Travels in Italy

Off topic again...

2005-12-07T16:40:00.000-05:00

Our professor asked us to do another experiment to see if we can get a website moved up on search engines. It's a store in the UK called KidsCorner and the keywords are outdoor trampolines chester.

Carnevale!

2005-12-05T23:44:00.000-05:00

Carnevale in Italy is like our Mardi Gras. Someone had made a comment on an earlier post and asked if I knew how it all started, and I actually never thought about it. However, I found this site that looks like it gives a pretty in depth history of Carnevale.

I was lucky enough to be in Italy for Carnevale two years ago, and I have to say it was such a great experience!! Venice is the place to be during Carnevale, but we couldn't make it down there in time due to our schedule. Instead, we went to the next best city for Carnevale, Viareggio. Everyone was dressed up as if it were Halloween, and there was confetti and a soapy version of shaving cream flying all over the place! The parade consisted of huge, comedic floats that rolled alongside the beach. Some made fun of politicians and others were made just to make people smile. The parade wasn't like the type we would have here...people are in the streets with the floats and you could be literally inches away from it as it passed! Basically, you run or get hit.

This is Carnevale in Venice.

Foods of Europe

2005-12-04T14:11:00.000-05:00

If you're interested in learning about some of the different foods that can be found in Europe, Foods of Europe is a great blog to check out. It talks about the specialty foods of every country. Don't worry about not finding something to eat during your travels, because each country has its specialties!

There isn't anything specifically on Italy yet, but there's some great information on countries like England, Greece, Poland, and Ireland. This particular post describes England and its specialty foods.

Off topic...

2005-12-01T19:44:00.000-05:00

We're doing a search engine test in our Technologies Marketing class, so I just have to mention the word "nworbxela" in a post.

An Italian Christmas

2005-11-29T17:22:00.000-05:00

Buon Natale! Christmas in Italy is slightly different from that in the United States. Christmas dinners at my house always include baked ziti, baccala, struffoli, and panettone. All of these things are typical foods of an Italian Christmas dinner. Last year, I finally tried il capitone, which is a female eel, and it wasn’t as bad as it sounds!

The Christmas season in Italy begins eight days before Christmas, with a special Novena (eight days of prayer) and church services. The Epiphany, December 6th, is celebrated in Italy more than our Christmas on the 25th. This is the time when the Three Kings were believed to have reached the infant Jesus, and so the Romans exchange their gifts on this day as well.

In the Italian tradition, Santa Clause is replaced by La Befana. She is an old woman who flies on a broom and brings the children presents. Modern Italians may refer to Santa Clause (“Babbo Natale” - Father Christmas) instead of La Befana, and may also exchange gifts on Christmas day.

Capri

2005-11-22T11:57:00.000-05:00

Capri is a small island across from the Amalfi Coast. Capri has two main mountain peaks, one to the east (Mount Tiberio) and one to the west (Mount Solaro), and is made up of two towns, Capri and Anacapri. It just takes a short ferry ride from Naples to get to this island, but if you don't have a strong stomach, be careful, because the ride is very bumpy!

The island is gorgeous and the people are so welcoming. There are so many great shops for jewelry, souveneirs, food, higher end fashion, and random items such as scented body oils. If there's one thing you have to do in Capri, it's taste the limoncello! Limoncello is a fairly strong lemon liqueur that is one of the island's specialties, because of the type of lemons they use to make it. I walked around all day to try to find the best price on a bottle, and I found a store towards the top of Mount Tiberio that sold a large bottle for only 7 euro!

Spend the night on the island, because one day isn't enough to truly appreciate it.
Here are some great things to do in Capri.

Isle capri
Originally uploaded by mtsrs.

Restaurants...Tourists beware!

2005-11-16T17:35:00.000-05:00

Believe it or not, some restaurants in high-volume tourist areas have two separate menus: one for native Italians and one for tourists! I learned this little trick when I went out to eat with my study abroad group and our director. When we sat down and looked at our menus, our director made a comment to his friend who ran the restaurant that the prices were very high. The man quickly told a waitress to take our menus away, because she had given us the wrong ones. When she returned, she handed us menus with prices that were a few euro cheaper that the ones we had just seen. So, when you’re walking around and you want to sit down somewhere to eat, I suggest comparing the prices of a few restaurants first!

Italian menus can be tricky if you're not used to the culture, so here are a few tips on how to decipher an Italian menu. Also, I found a great article on Italian restaurant practices which I think is a really great resource for first-timers. You'll learn that a meal in Italy isn't just a meal...it's the best part of the day!

Italian pasta, pizzeria
Originally uploaded by Saffanna.

Torino 2006 Olympic Games

2005-11-10T20:03:00.000-05:00

The 2006 Winter Olympics games are being held in Torino, Italy. One of my classmates is hosting a blog all about the games and what's going on in Torino as they prepare the city for more than half a million people who have already bought their tickets. Her most recent post is about the newly renovated website that guarantees up-to-the-minute information on the games. I checked out the site myself, and it covers everything you could possibly want to know about the event, including an online store where you can buy 2006 Winter Olympics merchandise. Jodi's blog is called Torino 2006 Olympic Games, and I think it's a really good resource for someonse like myself who doesn't know much about winter sports!

webloonrock[1]
Originally uploaded by DogLotion.com.

Take a train!

2005-11-02T17:38:00.000-05:00

At some point during your trip in Italy, you're most likely going to wind up on a train. Sure, you could take a plane from Rome to Naples, but you miss out on all the scenery in between! A train can take you anywhere you want to go, and the tickets are very affordable. If you have no idea which train you need, you can ask the ticket vendor which route will take you there, almost all of them know at least some English. Just make sure you’re on time when you figure out which track to get to, because once those trains are gone, you could wait anywhere from 30 minutes to a few hours for the next one to arrive!

There is a fairly new train system called Eurostar Italia, and I would definitely recommend it for longer trips. It’s a little more expensive, however, because it can make the same trip in a little more than half the time of a regular train. I took the Eurostar Italia from Florence to Naples, and, if I remember correctly, the entire trip only took four hours, compared to 6-7 hours. I traveled alone for that trip, but I met Italians on the train and had a great time anyway! Like I mentioned before, try speaking the language and no matter where you go, I can guarantee you’ll have a better time!

Use this link for more information on the Eurostar Italia.

Dining in Cinque Terre

2005-10-26T19:27:00.000-04:00

Take a break from hiking and sit down to eat at one of Cinque Terre’s charming restaurants! The towns are well known for their fresh seafood, and their pesto sauce is the best I’ve ever had. At the end of the day, my group and I stopped in Riomaggiore for dinner and I ordered a dish of spaghetti and shrimp. You should be aware that when the menus say “fresh,” they mean fresh! The waiter set my food in front of me, and there were six whole, untouched shrimps staring up at me from my plate! I had to break them open myself, which took me a while, because I had never done that before. The shrimp were delicious, and I tried my friend’s spaghetti with pesto, which, of course, was also perfect. For lunch or dinner, order seafood or pesto and you won't be dissappointed!

If you decide to go for dessert, I would recommend gelato or tiramisu. We went to a gelateria (ice cream shop) for a snack, and found out what an Italian milkshake was like…definitely not what we expected! It’s basically chocolate milk, so don’t order a milkshake if you’re craving something cold and creamy. Stick to gelato!

There's nothing like actually being there, but here are some great pictures of Cinque Terre.

Cinque Terre

2005-10-20T17:44:00.000-04:00

I'm trying to switch back and forth from traveling tips to great places to visit in Italy, so here’s some information on one of my favorite spots, Cinque Terre (The Five Lands).

I feel like it’s not very well known to tourists, unless you really do your research! Cinque Terre is made up of five small towns built into the rocks and is located on the coastline. They are separated by hills (mountains to me), so in order to get from town to the other you can either hike or take a short train ride. If you can, I would recommend hiking. It takes at least 5-6 hours to walk to all 5 of the towns, so I would give it a full day of your time. There aren’t any railings along the dirt trails, so at some points you’re walking on a 2 ft.-wide path on a steep mountainside with nothing to hold on to! I guess that’s what I loved about this place so much; it’s so natural and beautiful, and just the most amazing thing to experience. The first trail was the longest (about an hour and ½ long), and at one point in the third trail we had to walk up 113 uneven, stone, ancient-looking steps that were also built into the mountain (don’t forget to breathe!).

Hiking alongside the ocean made the trip worth every aching muscle I had at the end of the day. I’m not exactly the “outdoors” type, and I got the nickname “princess” during this trip, so if I loved it then it’s got to be worth it!

Learn the language

2005-10-16T17:20:00.000-04:00

I was getting on a bus to get to class the other day, and I heard a guy who was getting off the bus say “Come va?” (“How’s it going?”) to a friend getting onto it. They were obviously Italian students studying abroad in the U.S. However, I noticed that they never spoke a word of Italian after the salutation, they spoke English instead. They must be studying English at the university, because I noticed their accents and the way they were dressed (which I’ll talk about soon!). They easily could have spoken in their native language, but chose not to so that they can really learn ours. The best thing for you to do when visiting any other country is to try to speak the native language, regardless of how little experience you have with it. If you’re traveling with a group, speak as little English as possible and you’ll be bilingual before you know it!

If you don't feel like carrying a book around, try listening to a CD! It will help with your accent and it's less obvious. I found a really great instant conversation CD on Amazon.com for a very fair price, so consider learning the basics before your trip, or on your way there!

Florence

2005-10-09T15:54:00.000-04:00

Florence is known for its artwork, Il Duomo, one of the city’s most extravagant Gothic structures, and other famous cathedrals. There are so many places to visit like il Mercato Centrale (an enormous market with every food you can imagine!), Il Ponte Vecchio, San Lorenzo Market (near Santa Maria Novella), and museums that house artwork such as The David. The San Lorenzo Market is a great place to buy leather goods at a decent price! I bought a high quality leather jacket for 140 euro, which at the time was about $170. Not bad!

The nightlife is also amazing! Central Park was on of my favorite nightclubs in Florence. Half of the club is inside and the other half is split into sections (by type of music) in the outside garden area. If you meet the right people, you can get comped and have a party to go to after hours! I suggest that you meet the locals and be very familiar with the train schedule if you’re staying outside of Florence!

Florence Street Scene
Originally uploaded by Thomas Hawk.

My Wiki post

2005-10-04T20:01:00.000-04:00

For my Information Technologies class, we’re required to summarize three articles that relate to the material in our textbook (Internet Marketing: Foundations and Applications, Carolyn Siegel). We then post our summaries on our class Wiki, and give a presentation on our work at the end of the semester. The first article I chose discusses online use of credit cards.

Renting a villa

2005-09-28T16:20:00.000-04:00

I found an article on renting a villa for a week in the countryside of Italy, and thought it would be great to add to my blog. The prices aren’t too bad when you consider the experience you’re getting and how much you’d spend on a hotel for the same number of people. The article leads to Italia Reservations, which is the site where you can actually view the properties, get a detailed description of what they're like, and see pictures of the rooms inside.

Siena

2005-09-25T14:27:00.000-04:00

As I mentioned before, I spent four months studying in Siena. Siena is a medieval city in Tuscany that is very famous for several reasons. It is home to La Piazza del Campo, “Il Palio", famous cathedrals, and several museums.

The Campo
Originally uploaded by rdesai.

La Piazza del Campo is known in Italy as “the brick beach.” The Torre del Mangia faces the open piazza, where tourists and locals sit in the sun or eat at one of the many restaurants outlining the piazza. I wouldn’t recommend these restaurants, however, because they are more expensive and give you smaller portions. Instead, my favorite place to eat in Siena is La Taverna di Cecco, where the food is unbelievable and you get more than your money’s worth. Also, for the best gelato in the city go to Gelateria Brivido, and then stop by Nannini Bar for an amazing hot chocolate! Some of my favorite pubs (bars) to go to in the area are the Aussie Pub and Barone Rosso. In Italy they make a drink called “l’Americano,” and I have no idea what’s in it, but it was a big hit with our group. As for food, ”pici” is the way to go. It’s a thick spaghetti-type of pasta that the Tuscans are famous for, and I could have eaten it for breakfast, lunch and dinner!

Siena’s other major attraction is Il Palio. Il Palio is a horse race that is held in the Piazza del Campo 2-3 times every summer, in which each of the contrade (neighborhoods) sponsors a jockey. I haven’t seen it for myself yet, but I’ve heard it’s an amazing event to experience.

To find a local hotel check out Holiday City Europe.

Tickets and timing

2005-09-15T18:29:00.000-04:00

A plane ticket to Italy would cost you around $1,000, and is even more during the summer when the demand is highest. Just now, I did a search on Expedia.com to find a ticket to leave in October from New Jersey and arrive in Rome, and I found one for only $700! Some really great sites where you can find low fares include Priceline, Cheaptickets, Travelocity, and Expedia. Most airlines will promote "specials" that offer discounts if you book the flight within a certain time, so the trick to getting the lowest fare is to check back with the sites everyday. Also, I've learned that it's usually cheaper to leave and return on a weekday, and you might even have a greater chance of getting a seat.

The online services listed above also offer package deals that let you book a hotel along with your flight, making the whole traveling process a lot less stressful!

Sleep tight...and on a budget!

2005-09-10T15:17:00.000-04:00

Traveling in Europe is going to be expensive, so if you’re on a tight budget, staying at a hostel is your best bet. It's cheaper than a hotel, and some give you the option of staying in a private room, or a “shared” room with at least three other people you may not know. Try to arrive at the hostel during the day, because it can sometimes be on the outskirts of the city, and arriving at night makes it that much harder to find. Don’t worry if you can’t speak Italian! Most of the people who run the hostels will know English, but if not, you can get by on using an Italian-English dictionary.

Spring and summer are Italy’s major seasons for tourism, so prices are always going to be higher during these times. If you do your homework, you could probably find a great deal on a two-star hotel, or even a bed and breakfast. Don’t know where to start looking? Some cities have local offices that help tourists find the best deals on places to stay, and won’t charge you for their services. Although it might be cheaper to stay in Italy during the fall or winter, I wouldn’t recommend going then, because you won’t be able to enjoy the natural beauty of the country.

This blog was started as an assigned project in my "Information Technology Applications" course (Infotech Applications in Marketing), and I chose to write about my love of Italy. The purpose of this blog is to share my experiences with anyone who likes to travel and has an interest in seeing the country.

Italy's hot-spots

2005-09-05T15:33:00.000-04:00

Italy is the place to go for great food, famous artwork, the best wine, breathtaking sights, and so much more! Some of its most famous cities include Rome (Roma), Venice (Venezia), Milan (Milano), Florence (Firenze), and Naples (Napoli). For four months, I lived in the historic city of Siena, right outside of Florence, and traveled to several different regions of the country to experience everything they had to offer. Future postings will be about where to go and what to do in this beautiful country, and helpful tricks I learned about being a traveler in Italy.

If you want to do some research of your own check out this Italy travel guide.