Romance, Romance…..Of Course Italy

One of the most romantic cities in the world, it just oozes romance. This is a place of fine food, where people honor and love eating. Where eating is an art, not just something to do. It is a city of history and character with natural beauty. Art and more art, a place where you can’t see it all in a one week vacation, and then just can’t wait to go back to experience it all over again. It is one of those places that people return again and again, just to get that feeling of Italy all over again.

Italy is a marvelous honeymoon destination; so romantic, just to say the name it brings up visions of romance. Whether you stay in a large city, go into the villages, walk the narrow streets, go to Rome, or visit the Alps; all of Italy leads to wine, food and camaraderie with the locals and/or other visitors, the general atmosphere is of visiting and getting to know one another and to just enjoy life, no hurry, no bustling around; slow and savor life.

Fifty percent of Italy is mountainous, so the farmers have been very creative in creating land that can be farmed. They have taken cliffs and terraced them into farmland; it is original, breathtaking and beautiful.

Many visit Italy for the religious sites and many abound in all of Italy, to visit them all on a one week vacation would be a tremendous stretch, so I am sure this is why people return time after time so they can eventually visit them all. Don’t forget the water canals and taking a ride in a gondola with a singing maestro to enchant you on cool summer night. Can it get any better than this.

Contact your Personal Travel Website and start planning your trip to Italy right now, and find out how to put that romance into your life.

Travel experiences: Italy – Part 1

What is a Cuttlefish?

My wife and I returned from our two week trip to Italy not too long ago. We had an amazing time. We visited Rome, Tuscany, Florence and Venice. The art was stunning, as I stood in awe before a Michelangelo sculpture and asked myself how he could create such life and movement out of marble. The views from the Tuscan hill towns of the vineyards and rolling hills were amazing. And then there was the food. The freshest mozzarella, perfectly ripe, red tomatoes, and gelato in every flavor including grapefruit, pistachio and stracciatella (chocolate chip). And then there was the cuttlefish.

One evening in Venice, I felt like a change of pace from pasta and I wanted fish. I saw an item on the menu listed as cuttlefish. So I said to the waitress, whose English was not very good: “What is cuttlefish?” She said: “It’s cuttlefish.” And I said: “What is cuttlefish?” And she said: “It’s just cuttlefish.” Not getting anywhere, I decided to be adventurous and I went ahead and ordered it. A few minutes later a plate arrived with many black pieces of squid on it.

Now this was a big problem because I follow the Jewish dietary rule which prohibits eating shellfish of any kind. I tried to explain to the waitress that I am Jewish and do not eat shellfish. She had no idea what I was talking about. So I sent it back, ordered the sea bass, which was terrific, and I ended up paying for two meals.

What did I learn from my culinary adventure in Venice? I realized that not everything labeled as a fish has fins and scales. But I also learned another lesson about mishaps and mistakes. When I think back on our Italy trip, I will remember the times when everything went well. But I will also think of my cuttlefish story and others stories that I do not have time to share, like how we got lost in Tuscany and almost had to sleep in the car.

I suspect that we all have these kind of travel stories. Times when we reserved the dirtiest hotel room ever that looked great on the internet. Or when the rental car broke down in the middle of nowhere. At the time, we might say to ourselves: This is terrible, what a disaster. But then something funny happens. We get back from the trip. We look at each other and we smile and laugh about the problem. And we tell the story for years to come.

So I asked myself: Why is it that the best travel stories are not about the perfect view or the amazing piece of art, but the time when you

Personal Safety in Italy

Picture this:

You’re finally on vacation! You have been planning this trip to Italy for over a year. You’re excited! The last thing on your mind is being a victim of a crime, right?

WRONG!

Unfortunately, we are living in a world where we MUST anticipate the unfortunate.

When you are in a foreign country, such as Italy, you must ALWAYS be aware of your surroundings. Understandably, constantly being on guard is not such a fun way to spend a holiday, but in the long run, being safe is ALWAYS better than being sorry. Think about it this way: Who wants to remember their vacation for “losing” a favorite ring or a substantial amount of money? If you say “Nobody”, you are CORRECT!

Vacations SHOULD be FUN – and memorable for things other than being a victim of a crime.

Fortunately, there are ways to have fun and to be safe!

It’s important to remember that not everybody gets mugged while on vacation, but bad things sometimes do happen, so the following are some suggestions and advice on how to handle yourself while visiting Italy:

A centrally-located hotel can be both a blessing and a curse. The good news, of course, is the fact that you are in the center of a major tourist place, such as Rome or Florence. All the famous sites and attractions are at arm’s reach! The bad news: Most of the shady characters mingle in tourist centers, and are ready to reach inside your pockets! These thieves usually work in groups. For example, one might distract you by “accidentally” stepping on your foot, and while he is “apologizing” his partner is swiftly going through your pockets. Another popular method to distract you is to a have a “dog” bite the back of your leg. As you turn around to see what is going on, the “doggy owner’s” buddy robs you. Also, beware of anyone who offers you a flower or a colorful handkerchief. Again, this con artist is attempting to trick you into not paying attention to your surroundings, and is prepared to swipe some of your money. Never lose track of where you are, and who is around you. Enjoy the sights! But also keep an eye out for trouble. Some of the more targeted cities (and areas) include the aforementioned Rome (near the Termini Train Station, Coliseum, Spanish Square, Trevi Fountain), Naples, Florence, and Pompeii.

Another thing to remember is to ALWAYS leave your valuables locked in the hotel’s safe. Do not carry too much cash, and limit yourself to only one credit card. Also, make several copies of important documents, such as your passport, and keep these copies stored at different locations: one in your suitcase, another in the safe, and yet another one at home. In the unfortunate event that you are mugged, your valuables, and most importantly your passport will be safe and sound. If you are carrying cash, make sure you keep it in a security pouch or a money belt underneath your clothes. Never keep money in a back pocket or in an easily-accessible purse. Do not leave your purse sitting on a table while you eat, or hanging from the back of your chair. Your purse should always be on your body. Otherwise, you become a prime target of a purse snatcher – be it on foot or on a motorcycle. And please avoid wearing too much jewelry! These thieves will not care if they tear your earrings off with your ear attached!

Whenever possible avoid public transportation and take a cab instead. Metros and buses are major fairgrounds for pickpockets. Where there is a crowd, there is a good chance that confusion may arise, and this makes for a perfect opportunity for a pickpocket to go to work.

Beware of anyone who behaves oddly around you. Sure you may appear paranoid, but wouldn’t you rather be paranoid than victimized? Pickpockets and muggers seek out the vulnerable. If you look like you are aware of your surroundings, nobody will attempt to mess with you!

These suggestions are not meant to scare anyone. You ARE supposed have a good time while visiting Italy, but a little preparation and caution will go a long way, and you are bound to truly have a memorable vacation!