In Italian, the word bacio means “kiss.” This is a very common word that is used in many different contexts – all the way from platonic to romantic. Italian is known as one of the most romantic languages in the …
Travel Authorization Program- Who Will Require ETIAS? Begins in 2024
So What is ETIAS? ETIAS stands for European Travel Information and Authorization System. It’s an electronic system that will keep track of visitors from countries who need a visa to enter the Schengen Zone. It is similar to the Department of Homeland …
Cooking Pasta: Know the 10 Commandments
Cooking Pasta So for tonight’s dinner, you’re cooking pasta. Brava. You should think ahead because it’s not just about boiling some water and throwing some dried pasta into it. There is so much more to it than that. Here are …
Exciting Festival Verdi in October | Parma, Italy
Teatro Regio and Festival Verdi So you are in Parma, Italy – home of Parmesan Reggiano and Prosciutto but guess what else? Home of one of the greats… Giuseppe Verdi! Teatro Regio di Parma The Teatro Regio di Parma was …
Never Wash a Moka Pot With Soap
You aren’t supposed to clean your Moka Pot with Soap? How does it then get clean? It’s a sure bet that every household in Italy has at least one Moka pot. They probably have two or three in different sizes …
How Well Do You Know Italy Quiz
Italy quiz! So… you think you know Italy pretty well? Want to make it fun and take a quiz? We thought we would introduce some quizzes every once in a while to provide information while making it fun. Sometimes we …
Airbnb vs Vrbo: What Really is the Difference?
Getting ready to travel but do you book with Airbnb vs Vrbo? Or should you consider a hotel site as your host? This happens to be one of the top questions we are asked time and time again. So it’s …
Easy Day Trips From 5 Major Cities in Italy
We often get asked about easy day trips from Lucca and other major cities throughout Italy. When Shari, a faithful, long-time subscriber of this blog suggested this for a post, we thought we’d do it. I will always recommend that …
The Historical Regatta, Venice
The Historical Regatta is the main event in the annual “Voga alla Veneta” rowing calendar. This unique sport (which only takes place in Venice once a year- has been practiced in the Venetian lagoon for thousands of years. Most noteworthy… …
Coins in Fountains: What Happens to Them?
Throwing coins in fountains… it’s a time-honored ritual when finding yourself in front of a fountain. Countless people, including myself, have tossed coins into fountains to make a wish and possibly to bring us some good luck too. In fact, …
Rent an Apartment in Italy: Important Facts
You would think that moving to Italy and renting an apartment would be easy peasy, right? The Process First, you need to find the apartment which is a process all on its own. Then, once you find your “home sweet …
Italian Bathrooms | What You Need to Know
How are Italian bathrooms different than the ones you will find in the States? There are several differences, and in today’s post, we will explore a good deal of the differences and even discuss a bit of protocol. General Information …