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Travel Tip Tuesday – Travel Yoga

If you are anything like me, you'll try anything to get through an overseas plane ride- and all the stress that goes along with it.  I need all the help I can get.  I am not the greatest flyer.  I'm not even good.  I just don't care for it.

I hate being in those cramped seats, not wanting to get up to disturb my neighbor, or waiting out delays in the terminal. I'll try drugs, wine, my iPod, reading, movies, journaling, crosswords- you name it.

*Security Check Stretch
*Flight-Got-Bumped Rag Doll Stretch
*Layover Back Relief
*Service Station Rejuvination
*Luggage Carousel Lunge
*Mile-High Massage (no, this is not related to the Mile-High Club!?!)
*Overhead Luggage Reach

*Leaning Tower of Pisa Pose
*Eiffel Tower Eagle Pose

Sfogliatelle-Off

Italians are not quite as famous for their pastry as are the French.  My favorite pastry of all time is, of course, the croissant.  Nothing can compare to that buttery, flaky dough that the French have perfected and are so famous for.

 

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Guest Blogger- Julie from WhyGo France

I have not been feeding my Francophile soul as much, probably because I have Italy on the brain- planning our upcoming trip and all.

But don't worry it's still there.  C'est vrai.  And today, we have someone guest posting that shares my passion for my France.  Julie writes the blog WhyGo France, and I asked her to stop by and write about her love of the country and to tell us how she fell for it.

So, let's give a warm welcome to…..Julie!

I fell in love with France much the way you fall in love with an enchanted forest in a childhood fairy tale. My grandmother is French and despite the fact she moved to this country after World War II nearly 60 years ago, to this day she speaks with a rather heavy accent and is still much more a French lady than an American one. Growing up, my Grandmere would feed us French food, speak in French occasionally and tell us lots of stories that started “Well, in France we….” Long before my family made our first trip to the other side of the Atlantic, I’d already imagined the seemingly magical place that we’d heard so many stories about.  

You’d think with so much build-up and hype, I would have been disappointed with France when I got there. This did not happen. Although France was not the idealized version of 1930s Paris in a chic 17eme arrondissement penthouse apartment, which my Grandmere described, it was nonetheless a completely enticing and enchanting place to me. As I got older and my French got better (I studied the language starting in 5^th grade and majored in it college), I promised myself I would return to this country where the baguettes were always crispy and you could truly experience the French joie de vivre. 

When I was 16, I participated in a Rotary Exchange, which assigned me to live with a family in France for the summer—ideally with a French girl in the house about my age. I got paired with a fabulous family who lived outside of Annecy in a little town called Menton, right on the beautiful Lac d’Annecy in the Alps. The girl, la petite Marion, was one year younger than me and we became fast friends and remain in contact. 

That summer, I did a one week trek through the French Alps; floated on a boat on the Seine and went wine tasting in the Loire Valley (yes, I was 16 and yes it was legal, see why I fell in love with France…); went swimming in the lake, and pretty much had the best summer of my life—all while totally improving my French conversation skills. 

That was when I truly fell in love with France. It was during that summer in the mountains that made me promise myself to go back for an extended period of time. That promise led to my year in Paris studying at the Sorbonne. When I left Paris after that time (you can not even imagine how emotional that was), I vowed to return for an extended period of time once again. This has not happened yet. In fact, finishing college and getting a job has interfered with me making it back to France since I left—leaving a little hole in my heart I know won’t be filled until I am once again back to my pastry-a-day habit in my kind of homeland (and lots of walking those metro stairs to make up for pastry consumption and trying to stay looking as fly as those damn thin and stylish French ladies). 

Miss Expatria: The Interview and Book Giveaway

I have recently had the pleasure of getting to know Christine, better known 'round the Internets as Miss Expatria. She writes the blog of the same name, as well as the hilarious blog, Unfortunate Hotels, which is a collection of the worst hotels on the web. 

For me, it was love at first read, because she loves travel (check), France (check) and Italy (checkmate).  She actually divides her time between France and Italy.  We haven't had the pleasure of meeting in person, yet, but that will all be changing, because as luck would have it we will both be in Rome at the end of May. So, be afraid Rome, be very afraid!! 

Christine has written a book, cleverly titled Miss Expatria, about her experiences leading up to and living in Italy and she was gracious enough to agree to an interview and give away a free copy of said book here on My Mélange- cause that's what we do here.  

And let me just say, that I think you should all run out and buy a copy of this book!  Now.  For those of you who don't want to wait, you can buy a copy of Miss Expatria in my Amazon Store.

Without further ado, here is our interview:

MM: Give us a brief synopsis of the book, if you would.

ME:  You know, I am a professional writer and this is the one thing I find so hard to summarize, because it's about ME. Let's give it a shot: In 2002 I broke up with my boyfriend of seven years, and moved to Italy two days later. Miss Expatria chronicles my time spent first in an empty palazzo by the sea, where I got my act together; and then in Rome, where I met the Gay Mafia; dated a Count; ate the most incredible food and lost 60 pounds; and fell in love with a writer who lived in the South of France and whom I met up with in Barcelona, Venice and Paris, among other places.  Then I lost my job, and was forced into exile in New York for a year. The book ends not only with my triumphant return to the Continent, but the epiphany I had upon stepping on Roman soil again about what is important in life.

MM:  How did the name Miss Expatria come about?

ME:  From my boyfriend, the aforementioned writer from the South of France. He's a master of brainstorming.  I wanted to call the book Cambio Change Wechsel, both because of the prevalence of the signs in popular tourist destinations and my addiction to changing everything from the layout of my bedroom to the course of my life. But, the name has come to personify for me who I want to be, who I am at my happiest moments, and who people that do not live the life I live perceive me to be.

MM:  Why do you refer to yourself as a travel guru? Why do you love travel so much?

ME:  Travel guru – that's just on my LinkedIn profile!  To use an ever-so-charming British term, I was taking the piss. I'm not good at being serious.  I prefer the tagline on my blog – The Internet's leading enabler of travel addiction – because I have the awesome power to make people make rash, fabulous travel decisions, and I am totally and completely drunk with that power.

Why do I love travel so much? I'm not sure why.  I was on the move from every three days to every six weeks or so during a significant portion of my childhood, when I was in two national touring companies of Annie; and then I didn't travel anywhere until I went to Paris when I worked for Ralph Lauren in my mid-20s. To me, being able to travel where I want, when I want and for how long I want is a huge, huge part of being a grown-up, while being strongly connected to the part of me that as a child fell in love with travel.

MM:   Why Italy?  What made you want to move and live there?

ME:  I first went to Rome in 1999, and it felt like home.  I left determined to move there.  But you'll have to read the book to find out more about that!  Cheeky, I am.

MM:  If you could give one piece of advice to expats, what would it be?

ME:  Learn the language.  Whether you're more comfortable assimilating or joining the expat community, it's absolutely essential you learn the language of your new home country.

MM:  What surprised you about living in Italy?  How does the real thing differ from what you had expected?

ME:  I had researched the hell out of living in Italy so nothing surprised me too much, nor did it differ greatly from what I was expecting.  However, if I had to name something, I would say the thing that continues to surprise and delight me is the utter kindness of the people I've met there. It stops me dead in my tracks and humbles me in a way nothing else ever has.

MM: You happen to divide your time between the two places on earth I am passionate about – France and Italy.  Could you tell me one thing you like and dislike about each of them?

ME:  Italy:  I love the people. I've met exactly one Italian I didn't care for. LITERALLY, ONE.  The thing I don't like about Italy, which has nothing to do with the country per se but is more the result of my being an ex-New Yorker, is the lack of 24-hour bodegas that sell everything you could ever need.

France: Love the bakeries. The only thing I can't stand about France that includes the entire country (Paris is perfect, and therefore normally excluded) would be the open contempt sales people have for their customers, whether in a store or on a customer service phone line.

MM: Espresso or cappuccino?

ME:  Ha! Neither!  I'm actually not a coffee drinker. But I do go through phases where I MUST HAVE  a latte macchiato in the morning – a tall glass of steamed milk with a shot of espresso, and enough sugar to kill a horse.

MM:  Wine, beer or cocktail?

ME:  Never beer; can't stand it. Wine, wine, wine or Veuve. But I do love me a good cocktail.

MM:  Favorite pasta?

ME:  My favorite pasta dish, hands down, is cacio e pepe. It's the chicken soup for my soul. I've had a lot of fancy and ridiculously good pasta dishes in my time, but cacio e pepe is the one I could eat every day for the rest of my life. I usually have to make someone take it away from me, because I'll eat it until it's gone – no matter how much of it there is.

MM:  What places are on your list to visit that so far have eluded you?

ME:  That crazy blue of Alaskan glaciers looks so fake in pictures that it's something I will have to see with my own eyes to believe.  I want to stay in one of those cottages that stick out over the water in the South Pacific. I want my friend Anu, who understands the complexities of my Golden Days of the Raj obsession, to show me India. 

Three big things on my list – Sicily, the Italian lakes region and the lavender fields of Provence – I'm visiting this summer!

MM:  What one website or blog (other than mine of course) do you have to visit everyday and why? You know, the one you would die without?

ME:  I absolutely cannot live without Free Will Astrology. I've been reading it every Wednesday since before the Internet was invented, back when it was printed in the Village Voice. Rob does away with the "You'll fall in love next Thursday" crap and instead feeds my constant need for inspiration.

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Now for the deets on the contest.

All you need to do is leave a comment on this post between now and midnight on April 1st!  I will select a winner using the Random Number Generator on April 2nd.  The winner's copy of Miss Expatria, with its sexy black cover and hot pink text will be on its way shortly after!

Thanks to Miss Expatria for the interview and the book- and good luck to you all!!  Now get commenting!

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Oh, and before I let you go, I wanted to let you know that Miss Expatria needs your help with something.  She has entered a contest to win her dream assignment, but she needs enough votes to qualify.  You can help by clicking this link, signing up and then VOTING!!  And tell all your friends to vote too!!

Travel Tip Tuesday – Finding Rome Accommodation

Staying in Rome can be very expensive!  Most first time visitors want to stay right in the middle of the action, which of course is the tourist area and therefore commands higher prices.

Women’s Italy Retreat

Lenora Boyle, Transformation Coach and Option Method Trainer is hosting an Italian Retreat for Women. 

I thought you would all be a great audience for her, since most of you who read the blog are women, who love to travel and are passionate about Italy.

When I read about it, I thought it was such a great idea! i just wish I hadn't made plans for Rome already or this would have been a serious contender.  It sounds right up my alley!!  Great food, stunning views, spending quiet time with like minded, creative women.  A dream vacation, really!

I asked Lenora to write a brief description about the retreat, so that I could present it to all of you.  Being that it is her passion, I figured she'd do a much better job than I ever could.  I encourage you to click on all the links that she has provided to get a much better feel for Lenora, and what she does.  

Here is what Lenora had to say:

This is an invitation to live the sweet life, la dolce vita.  Please join me in ITALY, where possibilities abound, for a transformational retreat for women, surrounded by all the flavors of Italy. 

Learn to be happy like Italians who find pleasure in everything around them: music, food, fragrances, scenery, and art.  The air, water, food and people are exceptional.  It is a country full of stunning beauty and pleasures to be savored.

For 8 days and 8 nights, from September 12- 20 of 2009, in Monterosso al Mare on the Italian Riviera in Liguria, I’m combining my passion for Italy with my passion for helping women expand their possibilities to create a life they love. 

During this Italian Retreat discover How To:

• Manifest greater possibilities in your life
• Awaken happiness while gently dissolving limiting beliefs
• Dive into the passions of Italy while tapping into your own passions
• Navigate more easily through life’s transitions and changes (job loss, empty nest, divorce, moving….)

What to Expect on this Retreat:

After a delicious breakfast of local fruit, cheeses and homemade breads, we’ll meet to begin learning the Option Method Dialogue – questions that you will take with you to continue experiencing the happiness gained during this retreat.  You will broaden your belief of what is possible and begin to expand and live La Dolce Vita, the sweet life.  

We’ll continue with techniques and exercises after lunch that will help enhance clarity, creativity and happiness.  Some afternoons will be filled with visits to the beautiful Cinque Terra (five towns), as well as to other picturesque seaside villages that cling to cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean.  Our time outside in the lush splendor of Italy will inspire us to find our inner beauty.

Italy’s gift to the world is to teach us to enjoy beauty and pleasure in every aspect of life—food, family, fashion, art, language, nature and love.  

As women, we are notorious for giving and supporting others, whether we have careers in or out of the home.  Now, let’s do something for ourselves.  Give ourselves the gift of happiness—a chance to travel to Italy with a group of like-minded women for the purpose of finding and living pleasure, joy and love every moment of our lives.

Cost:  $1300 USD/ 1108 Euro for hotel (double occupancy), workshop and breakfast.

(Transportation, lunch and dinner not included)

If you are interested, please email Lenora@ChangeLimitingBeliefs.com, call (641) 472-0414 or visit my Italy Retreat Blog or Change Limiting Beliefs. 

I’d love to have you join us soon because the reservation deadline is April 4th!

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Sounds dreamy right? If you decide to partake in this wonderful Italian adventure, make sure you tell Lenora that I sent you!

Have you ever been on a retreat? Tell us about it?

Guest Blogger- Jessica from Why Go Italy

Jessica, who is a dear blogger friend, fellow Italophile and the author of the WhyGo Italy travel site, shares my passion for Italy. And for travel.  So naturally, she is a perfect fit for a guest post on My Melange.

Love Thursday: Twitter Travel Love

This Love Thursday, I wanted to spread some Twitter love. 

Stuffed Artichokes

I have never been a big fan of artichokes.  I will admit that they intrigue me, though.  They look cool and weird at the same time.  And they are quite a delicacy in Italy, especially Rome.

Travel Tip Tuesday – Travel Planning with Google Maps

I am addicted to reading guidebooks, but I don't like dragging them all to my destination.