Una passeggiata

Hello friend, I've been taking a little mental health break this past week, resting, trying to relieve the unbelievable amount of stress I manage to put upon myself and resting. Let's talk more about mental health in general because these are complex and difficult times, and everyone has their struggles. We need to normalise taking…

The language question in Italy

The complexity of dialects in Italy and what you should know.

How to make friends in Italy and influence people

How to make friends as a newly arrived Expat in Italy.

Rooftops

There is something quintessentially Italian about Italian chaotic rooftop views. From the rooftops, you can see the urban landscape, the irregular dimensions of the houses, and how each building leans up against the next.

All the essential festivities to celebrate in Italy during the festive season.

Photo by Javon Swaby   Hello friend,   Apart from Christmas Day and New Year's Eve, there are a few other significant dates in the Italian festive season calendar that you must watch out for if you decide to visit Italy in December and January.   Some people are wary of visiting Italy for Christmas…

More tips still for first time visitors to Italy

Photo by Jeffrey Czum   Hello Friend, Are you ready for some more insider tips for your trip to Italy? As a travel writer who has explored most of this beautiful country, I've gathered some valuable tips to make your Italian adventure unforgettable.   1. First things first, try to learn some basic Italian phrases…

Travel advice: self guided tours of Sicily

Hello friend, I'm gradually working through your travel questions about Sicily. It's taking me a while, but I'm enjoying it. Don't expect detailed travel itineraries; let's keep the questions nice and general. And please send all questions via email as I will lose track if you ask them on any other of my social media.…

Travel advice: Taormina, Palermo and Catania

Hello friend, I'm gradually working through your travel questions about Sicily.  Don't expect detailed travel itineraries; let's keep it general. I'm happy to point you in the right direction if you are planning a trip. Hi, I came across your website and have a question. My husband and I will be visiting Sicily for 2…

Travel advice: where to watch the game

Hello friend, I'm gradually working through your travel questions about Sicily. It's taking me a while, but I'm loving it. Don't expect detailed travel itineraries; let's keep it general. I'm happy to point you in the right direction if you are planning a trip. Here's this week's query. Hi Rochelle, How are you? Hope you're…

Travel advice: Siracusa and language schools

Hello friend, I'm working my way through a pile of various travel questions about Sicily.  Don't expect detailed travel itineraries; let's keep it general. I'm happy to point you in the right direction if you are planning a trip. Here's this week's email and my reply. Greetings, My wife and I will return to Sicily…

Travel advice: buying a house in Sicily

Hello friend, I’m working my way through heaps of travel questions about Sicily. It’s taking me a while but I’m loving it. Don’t expect detailed travel itineraries, lets just keep it general. I’m happy to point you in the right direction if you are planning a trip. Here’s this weeks email and my reply.  …

Travel advice: a Sicilian reading list

Hello friend, I’m gradually working through your travel questions about Sicily. It’s taking me a while but I’m loving it. Right now I have plenty of questions to answer so I’m not asking for any more for now. But be sure to take a look at the answers I’ve been beginning to post to you…

Sicilian saying: false friends

   

Sicilian saying: persistence

  Sicilian’s are seriously resilient people in a place of great historical poverty and complex modern problems of high unemployment and a neglected economy Sicilian’s seem to withstand an awful lot. So it is only natural to see this kind of saying dedicated to the art of persistence in Sicilian dialect. Once again a typical…

Sicilian saying: arrogance

  I love the image of an artichoke in this Sicilian saying, the idea that an artichoke is a proud or arrogant image is astounding. So yes, obviously Sicilian’s must find the artichoke a little bit aristocratic, perhaps it’s thorny thistle nature makes it difficult to understand, it definatly isn’t to everyones taste. Sicilian wild…