This city revealed itself slowly to me. I’m reminded of the scene in ‘Under the Tuscan Sun where the main character is cleaning her bed head describing how when you take on a new project (such as buying a house) you need to ‘…go slowly through the house, be polite, introduce yourself, so it can… Read More Calabria – Reggio di Calabria
In November 2015 I took the train from Naples to Caserta to visit the Royal Palace of Caserta which had been built to house the Bourbon Kings of Naples. It was a beautiful and restful outing. What I had not realised at the time is that I was visiting an infamous area to Italians. Caserta… Read More Toxic
I practically run for the walkway up above Taormina. It is a fine clear sunny day but heavy rain is forecast for the next 3 days.This may be my only day to see as much as possible. Taking on the climb at a cracking pace I huff and puff and I’m sure, I am very… Read More Sicily: Taormina
Choosing accommodation is always a bit of a punt but it’s a whole nother ballgame staying in Italy’s religious accommodation. I had thought it would be a wise thing to do, being a woman travelling alone, trying to keep costs down and for finding like-minded travelers. (See my post, ‘Happy, Cheap & Rich in Culture’, for… Read More Convent & Monastery Stays Can Be Hell
I got off the bus from Palermo hungry (it’s lunchtime), and promptly walked in the wrong direction. Thank goodness for google maps which got me back the right way and along the road to my latest monastery accommodation. It looks very like a Hotel, with a hotel reception and hotel restaurant. But across the road… Read More Sicily: Siracuse & its Beautiful Island Ortigia
My gorgeous husband bought me a very old book about Italy from the opportunity shop. I have had a bit of fun comparing pictures of some sites I visited against how they looked over 90 years ago. My beautiful book: ‘Wonders of Italy’. (Italy for the Tourist Series): The Monuments of Antiquity, the Churches, the… Read More Italian Timelessness
I am home and feel very satisfied and content. This is a nice place to be after feeling so sad and unsatisfied after my trip in 2014. There is however a big gap now. I spent over a year planning this trip. My life was full of language classes, Italian movies and documentaries, working hard… Read More Home Now
I think the scariest thing for me to do in Italy so far is to take a taxi. The drivers seem so nice but in my experience, if you are not vigilant, they won’t turn on the meter, or if they do, are somehow are able to up the meter when you get to the… Read More Catching the Bus to Siracuse
Classics, Ancient History, Linguistics, Academia and more
Life in small-town central Italy
