Legend says the residents of this fine Magna Graecia city amused themselves by teaching their horses to dance. Their hated arch-rivals in Kroton (modern-day Crotone), used this to their favor and sent a pipe band into town as they attacked. Rather than riding the Sybarites off to war, the horses began dancing and thus, the victory went to Kroton.

To finish them off, the warriors from Kroton diverted the river and drowned the city.

Many residents fled and created a new village called Thurium, which later became an important colony under Roman rule.

Although they were envied for their indulgent lifestyle, they Sybarites were a smart bunch. They were accredited with creating the world’s first traffic-lighting system, minting their own coins and recognizing intellectual property.

Today the ruins at ancient Sybaris and Roman Thurium comprise the world’s largest excavation site, measuring almost 2,500 acres. To put it in perspective for Italophiles who have visited Sibari’s much more famous archaeological cousin, Pompeii , the site there is 124 acres. However, to date, little has been uncovered from Sybaris other than Greek streets, Roman baths and a mosaic-clad villa. Nearby, the National Museum of Sybaritic Archeology houses finds from the excavation site and many people consider that a more useful glimpse into the indulgent and oh so bella vita of ancient Sibari.

***

This article was recently published in Calabria Close-Up, a snippet highlighting Calabria destinations that is part of the My Bella Vita Newsletter bundle. If you would like to read more about the cities, towns and villages of Calabria or want to read about new recipes, tidbits and interesting facts on southern Italy, then subscribe to the newsletters today.

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Photo: Ruins at ancient Sybaris by marinajonica

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I can’t really remember how I first met Micheal, but I’m sure it was a twitter’ this or a Facebook-that introduction that led to email chats and the eventual revelation that my new friend was a kick-ass rock star (in the purely classical sense, that is).

I don’t know why his talent surprised me – the world is full of performers and surely, they, too, have friends, but about a minute into his Hallelujah video (released earlier this year) I realized Micheal was the real deal.

The Extravergine album reached #1 on the Amazon sales chart during pre-sells and it is geared to be one of the best Italian-language albums of the season, so add a little Italy to your Christmas season this year and grab a copy.

But don’t just take my word for it – head over to Amazon.com now and listen to some sample songs. My personal favorite – in either English or Italian – is #3, “Battel Nel Cuore, Suona Natale” (Little Drummer Boy) but “Gloria in Excelsis Deo!” runs a close second.

So, seriously, go listen to some of the songs, order a copy and then come back and tell me-either here or on my Facebook Page – which song is your favorite.

Happy Listening and Buon (early) Natale!

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

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How much Calabrian history has been lost to the hands of time and how much is left to be discovered? This was the question that popped into my head after attending a lovely lecture by Dr. Francesco Vizza held on the terrace of the local museum in Ciro’ Superiore, Calabria this August. He talked about Luigi Lilio, possibly the most famous citizen ever to live in Calabria (except maybe Pythagoras), who was forgotten somehow over time. Who knows how this was possible since he made such a major contribution to society! This illustrious astronomer and mathematician created what is known as the Gregorian Calendar in the 1500′s, though it should be known as the Lilian Calendar. We are still using this calendar today.

In the mid 1500′s, Pope Gregory the XIII had a problem – the calendar wasn’t behaving as he wanted it to. Everyone was using the Julian calendar at the time. That was fine except that, due to some miscalculations for how long it took the Earth to revolve around the sun, the calendar dates were changing every year. Among other problems, this meant it was hard to follow the Bible’s rules about when Easter should be. The Bible states that Easter would be on the Sunday following the full moon following the Vernal Equinox (learn more here). Considering that the Julian Calendar wasn’t calculating the moon’s movements correctly, this wasn’t working out.

The Pope sent out word that all of the best astronomers and mathematicians had to solve this problem, not necessarily for the sake of a correct calendar that respects the moon’s movement, but more for this annoying little Easter date issue. He created a committee to solve it. Luigi Lilio’s grand discovery was that there were a few numbers missing in the number of days it took for the Earth to revolve around the sun, and solved the problem. He advocated for three common years followed by one leap year to make up for the difference, plus a complicated discovery about the epacts (age of the moon) that helped solve the Easter date mix-up.

Here is Luigi presenting his work to the committee. Note the man on his right who is counting on his fingers!

One of the most fascinating component’s of Lilio’s work was what he didn’t have at his disposal at the time. No telescopes, as those were brought from Northern Europe later on in the 1500′s and famously used by Galileo. He was also theoretically calculating these extremely complicated movements of the moon before the decimal point was discovered! Many say the decimal point was “discovered” by Scottish mathematician John Napier in the late 1500′s, but there is some doubt that maybe Luigi Lilio was already using it when he was making his calculations for the new calendar. If he did already know about it, the proof would be in his manuscripts, but only some have been recovered. Some think the rest of his manuscripts are located in the Vatican library which is not open to all scholars.

Let’s hope that someday one of the historians trying to remind Calabrians about their famous ancestor gets to enter the library and find out what else Luigi Lilio discovered.

This post was written by Michele Connors, my Calabria-spouse counterpart who blogs at Mignon Potenza. Visit her site there for more great stories about expat life, Italian food, wine and more.

Would you like to find out more about your relatives in Calabria? Click here to see how we can help.

I met the group at the airport, along with our handsome guide/interpreter Andrea (who all the ladies tried to squeeze into their luggage for the trip back home) and our sweet but far-from-bilingual driver, Francesco. Somewhat quiet and timid on the ride to the Pollino, the group quickly meshed and by the end of the first night were already holding hands as they hiked to a hidden monastery and were singing, hopping and most-of-all laughing with each other as we danced the Tarantella.

The next few days were filled with a combination of long lunches, free-flowing wine, ruined castles, deep gorges, high peaks, pasta-rolling, cheese and wine-tasting and everywhere we turned, musicians, singers and would-be guides emerged to tell us more about “their” Calabria.

After four nights, we bid a sad farewell to our hosts-with the promise of a quick return-and headed south to Tropea. We stopped enroute so the group could have an upscale lunch of Calabrian seafood and chocolate tartufo and a secret behind-the-scenes visit to a local factory.

From Tropea, we ventured out to a nearby farm and learned the art of baking Calabrian bread and homemade pasta before feasting with the family on homemade *everything* – including, but not limited to, sopressata, ‘nduja, ragù, eggplant, peppers and pies.

We wrapped up our week at the luxurious private villa of one of southern Calabria’s most renowned chefs where we made crespelle (a specialty from my part of the boot) and enjoyed what was likely the most exquisite seafood meal I’ve ever had.

So many times throughout the week I forgot I was working … the group was tremendous and after a few days it didn’t just “feel” like I was with friends-I truly was. I left the tour Sunday with the renewed energy I believe vacations were intended to instill. Tour members kept thanking me, but their comments-such as, “after four trips, this is the first time I’ve seen the ‘real’ Italy, “this is the best vacation I’ve ever had” and the heartfelt “you pulled it off, kid!” are words of thanks I’ll never forget.

Tania and I are incredibly proud of the tour and are thankful to our guests for coming along on the first annual Calabrian Table Tour. We have already had dozens of requests for 2012 and will have our new dates published in the coming weeks. But until then, I’m going to have to find me a treadmill and a new pair of sneakers. Table tourin’ isn’t without its drawbacks. Or should I say, drawstrings. Which are the kind of pants I’ll be wearing if we keep this up.

Until next time … cin cin!

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

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So, imagine my surprise earlier this month when I noticed that Tripbase had launched a new travel blogging meme called My 7 Links. It’s gone viral and Lisa from Wanderlust Women Travel tagged me just this morning.

The idea behind the meme is to reflect a little on your last, in my case five, years as a blogger and to highlight some of your favorite posts.

So, here goes.

Most Beautiful Post: It’s hard to say, really, but I always like re-reading Where I’m From. Not only does it remind me of my family back in Texas but it reminds me of where I was mentally and emotionally when I wrote the post.

Most Popular Post: Well, I get a new email regarding my post Five Tips for Surviving a Long Distance Relationship every couple of weeks so I suppose I’d have to go with that one, although Ma Che Cz**o Fa gets its share of hits, as well. People sure do love to cuss in Italiano.

Most Controversial: Well, my 7 Posts predecessor said, “a travel site doesn’t get much more controversial than gelato flavors,” and she was right. I haven’t had too much controversy but I do think I offended a few people with my post, Italian Men Get Smarter with Age.

Most Helpful: If you are planning to travel to Calabria, then How to Ruin Your Trip to Calabria really is the most helpful post – even if you don’t know it yet (or choose not to believe me!)

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me: Ha, hands down it is How to Eat a Persimmon Fruit. This post was written on a whim when I looked out our window, pondering my next post topic and saw this beautiful orange and green tree staring back at me. It’s probably one of my most-read posts on the whole site.

A Post which Didn’t Get the Attention it Deserved: The Art of Italian Coffee: Caffè Baci in Downtown Catanzaro, I was really hoping someone would offer to teach me.

Post I am Most Proud Of: The Life and Legacy of Buddy Moore, the post I wrote one month after receiving that middle-of-the-night phone call no expat wants to get.

And now, I’m passing the torch to:

Lulu of Calabriasella Mia, one of northern Calabria’s newest expat bloggers.

Leanne of From Australia to Italy, a newly-married, new mom expat who moved to the province of Cosenza (via a stop in Rome) a couple of years ago.

Joe of Italyville, a first-generation Calabrian-American who owns an Olive Tree business and blogs regularly about the food, language and culture of southern Italy.

And just outside of bella Calabria …

Tina, of Tina Tangos, a tango dancing translator living in Puglia and

Sara of Amid the Olive Trees, an English professor who writes about living (and parenting) in Puglia.

Check out the list of previously nominated bloggers here so we can keep the project going.

If you’ve participated, please leave a note in the comments so I can visit your post.

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Personally I’m a long-time Telecom client, myself. Noooooo …. not because their stellar customer service merits any such loyalty, but rather because they have a kick-ass calling plan that allows me to call unlimited landlines in the US, Canada and across Europe for €10 a month.

But still, I thought, I have to pay when I call cell phones in the US and more and more people are ditching their landlines, so having a fair-priced standby calling card never hurt. Right?

Right.

The guys at Enjoy Prepaid sent me a $20 credit back in May. I usually shy away from calling my family on their cells but with this nifty new card I’ve been able to call them and while I haven’t chatted at length, it’s been nice to be able to easily and inexpensively get in touch. I’ve used it to touch base with clients and for lengthy consultations … and I still have more than half of it left.

However, that’s not the best part.

While their cards do have decent rates-currently between $0.01-$0.03 per minute to call landlines in the US from Italy (currently $0.025 to call cells!), what I am really enjoying about the card is the ability to send text messages world-wide.

Depending on your plan (I have the Emerald Plan) it is free to send 160-character text messages to any cell phone-anywhere in the world.

Your friend on the other end won’t see your name or number as the sender (unless you purchase a virtual number with them) but just tell them “Intl Calls” is really you and you’ll be set. I’m also still trying to determine if you can receive texts from them – but I don’t think you can.

With all of their fun, Skype-like features, though, I found Enjoy Prepaid a little hard to follow. Yes, the calling card feature is fool-proof but to be able to call or text from your PC you have to download their software and there is a lot of activity and clutter on their homepage, which could make it difficult to quickly find what you need.

I’m not sure what overwhelming needs Enjoy Prepaid can meet that aren’t currently being met by online chat and Skype but I hope the best for them.

All in all, I’m *very* happy with the plan they sent me and if you’d like to try it – they are giving away free 15 minute trials to all new customers.

Enjoy and Happy Fourth of July, Americani!

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Here are five Calabrian travel tips that will help you make the most of your trip to southern Italy.

1. Properly Pack your Day Bag
Most people use some sort of day pack when they are traveling and having one in Calabria is definitely a good idea. However, as opposed to major cities where you can easily pick up something you forgot, you’ll need to pack everything you need, while keeping you bag as light as possible. A few things I always have in my bag are Tylenol or other medications, tissues, chap stick, water, light snacks, my camera, an ID, wallet and coins. If you are carrying a guide book, tear out (or make copies) of the pages you need and leave the heavy books at home.

2. Carry Sunscreen and Mosquito Repellant
Speaking of what to put in a day bag, you should also be armed with sunscreen and mosquito repellant. The skeeters are fierce around here-as is the sun. So make like a boyscout and be prepared!

3. Wear good socks and comfortable shoes
Unless you plan to get to a beach and stay there, you’ll likely do a fair amount of walking during your Calabria vacation. Many of the villages have uneven brick streets and the lungomares are unfriendly to tired feet. Wear good socks and comfortable shoes to avoid getting blisters.

4. Pack your own beach towel
If you are staying in a hotel or B&B that is *on* the beach they might have towels available for you to use. Or they might not. Pack your own beach towel or plan to buy one-a nice souvenir of your trip perhaps?-from one of the strolling salesmen on the beach.

5. Don’t Over-plan your Itinerary
It is true that Calabria is less touristy than other parts of the bel paese, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be crowded. In the summer, the beaches fill up with northern Italians, Calabrians who have “come home” for the summer and the locals who wait all year to hit the beach. If you over-plan your itinerary, you’ll likely get stressed by slow-moving traffic or transportation delays and you’ll feel rushed and frustrated throughout your trip. If you aren’t sure if you’ve planned the best itinerary, then the Trip Doctor itinerary review service - just $100 when you are spending thousands on a vacation – can give you peace of mind and ensure you are making the best possible decisions for your southern Italy trip.

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

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Even with all of my southern Italy travels, I’ve yet to personally experience the wonders of Valdiano, so I’m happy to introduce you today to fellow southern Italophile, Settimio Rienzo, director of Visit Vallo Diano.

Benvenuto, Settimio!

—

Vallo di Diano is a beautiful valley that is located in the Province of Salerno. It is rich in nature and cultural heritage and is conveniently placed near major tourist destinations in Southern Italy.

This area is characterized by historical and artistic treasures, well preserved monuments and attractive hilltop towns, such as Teggiano, Monte San Giacomo, Sassano, Sanza, Pertosa and Padula, where you will find the impressive UNESCO World Heritage Site, Certosa di San Lorenzo. (Seen below.)

Vallo di Diano has a number of of natural trails, routes and itineraries where you can enjoy the Cilento and Vallo di Diano Natural Reserve, one of the most important protected areas in the country while exploring caves, such as the captivating Grotte di Pertosa. (Seen below.)

In this area, visitors will discover remains from different periods from ancient Greece to the Middle Ages. Churches, castles and Monasteries characterize the towns and there is a local charm and hospitality that will rival anywhere else in Italy.

For more information, see Visit Vallo di Diano or ask Cherrye to include a stop in Vallo di Diano on your southern Italy itinerary.

Photos: Partecipiamo, Minniti and Maria Concetta Mauge via Panoramio

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Those of you who remember when the girls started the show, might recall that little ‘ole me was their first guest and guess what … ?

I’m baaaaaack!
(listen in here)

This week I’m sharing some summer travel tips with the girls, talking about our B&B’s new ancestry tours and getting Jessica hungry with details on the Calabrian Table Tour.

Now that summer is here, you can download the podcasts and take them with you on your afternoon strolls … that’s what we do. You can either subscribe to the podcasts (for free!) through iTunes or listen to the current episode and browse previous shows from their site.

Happy Listening!

Are you heading to Calabria or southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Oh yes, discerning readers, you’ve heard of Mamma Agata before. Last year my good friend Laura of Ciao Amalfi! reviewed Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine here on My Bella Vita and she, too, loved the book.

Rather than rehash everything Laura said about how much fun the cookbook is to read, how simple and genuine the recipes are, how much you’ll truly like the author, Chiara and her family, I’m gonna tell you how this cookbook got me over a culinary hump.

You see, one of the first southern Italian dishes I fell in love with was Parmigiana di Melanzane, or eggplant parmesan. My father-in-law makes a great version and I often ask him to make it when friends or family come to visit. But I just couldn’t do it myself.

Oh, I tried.

And I tried.

And I tried some more.

But my parmigiana was always too soggy or too oily or too tasteless.

Until now.

I knew it was fate when I received my review copy of Mamma Agata’s cookbook and flipped it open to the parmigiana recipe. It spans three pages in the cookbook, making it one of the most time-consuming, if not most difficult, recipes in the book. But I was up for the challenge.

I read the recipe from top to bottom … a couple of times … and prepped for the big occasion. About half-way through my husband came in to offer a hand.

“Oh no, you don’t!” I told him.

“This is my dish … all mine. And I want all of the credit for it.”

And Mamma Agata did I deserve some credit!

For the first time in almost a decade of trying to perfect a parmigiana, my dish held tightly together. The layers were distinct and precise. The flavors harmonized and the colors sang.

Ok-maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But suffice it to say, that parmigiana was g-o-o-d.

So good, in fact, that we had it again the next day. I heated mine first … my husband ate it straight from the fridge.

So what are you waiting for? Stop droolin’ over my parmigiana and go make your own. You can get your copy of Mamma Agata: Simple and Genuine here. If you make some of the dishes, please come back and tell me. I’d love to celebrate your culinary successes with you, as well.

Want a private lesson on southern Italian cooking from Mamma Agata? Click here to see how I can incorporate that into your southern Italy itinerary.

Rather, I need to hear something oh, a gazillion times and see it written to really learn it, but the bigger problem isn’t my need to study. It’s my refusal to do so.

Luckily, there are ways around studying Italian that don’t include pens, notebooks or grammar books. In fact, all you need is a computer … and well, look at you-you are already off to a great start, aren’t you?

I’ve mentioned before that I like to improve my Italian vocabulary by listening to music. But now that I have a son, I am being introduced to new and wonderfully easy-to-follow songs that are ridiculously cute and insanely addictive.

Here are three Italian children’s songs I like to sing along to, with a link to the lyrics to help you learn the words.

Enjoy!

Il Pulcino Ballerino
Lyrics

I love this song and I just want to put that little boy in my pocket and take him to Texas with me. Actually … I kinda did. This is also Max’s favorite Italian kid’s song so I plopped it on my iPod, took it home with me and showed my family how my little pulcino could also be a world-class ballerino. I have it on video … maybe I’ll share it one day.

Il Coccodrillo Come Fa?
Lyrics

This is one of the cutest songs I’ve ever heard – in any language, especially when (in the version I have at home), the little boy asks what sound a crocodile makes and all the little kids behind him say … BOH!?! I could listen to this one over and over and over. Yes, I’m worse than a kid.

44 Gatti
Lyrics

Ok, this one is still too fast for me, but I love the big ball of pride that rises in my chest if, and when, I’m able to keep up. Plus a little math homework never hurt anyone, right?

Do you know any Italian children’s songs? If so, please list them in the comments!

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Photo: Splash Scuola

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Welcome, Fiona.

Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean and is located to the south of Genoa and Corsica and to the west of Naples. Although technically part of Italy, the island of Sardinia has a fascinating history, as well as its own unique cultural quirks.

Cagliari is the island’s capital. It takes its name from the Sardinian word Casteddu, meaning castle. The city’s location provides stunning views over the Gulf of Cagliari. Save some camera memory though – other great sights worth seeing in Cagliari include the Basilica di San Saturnino, the Sardinian Archaeological Museum, as well as Poetto Beach which is just a short drive away with a Sardinia car rental and offers 13 kilometers of beautiful sandy beaches.

Meanwhile, should you decide to head north (recommended) you will pass close to the town of Barumini. Situated next to the town, you will find Nuraghe. This is one of the most important and famous archaeological and megalithic monuments in Sardinia.

This won’t be the only ancient historical site that you’ll encounter. Sardinia’s history runs deep. Heading northeast for around 90 kilometers, you will arrive at Nuoro. Here you’ll see evidence of ancient settlements that can be traced back to 2000 BC. This area is considered to be the cultural essence of the island and is one of the most important stops you’ll see if you are touring Sardinia. If you are visiting here during August, it may also be possible to attend the colourful Sagra del Redentore festival which is famous for its traditional music.

Driving north for another 100 kilometers you’ll arrive at Olbia. While in town, it’s also possible to check out the 11th century Cathedral of San Simplicio. Located nearby, you’ll see Tavolara Island which is popular with scuba divers. Meanwhile, to the north of Olbia, you’ll find a village called Palau which is favoured by kite flyers and windsurfers because of the strong winds that blow between Sardinia and Corsica.

Driving back to Olbia and traveling west for around 100 kilometers, you will arrive at Sassari. Sassari is the second largest town in Sardinia and is also one of the oldest settlements on the island. To this day, you can still spot some 13th century towers from the city, along with the pretty church of Santa Maria di Bétlam and Cathedral of St. Nicholas of Bari.

Time to spare? Just a short drive to the northwest of Sassari, you’ll come to Porto Torres. It is thought that this colony was founded during Roman times by Julius Caesar. If you’re wondering what the Romans ever did for us, you’ll find many fine Roman ruins in the area, including aqueducts, sewers, thermal baths, a forum and some temples.

Heading south, you’ll reach Alghero located to the west coast of the island. This is the perfect place to relax, as this area is known for its wonderful beaches. The town has the unusual distinction of being a Catalan town on an Italian island. Some even call it little Barcelona. The narrow winding streets and decidedly bohemian atmosphere of the old town make it easy to see how it earned this title.

Before heading to the beaches, take some time out to explore the Palazzo D’Albis, Neptune’s Grotto and the areas around Anghelu Ruju and Nuraghe Palmavera.

The coast road from Alghero to Bosa is an obvious option for a scenic drive due to the stunning surroundings and fantastic beaches. There should also be a special mention to Bosa Marina Beach as it was chosen as Italy’s cleanest beach a number of times. Bosa itself has a number of interesting sights to be seen including Castello Malaspina, a castle that overlooks the town, as well as Corso Vittorio Emmanuele which is the main street in the old town. Just like it’s Milanese counterpart, you’ll find many interesting shops and buildings located along here.

Good to know:

When driving in Sardinia, the speed limit is 50 kilometers per hour on the open road and between 90 kilometers per hour and 130 kilometers per hour on the motorway.

Fiona Hilliard is a travel writer and blogger for award-winning car rental site ArgusCarHire.com. When not writing about car rental Sardinia she can be found writing travel tips on the site’s Glove Box Blog.

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Intimidating, huh?

As soon as our bambino was home and the doctor approved him for travel, I began planning our first international trip. There were passports to be ordered, flights to book, baby bassinets to be reserved … I wasn’t sure where to start.

I’ve been a frequent international traveler for the last 11 years and am comfortable in most air travel situations. But I gotta tell you, I was scared to death to travel solo with a two month old.

When you are single, you don’t pay much attention to changing tables, strollers or lap seat children (unless they are bawlin’ in your ear on an 8-hour flight) and for the first time in more than a decade, I was worried about flying. So, I did what any good expat mom would do … I emailed my expat mom friends for help.

And mamma mia did they come through!

I’d like to take a moment to give a big shout out to Vanessa and Hilary in Messina and Michelle (Viva la Pappa) and Joanne (Frutto della Passione) in Milan for all of their emails, tips and tricks for traveling with babies.

Here’s a bit of what they told me and a few tips I picked up along the way.

1. Be Prepared!
One thing that all of the expert mom travelers told me was that being prepared would make a world of difference. And it did. Hilary told me to pack easy snacks for myself (since my hands would be full during the trip), Vanessa told me to pack a few extra pairs of baby pants in case he got dirty, Joanne advised me to carry one diaper per hour of the trip (excessive, yes, she said, but better safe than sorry!) and Michelle taught me a neat trick involving a kitchen sponge, dish washing liquid and a Ziploc bag (for on-the-spot cleaning of bottles, pacifiers or other toys.)

They also advised me to give him a pacifier (or something else to suck on) for take-offs and landings. I did-and he traveled like a champ, only crying briefly on the first of six landings.

2. Don’t Expect Help
All of the girls, along with Jen, my Irish expat friend in Catanzaro, warned me not to expect help.

“Allow yourself plenty of time and carry him in whatever is most convenient for you,” they told me.

So I did.

I debated whether I should take his stroller or carry him in a Baby Bjorn and in the end opted to have two free arms. Perhaps it was because my son was *so* young (he was two months old, but because he’d been premature, he only weighed eight pounds), but I was offered help every. step. of the. way. Which brings me to Tip #3 … .

3. Accept Help!
As an independent traveler, your instinct might be to play tough or refuse assistance during your travels, but as a solo-travelin’ mom with baby in tow, I’ll tell you … accept that help.

From before I stepped through security in Lamezia (when a Roman family toted my carry-on and pushed me to the front of the line) to our second flight (from Rome to Frankfurt) when a young American man stopped the flow of passengers and put up my bag to our third flight (Frankfurt to Houston), where the flight attendant carried my bags to the front of the plane … I had help all of the way.

I know I was lucky with the good-natured travelers I met, so I’m sending positive travel karma vibes to them with this post (and urging you all to pay-it-forward, should you see a single traveling parent with a child who might need an extra hand.)

I’m interested to see how traveling with a child will evolve, how things will be different when he is six months, 12 months, 36 months … for I know each age will bring a new set of travel-related issues. But I feel good about it. I trust myself and my new traveling mom instincts and will hope for the best. And let’s face it. Hilary, Vanessa, Michelle, Joanne and Jen all have kids older than mine anyway. So, if I get stuck, I’ll just call for reinforcement and know that no matter how long a flight may seem, that plane will land and we’ll get there … eventually.

What other tips do you have for new moms (and dads) traveling with their babies?

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling south? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

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But challenge, smallenge. I’m up for it.

Today I’m presenting to you three bustling beach towns on Calabria’s Ionian Coast.

Soverato

Soverato is just 15 minutes-in off season-from our bed and breakfast in Catanzaro and is one of the trendiest beach resorts on the Ionian. Besides the dramatic views and turquoise seas, people from the all of the province head to Soverato for the nightlife. The lungomare is one of the nicest on the coast and you can easily spend the day shopping along the main street, lunching at a local trattoria, relaxing on the beaches or partying with the natives in one of the local clubs.

Le Castella

If you are a regular reader of this blog or have a good knowledge of Calabrian castles, then you already know that Le Castella tops my list of towns to visit in Calabria. That’s right … towns.

In addition to being an Argonese hideaway, Le Castella is also the name of a village that sits on the Isola di Capo Rizzuto in the province of Crotone. Besides its namesake castle and sapphire blue waters, Le Castella has a plethora of good seafood restaurants, shops and gelaterias.

Cariati

Cariati, a tiny seaside village on the northern Ionian coast, is set to become one of Calabria’s next big beach resort towns. Over the last six months I’ve heard more and more about this Cosentino village and the locals there tell me they boast not only an award-winning gelateria, but also the best pizzeria in the bel paese.

Are you heading to Calabria? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Photos: My Bella Vita, My Bella Vita, Paolo via Panoramio

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We hit on this a bit last month when Anne from New Jersey wanted me to compare car rentals vs private car services, but sometimes personal preferences or budget restraints prevent either.

Today’s question addresses what you can see in Calabria if you can’t get a car.

Cherrye-

Can you suggest a tour of the best villages/towns accessible by train or bus for a one or two day trip?

Lee

Thanks, Lee. While it is true that I would never recommend someone visit Calabria without a car, I can appreciate the fact that renting a car isn’t always a viable option.

For the purposes of this question, Lee, I’m going to assume you are heading south (ie, from the Naples area, rather than from Sicily or Puglia) via train. If that’s the case, you’ll want to minimize your train time-and maximize your beach time-by visiting a village in northern Calabria.

I just wrote about Scalea, a charming seaside town on the Tyrrhenian coast. In addition to having that fortified fortress and sandy beaches, the train station is located within easy walking distance to all of the best sights and there is plenty to keep you busy there for a few days.

If you’d like to venture a tad farther south, then consider Diamante. One of my favorite guides-and restauranteurs-is based there and we can arrange a one or two-day escorted tour where he can help you explore the ruins at Cirella, guide you through the murals in Diamante, introduce you to local wines and share some Calabrian cuisine secrets with private cooking lessons and/or lunch.

I hope that helps, Lee.

Do you have a southern Italy-related travel question you want answered? If so, let me know and your question could be featured here at My Bella Vita. If you’d like help planning your trip, then consider a custom itinerary or travel consult to ensure you have the trip of your lifetime!

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Last night I attended my first ever international “Bye Bye Boobie” party.

One of my expat friends here in Catanzaro was recently diagnosed with breast cancer. It was diagnosed on a whim and before she knew it, they had her scheduled for a mastectomy-a surgery that will take place in less than an hour of when I’m writing this post.

In typical “this girl” style, she’s taken this thing by collar and vowed to kick “his” ass. We planned a “Bye Bye Boobie” party and met at the hospital last night for the festa. There were cookies, pink lemonade, balloons and pink, pink, pink, pink, pink. The girls wore ribbons that said, “Fight Like a Girl-Kick Cancer’s Ass,” while the guys’ ribbons said, “Do you like boobies? So do I!”

Our friend, who no doubt heard our English cries of, “Is she in this room? “No!” “Is she in that one?” “No!” bounced out to greet us with a big smile and a tray of cookies and much to the disapproval of her 60+ year old roommates, was having too much fun to be sick.

Employees passed us in the hallway wearing her ribbons as Italian and English-speaking friends poured into the room.

My friend is facing this challenger with the heart of Holyfield and the fierceness of Foreman and we are pulling for her.

So, here’s hoping she floats like a butterfly through her surgery today and beats the mess out of this faceless opponent.

Are you heading to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

With more than 500 miles of coastline, Calabria-bound travelers have plenty of options. Most of Calabria’s beaches are set with a mountainous backdrop of rugged cliffs or tree-lined slopes, but for the purpose of today’s feature, I’m going to stick to the west coast. Here are three of my favorite coastal towns on the Tyrrhenian Coast, so chosen not only for their sandy beaches, but for the energy, excitement and all-around zesty Calabrian spirit they offer visitors.

Scalea

It’s been a long time since I’ve waxed poetic about Scalea, a fun little seaside town that is located in the province of Cosenza near the Calabria/Basilicata border. This town has everything you could want in a beach town … historic castles … intriguing views … hidden mosaics. They even have award-winning Sicilian granita and one of the best homemade liquor stores in the region.

Falerna

Falerna is located in the province of Catanzaro between Lamezia Terme and Cosenza and was one of the first seaside towns I fell in love with. It lacks the glamor of Scalea and the popularity of Pizzo (see below) but the lungomare is one of the nicest on the coast, the people are some of the friendliest and most generous in the region and the sunsets rival anything you’ll see in the country.

Pizzo

Oh yes, loyal readers, you’ve heard of Pizzo and some of you might remember that I’m not the only one in love with this coastal town. While it’s true that boys can become men in a place like Pizzo, I love it because it has a nice tourist infrastructure in place, without trying too hard. Its Murat Castle, Chiesetta di Piedigrotta and world-famous gelato don’t hurt, either.

Are you heading to southern Italy or Calabria? If so, click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to any of these villages or you can see Pizzo with us in October during the Calabrian Table Tour.

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In fact, we’ve been working on the itinerary, scouting locations, hotels, agriturismi , restaurants, chefs and guides since last fall.

Oh and it was hard!

Seriously. Traveling around this rugged and diverse region … trying new ethnic dishes and home-cooked meals … having professional chefs cook for us … that is work, people!

Well, it *was* work.

Narrowing it down, at least.

But somehow we did and we ended up with an appropriately-packed, while-still-allowing-for-breathing-time eight-day itinerary that is complete with four hands-on cooking classes, pasta and bread-making demonstrations, visits to local farms, factories and markets, wine-tasting, cultural visits, tarantella parties … and more.

I’ve been wanting to elaborate a bit on the tour for a while now, but between independent clients, the B&B’s new ancestry tours and the new capo I hadn’t yet collected these thoughts to put on paper. Uhm, computer screen … you know what I mean. … until now.

And then something happened this week that made me realize I better act. While scootin’ around Google, Tania noticed that the Calabrian Table Tour had been renamed the “Calabrian Culinary Tour,” was scheduled for the same dates, quoted our copy and was published on a website neither of us had seen before.

I’m not going to link to them here and give them my good Google Juice but let’s just say if you search for Busy Walkers dot com you will find a website that advertises business tours. 920 business tours to be exact. Or, well, 919 now.

A few days of creatively digging around, a half dozen unanswered phone calls and a Russian Skype message later we discovered that the company was communicating with would-be guests on our behalf and we asked them to remove our tour.

We still aren’t sure if they were going to tell us about any potential bookings, demand commission or worst of all … accept payments from Calabria-lovin’ foodies wanting to visit the deep south, but we are glad we found them before future travelers did.

If you are reading this post and want to join us in October, then you will probably contact us directly-or work with one of our fellow Italy travel consultants who has first hand knowledge of the tour. And that’s great. But feel free to warn others about companies like Busy Walkers who might not be on the up and up.

The last few days scared the naiveté out of me (out of maaay, you know to make that rhyme) but nothing’s going to distract from the energy, passion and Calabrian creativity we’ve poured into this tour. October can’t get here quickly enough for us and we hope you’ll come along for the Calabrian Table Tour and join us at we travel throughout the region, sharing our Calabria with you … one table at a time.

Are you heading to southern Italy or Calabria and can’t make the tour in October? If so, click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

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Sardinia, spelled Sardegna in Italian, is a far-flung southern Italian island that is a water enthusiast’s dream. The island is great for sailing, diving, snorkeling and swimming and features the intriguing Nuraghi beehive-like, UNESCO World Heritage Site dwellings, Roman ruins and ancient castles. Its eight provinces are Sassari, Nuoro, Cagliari, Medio-Campidano, Carbonia Iglesias, Ogliastra, Olbia and Oristano.

Are you heading to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip.

Photos: Thumbnail, Polisblog; other photos McLaren Clan, yoyntl, imagea, ciao yvon and ozzadavies all via Flickr.

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Think a southern Italian summer is all about bathing suits and beach towels? Well … in a way, it is. Beaches are the number one attraction for many southern Italy-bound travelers and even if beach-bumming is not your thing, you will likely want to pack a swim suit … should you change your mind. Additionally, here are five other things to wear so you can fit in with the locals and be comfortable throughout your trip.

1. Sleeveless Tops with Layers
Sleeveless tops and tank tops are perfectly acceptable for southern Italian summers, but you will often see Italians layer a short-sleeved sweater or jacket over their top … just to be cute. Men can wear short-sleeved t-shirts (solid colors work best) or polo-style shirts.

2. Sandals or lightweight Tennis Shoes
Finally … a season where southern Italians will wear open-toed shoes, so feel free to pack your sandals or even a lightweight pair of tennis shoes for your trip.

3. Lightweight Pants and Skirts
Although there is still a breeze in many areas of southern Italy, packing lightweight cotton pants and skirts will help you keep cool. As with other seasons, Italians are very well put together and over-sized pants or bulky skirts aren’t really the norm.

4. Shorts (with care)
A couple of years ago I’d have said to leave your shorts at home, however they are gaining in popularity here in southern Italy and you regularly see locals out and about in shorts. However … and there is a big however, they wear dressy shorts and/or typically tuck their shirts in and use a belt. Even in shorts, southern Italians are stylish.

5. Sunglasses
Yes, southern Italians wear sunglasses year-round, but if you are visiting in the summer months, you’ll definitely want to pack a pair of your favorite sunglasses-or pick up a pair at a local market-to help you fit in. Not only will they help protect your eyes from the gllaring Mezzogiorno sun, but you will also look stylish when you are at the beach, touring villages or engaging in my favorite summer pastime … eating gelato!

What else would you suggest travelers wear if they visit southern Italy in the summertime?

Be sure to check out Robin’s travel tips this week at My Melangè.

Until next time … Buon Viaggio!

Traveling to southern Italy? Click here to see how I can help you plan your trip to Calabria or southern Italy.

Photos: Two Wheels Blog

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