrese display offers shoppers a taste-test of some of Calabria’s finest homemade mixes.
 

 
This €30 million center features Media World electronics, shoe stores, lingerie stores, sporting stores, restaurants, bars, a travel agency, post office and is also home to Calabria’s newest H&M.
 

 
And this makes me happy.
 
Very happy.
 
On a quick information-gathering excursion yesterday, I uncovered a cocktail dress for €29.00, shoes for €24.00 and summer pants, sundresses and t-shirts for around €14.00 each.
 
Remember, this trip was purely for reconnaissance.
 
It was my sacrifice for you.
 
Next time I go, I’ll leave my husband at home. Take his checkbook. And bring along some of my favorite expat gal-pals.
 
Won’t you join me?
 
Have you ever shopped in a H&M? What did you think? If you’ve been to/lived in Italy, what is your favorite store here and why?
 

Le Fontane Shopping Center

SS 106

Catanzaro Lido (Calabria)