10 useful tidbits we learned (or re-learned) in Italy…
_10. Tap into
technology. We used an iPod Touch and an iPad extensively during our trip. On our
first day in Florence we walked over to the Vodaphone store (that’s a European cell phone
company) to purchase a micro-sim card for the iPad (20 euros). This
gave us 3G internet coverage throughout Italy at a cost far less than the
International Data Plan our U.S. phone company offered.
We used the iPad as: a combined e-reader and MP3 music player during the flights; a walking map/route finder; and for listening to podcasts (like the free Rick Steves walking tour we used in Pompeii). Each evening we removed the SD cards from our two digital cameras and loaded up the iPad with that day’s photos. This was an easy way to back-up our photo files. It also allowed us to play a slideshow of each day’s events, complete with Italian music! If you are fortunate enough to have an iPad, take it along. 9. Walk with purpose. Crossing the street in traffic-packed cities such as Rome can be daunting. When it looks safe to cross and you decide to go… GO. Never hesitate in the middle of the street. The oncoming cars will stop for you, I promise. No matter where you are walking, look like you know where you’re going — walk with purpose — and not like a lost tourist. If you do your homework beforehand and have your route mapped out, this is easy to do. 8. Fresh is best. Whether it’s fresh lemons, garlic, basil or tomatoes, using the fresh version (versus dried, bottled or canned) in your cooking, is definitely worth any extra effort (I’ve stopped using dried basil and bottled lemon juice). As a bonus, eating fresh, not processed foods, is probably healthier for you, although difficult to quantify. 7. Quality trumps quantity. All of the food and drink we had in Italy was above average; and, Italians understand the value of portion control. Servings were moderate in size. The cheeses and the cold-cut meats were sliced very thin, but full of flavor. The olive oil was rich and delicious, but used sparingly. It’s more versatile than butter and much better for you. And since food made with quality ingredients is more flavorful, you feel full and satisfied with smaller portions. Honest. 6. Italy brews great coffee. Every cup of robust Italian coffee is freshly pressed after you order it, even at the Autogrills that Jamie introduced us to (Autogrills are these amazing cafeteria/snack bars found at freeway rest stops). We didn’t see industrial-size coffee dispensers with pre-brewed coffee anywhere. Whether it’s espresso, cappuccino, or caffé Americano, bold Italian coffee is usually served in a nice china, not Styrofoam cup. Especially if it’s caffé espresso, the cup will be tiny, but packed with plenty of caffeine to jump start your day! |
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5. The Mediterranean
diet rules.
Wine: Although Italians do enjoy wine with many meals, they rarely overindulge. Bruce and I saw plenty of people drinking wine, but never saw anyone intoxicated. We really learned to appreciate how inexpensive good quality wine can be, especially locally grown varieties. It's especially great to know that red wine is beneficial to your heart, when consumed in moderate amounts. Bread: In Italy, bread is baked and consumed fresh each day. It’s rarely served with butter or dipping oil and margarine is almost unheard of. Italian bread is very chewy and we all learned to enjoy it unadorned. 4. It's more than great food. The Mediterranean diet is actually more of a lifestyle. Exercise is part of an average European’s daily routine. They often bike or walk, and the streets and hills are often steep. They shop locally. Taking an evening stroll, especially in smaller towns and villages, is common. It serves as a way to meet and greet your neighbors and build a sense of community. Wish we did more of that. 3. Take less, bring home more. Bruce and I each travel with only a 22-inch Eagle Creek “Tarmac” suitcase and a backpack. Group members who brought bigger suitcases soon regretted it and struggled with their luggage… we did not. We even left space in our suitcases to bring home a variety of locally produced goods. What a treat to share with family and friends! Hint: No one cares if you wear the same thing multiple times during the tour; everyone does it. Pack light. 2. Always stay alert when traveling. Not paranoid, but alert. Before leaving a restaurant or other establishment, make sure your credit card has been returned and that everyone has his or her personal belongings (cameras, sunglasses, hats, etc.). This hint comes directly from a formerly "less-than-alert" tourist (me) who lost her camera in Paris on the last day of another tour, after taking 500+ keepsake photos… I was devastated and need to return to Paris someday to retake those photos! And the number one useful tidbit we learned in Italy was… 1. The power of a smile. A genuine smile easily bridges the gap between people of different cultures and languages. Whether you’re seeking directions to the bathroom, trying to order from an Italian menu (with your Rick Steves phrase book), or greeting the proprietors of your hotel or a store, a smile paves the way to a positive interaction. No one expects your Italian to be perfect, but attempting to communicate in the host country’s native language shows respect and an interest in their culture. |
Some final, parting thoughts…
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A word about other
tours and tour companies…
In addition to traveling to Europe occasionally for work, Bruce and I have been to Europe three times, so far, on "holiday." This tour far exceeded our expectations and surpassed the travel experiences from other trips. Why? We believe a few of the reasons Rick Steves Tours are superior to others is because of the:
Be an informed travel consumer. Whichever tour or travel company you are considering, carefully read the fine print. For example, if the tour brochure says, you will “enjoy a special view of the Coliseum,” that’s probably what you will get. On our first trip to Rome several years ago with a different tour company (that shall remain nameless), our overcrowded bus stopped several blocks from the Coliseum. We left the bus to gaze at the Coliseum in the distance. The tour guide said we would not be going inside, “because there’s nothing good to look at in there.” Really? How disappointing. But, it was our own fault for not doing a better job of researching our destinations, the tour itinerary or the tour company beforehand. The Rick Steves tour was different. All four of us felt our itinerary was well designed — with the right blend of structured sightseeing and free time. This tour hit the highlights of the great cities of Florence and Rome, along with visiting the unique Cinque Terre villages and the beautiful Tuscany region. Our days were packed, but we still had enough free time to explore on our own. Size matters… Bigger is not better. Our group size (24) was very manageable. It meant we had lots of room to spread out on the bus and relax. Having a smaller group is so much better than trying to maneuver around crowded narrow streets with a group of 50 (or more), like some tour companies attempt to do. Imagine stopping for a "quick" bathroom break with 50 people trying to use a few toilets. Not good! Tour guides make the difference Throughout this website I’ve made many references to the excellent quality of the Rick Steves Tour guides. These people know their stuff. Now matter how many times they've led groups to the same area, they somehow remain fresh and enthusiastic. The guides are open and approachable. For example: We had one particular group member who liked to ask questions — lots of them! Jamie patiently and politely answered each of her questions, as though it was the first time he had ever heard that particular question…impressive. I was also impressed by how well Jamie keep us informed about the day-to-day details of the tour. We knew what to expect each day (and when to expect it)… so we didn't have to wonder or worry about anything… we knew he had it covered. Rick Steves travelers are a diverse, fun bunch People of all ages and from all walks of life are attracted to this type of active tour. In our group we had students, retired people, teachers, two pilots, a writer, a lawyer, a doctor and a massage therapist. What we had in common was a love of travel and a shared desire to see a beautiful part of the world in a casual, yet organized way. Speaking of organization, taking a Rick Steves tour removes much of the stress and hassle of foreign travel. All of the pre-planning and organizational details are taken care of, so you can sit back and enjoy a memorable European holiday. Bruce and I found this trip to be both enabling and enlightening. We came home clutching a grab bag filled with handy new travel skills, such as:
This trip was enlightening, to say the least. We learned so much about the Italian Renaissance and the various art, political and religious aspects that influenced this remarkable period of history. The tour served as a condensed course in Italian history — taught on location. Creating this website (which was our first attempt in website creation) was a labor of love, as it allowed us to relive our trip. It contains our personal memories and takeaways of our time in Italy. Hopefully, it encourages you to plan your own trip and create your own set of memories. Traveling to Europe is an enriching experience — it will expand your horizons and alter your worldview. You will accumulate huge deposits for your memory bank that will never be lost or forgotten. What a great investment travel is. In the famed words of that European travel guru we’ve all come to know and respect… keep on traveling! Distinti saluti, Kathy and Bruce Muszynski Heart of Italy tour participants July 2011 |
Our 'perfect pizza' is…
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On the home page of this website we had a teaser about our
search for “perfect” pizza in Italy. We realize that everyone has his or her
own idea of what constitutes perfect pizza. In general, pizza in Italy is far
superior to what we get in the United States.
It’s available almost everywhere at reasonable prices — in take-out shops, trattorias and higher-end restaurants. It’s typically baked in a wood-burning oven and made with only the freshest ingredients and with a crispy thin crust. We happen to love a Margherita-style pizza, with sun-ripened tomatoes (or very little sauce), fresh bufala mozzarella, and fresh basil. Buono! Our unscientific taste testing included sampling pizzas in:
And now, the news you've been waiting for: The 2011 winner of the Muszynski Family “Perfect Pizza” award goes to…(drum roll, please) a restaurant named Al Bocconcino in Forte di Marmi. Here’s how we stumbled upon it: After leaving Florence we traveled west by bus, toward the beautiful Carrara Mountains. Jamie had planned a lunch break at Forte di Marmi and recommended Al Bocconcino to the group. We ate outside and enjoyed the lovely sea breezes, as well as the food. Yes, Jamie knows good food! Sorry, I don’t have a photo of our actual lunch that day, since I was too busy eating to think about snapping a picture of that perfect pizza and piping hot calzone. You can, however, check out Al Bocconcino's website by clicking here. Delizioso! Second place pizza honors went to the pizza picture above. It came from a little outdoor café in Pompeii, not far from Naples, which is considered the birthplace of pizza. Actually, all of the pizzas we had in Italy were great, but it was easy to pick Al Bocconcino's as our winner. Anyway, here are a few photos from Forte di Marmi area. We would love to go back there someday — to savor that perfect pizza one more time and enjoy everything that area has to offer. |
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Website credits:
In the spirit of full disclosure, I have a few people to thank for contributing to this website in various ways: Our tour guide Jamie Blair Gould – At the end of our tour Jamie was nice enough to email each group member the menus from our group dinners. Otherwise, I couldn’t have remembered each course and every type of wine served at all of the meals. Thank goodness our self-proclaimed “foodie” and resident wine expert Jamie did. Janine Bamberger, MS, RD, CD – Janine is a dietician/friend and experienced traveler to Italy. She highly encourages the Mediterranean diet. I have learned lots from Janine and loosely incorporated some of her teachings into this website when describing the Italian/Mediterranean style of eating and their heart-healthy food and lifestyle choices. And finally, special thanks to my husband and fellow Rick Steves travel partner Bruce, for encouraging our shared sense of wanderlust (he calls it the “dreamers’ disease”) for the past 40 years. He also served as my website proofreader and editor, so if there are any errors, we all know who to blame. |