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Q&A with An Irreverent Curiosity Author David Farley and Giveaway

I am embarrassed to admit that I hadn’t heard of David Farley or his book until I saw him on a panel at a TBEX Travel Conference that I attended over the summer. And that’s a shame really.  After hearing him speak and listening to other attendees rave about his comical book, based in Italy, I knew I had to check it out!

An Irreverent Curiosity is a hilarious memoir based on David’s quest to find out what happened to an ancient Roman Catholic relic, known in Italian as the prepuzio, which the foreskin of Jesus Christ.  Farley, his wife and his chihuahua Abraham Lincoln move to the tiny village of Calcata in an attempt to uncover the history of the relic and it’s disappearance from the local church – the last known site of the foreskin.

I’m not going to review the book here – instead I’ll point you to the New York Times review, which I encourage you to read.

I’m happy to report that I recently read the book and absolutely loved it, which is why I asked David if he would pop by for a quick Q&A.

David pointed out that there could be no better possible time of year to discuss a book dedicated to the quest of Jesus’ foreskin – and I am inclined to agree. So if you need a last-minute Christmas gift for an Italophile in your life, we both happen to think a copy of An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church’s Strangest Relic in Italy’s Oddest Townwould be perfect!

Here’s our interview:

1. Calcata seems like a very “interesting” place indeed. Do you think it would make a great off-the-beaten-path destination for travelers heading to Rome? What would you advise folks not to miss during a visit?
Most definitely. After all, that is how I discovered Calcata. I ended up writing an article for the New York Times about Calcata and how it makes for a great day trip from Rome. It’s best to go on the weekends when all the art galleries and restaurants are open. The place is small enough that there aren’t really any sites to check off a list–though you can see the spot in the church above the altar where the Holy Foreskin once rested; the Faliscan tombs carved into the base of the cliffsides below Calcata, and see plenty of interesting art. Really, though, the best thing to do in Calcata is eat lunch and then hang out on marble-bench-lined piazza for a little while.

2. You and I share a passion for Italy. What is it about Italy that keeps you coming back? Any plans to make a permanent move?
It’s hard to dislike Italy. Though I have to admit, after spending so much time there, I started to see through the romanticization of it and, underneath it all, Italy can be a wicked, quite intolerant place. So are a lot of places in the world, but because Italy is so aesthetically beautiful on so many levels and because the food is so good and accessible and easy to comprehend, a lot of us tend to overlook the negative things. I’d love to move back to Rome, but have no plans at the moment.

3. I’m curious about what the folks of Calcata thought of your book? Have you gotten any feedback – good or bad – from any of the locals?
I haven’t gotten a lot of feedback, actually. So I’m not entirely sure.

4. If you were stuck for all eternity on a deserted island, which of the Calcata characters in your book would you want to be there with you and why?
Ooh, good question. I’d go with Pancho. He was like a brother to me and is always entertaining and fun to hang out with. Also, he’s a chef, so he’d be obligated to do all the cooking on the island.

5. What’s next for you David? Any new projects we can look forward to? Where can we find your writing these days?
I wish I could say I had another book project on the horizon, but I haven’t found another topic that has intrigued me enough to undertake anything else. After all, it’s hard to top the Holy Foreskin and Calcata. So for now, I’m just writing for magazines and newspaper. Most of my published work can be found on my website: www.dfarley.com

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David Farley is the author of the award-winning “An Irreverent Curiosity: In Search of the Church’s Strangest Relic in Italy’s Oddest Town” (PenguinGotham Books, 2009) and co-editor of the anthology “Travelers’ Tales Prague and the Czech Republic: True Stories” (Travelers’ Tales, 2006). He writes about food and travel for the New York Times, the Washington Post, National Geographic Traveler, Slate.com, and Gadling.com, among other publications. He teaches writing at New York University.

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Thank you so much David! It was fun getting to know you a bit better. I, myself, can’t wait to visit Calcata one day. But until then, I’ll just have to experience it through your words.

EDITED : THIS CONTEST IS CLOSED.  CONGRATS TO THE WINNER AND THANKS TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED!

And speaking of David’s book, he was kind enough to give one lucky reader a free copy of An Irreverent Curiosity.  All you need to do is leave a comment on this post by 11:59 EST on Wednesday, December 29th, 2010. A winner will be selected using the Random Number Generator and announced on December 30th on my Facebook Fan Page.

Good Luck!

Q&A with Barolo Author Matthew Gavin Frank And Giveaway

If you love food, wine and Italy – we have a real treat for you today. Author of the book, Barolo - a story about his six months in the village of Barolo, Italy – drinking the wine of the same name, working the vineyards, cooking in the restaurants, getting to make friends with both the locals and shopkeepers.

Today, Matthew is doing a little Q&A with me and has graciously offered to give away a copy of the book to one lucky reader.

Stay tuned, details on the book giveaway will be at the end of our interview.

1.  Why Barolo? Out of all the places to write about in Italy – what made you choose Barolo and how did you ever wind up there in the first place?

Growing up in a microwave-and-saturated-fat-centric family, it took me a while to realize that the food world was larger than a radiated lamb shank paired with Crystal Light pink lemonade.  There was some impetuous revolt growing in me in my late teens in response to the crappy undergraduate meal-plan dinners (if you could call them that) served in Hopkins Hall, where I worked for a while—a very short while—clearing trays and washing dishes.

I remember the particular dinner that inspired this culinary rebellion.  It was this disaster of Creamed Chipped Beef on Texas Toast.  It broke me.  I began reading books on food and wine, determined to do better than this, which took a while actually.  At some point, I came across an article on Barolo wine and vowed to go to the region where it was made.  After a couple days, lazing in the vineyards, eating fresh pasta and white truffles, I vowed to return to live there and, upon returning to the States, trashed my microwave in vulgar ceremony.

2.  I’m assuming that Barolo is your favorite wine. What other wines do you drink – Italian or otherwise?

You are absolutely right, but I drink anything that tastes good.  From the Piedmont, I also love Docletto, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Barbaresco, Langhe blends, you name it.  There are so many wonderful wines from the Rhone Valley, and from Portugal, Argentina, Slovenia, etc. that are great values as well.  My wife is from South Africa, so we’ve been finding some great wines from her birthplace.  Lately I’ve been into Chenin Blancs from there.  Great summer barbeque wine.  Some grilled whitefish, a glass of Chenin Blanc…  That’s mid-May to me.

3.  In the book, you talk about a special, rather old and very expensive bottle of Barolo that Sandrone gave you.  Do you still remember how that tasted?  Can you tell those of us who will never be lucky enough to sample a wine like that about it?

Oh, I’m moaning just thinking about it. That wine was my primary payment for a season’s-worth of farm-work. I remember opening it, decanting it in this stone kitchen of a farmhouse in Barolo, Italy.  I left it there for an hour, and then returned.  The entire kitchen was perfumed with the stuff.  Violets and tar.  The wine was so rich, it was almost like a liqueur.

4. Can you share a secret, an undiscovered treasure with us – hopefully something that isn’t in the book.  Perhaps a gem of a place you ate, a special spot to watch a sunset, a reasonably priced wine available in the states for someone to try.

Try a Dolcetto by Sandrone, or Paolo Scavino.  Great, reasonably priced stuff.  The sunset from the sentiero (or rural hiking trail) between the hamlets of Barolo and La Morra is stunning.  It turns all of the local castles orange.  Osteria delle Saracca in Monforte d’Alba recently opened.  The meal was sublime, and the architecture is this fabulous mesh of the ancient and the modern, like techno music blasting in the Colosseum.

It was the first time I tried the Piemontese peasant dish called finanziera, a vinegar-stewed mélange of off-cuts and organs, splendidly prepared.  Like all great art (which great food is), the dish aimed to agitate even as it comforted and pleasured.  In it, I tasted cocks’ combs for the first time and, as such, woke the next morning early, guttural, and way too loud.

5.  What is the one Italian dish from that region that you would happily eat your weight in?

On my last visit to Barolo, I ate this meal at Osteria La Cantinetta: carne cruda (raw heirloom beef tenderloin with arugula, porcini mushroom, and white truffle oil), agnolotti al plin (tiny Piemontese Italian ravioli stuffed with braised veal and leek, sauced with sage butter and veal stock reduction), wild boar braised in Barolo wine, and hazelnut panna cotta.  If I had to choose one dish, it may be their agnolotti al plin.  Anyhow: I’m still pinning my residual burps into my lavender-scented scrapbook.

6.  I love the Italian language and often write lists of some of my favorite words.  Care to share one of your favorites….

I like colazione—because it’s fun to say, and because it means, breakfast.

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Thanks Matthew!

For the book giveaway, all you need to do is make a comment on this post from now through midnight, EST on May 31st for a chance to win.  I’ll pick the winner using the Random Number Generator.

And for those who don’t want to wait – you can purchase the book in my Amazon Store.

Good Luck!

Q & A with Divina Cucina and Cookbook Giveaway

Many of  you may know Judy Witts, otherwise known as the Divina Cucina.  But, do you really know her?

Judy lives in Tuscany and her live revolves around food.  Cooking food, teaching classes about food, shopping for food, etc. In fact, she has just written her first cookbook, Secrets from My Tuscan Kitchen!  And if you stay tuned, after the interview, Judy has graciously agreed to give one away to a lucky reader.  But more on that later.

Here is our interview.

MM:  Can you tell us a little about how you came to love and live in Italy?

DC: I was a Francophile for most of my life, my grandfather was born in Paris ( English mom and Turkish dad) and I studied French for 13 years-  travelled to Europe as soon as I got out of high school and spent most of the trip in France.

After 5 trips, I got a job in a 5 star hotel and was trained as a Pastry chef.

I was finally ready to leave the hotel and start my own business and wanted one last trip to Europe. My roommate at the time had just come back from  a year in Paris and one in Rome. She told me to go to Italy, that I would love Italy and Italy would love me.

It was true!

MM: Of all the places to settle in Italy, why Tuscany?

DC: When choosing a place to stay for a month in Italy to study Italian so I could learn more about food, I was told that there were three places to study Italian, Perugia, Siena and Florence- where they spoke perfect Italian and not dialect.

Siena and Perugia were hill towns and I wanted to live in a city.

MM: Can you share one little secret about Tuscany with us?  One that you might not find in any guidebook?

DC:  I think people do not really realize what Tuscany is- many of my clients say, I am going to Florence and then to Tuscany- meaning Siena usually or south. Tuscany is HUGE and has mountains to go skiing just outside Florence ( Abetone) or a huge coast from just below the Cinque Terre all the way down to Maremma.

I think Maremma is waiting to be discovered by Americans. The British have been going for years. Some of Tuscany’s best wines come from there, the area has cowboys , incredible food both from the mountains and the sea. I adore Niki Saint Phalle’s Tarocchi garden, an incredible sculpture garden in the hills.

MM: What is your favorite Tuscan village and why?

DC: My local village Certaldo is rather untouched by tourism, and is a perfect example of a Medieval village. Located between Florence and Siena it is an easy day trip from both on the train or by bus.

MM: Who is your food hero?  Who inspires you?

I have learned the most from Italian mamma’s. All Italians will tell you the best place to eat in Italy is at home.

I adore Fabio Picchi of Cibreo, as he has recreated the food his mom prepared, perfecting it for the restaurant.

I also was lucky enough to work with Master Butcher Dario Cecchini in Panzano in Chianti, he is another very passionate culinary professional and I have learned a lot working with him.

MM:  How did you come up with the name Divina Cucina?

DC: Originally my cooking school was called Mangia Firenze- but no one knew that Firenze was Italian for Florence.

I did a play on words of the Divina Commedia, Dante’s famous writings to create Divina Cucina.

MM:  We know your livelihood is based on food.  Can you share the one Italian ingredient you couldn’t live without?

DC: Extra virgin olive oil and great sea salt.

MM:  What is your favorite food market in the area?

DC: I was very lucky to live in front of the Central Market in Florence for 20 years, and before that near the San Ambrogio market.

Now in the countryside I can attend a weekly market in a different town almost any day I like.

MM: Your favorite wine bar?

DC: In Florence, I usually go to Gianni Migliorini’s Casa Del Vino, as it was near my house. Across the Arno I go to Le Volpe e L’Uva, just across the Ponte Vecchio, a tiny place with an incredible wine list and great small plates.

MM: What is the one local dish that you must order if you see it on a trattoria menu?

DC: Suckling pig- something I usually don’t prepare often at home and is cooked mostly for special parties.

MM: And your favorite recipe to prepare for friends and family?

DC: Ragu with fresh pasta, can be pici, the flour and water hand rolled spaghetti or lasagna

MM: Speaking of recipes, you just launched your first cookbook – what inspired you to write it, how long did it take you, and what surprised you most about the process?

DC: The cookbook is called Secrets From My Tuscan Kitchen- I share the secrets I learned living here and gathered from Mamma’s, chefs and at the market shopping. Usually one has to speak the language to gather these sorts of tips. So I wanted to share what I have learned over the years.

I started gathering the recipes when I moved here in 1984 and in 1988 I began teaching cooking classes to the local study abroad American college kids from Syracuse University. Eventually I hand-wrote the recipes and had them photocopied and spiral bound.

I had always dreamed of having it published and could not find a publisher in the states. So I decided to print it myself. Most Italian cookbooks in Italy are imported and so expensive here. So I have an Italian published cookbook in English.

I closed the school and took about a year for the whole project to happen. I created my own handwriting font, had my friends do artwork for the cover and I worked with the printing-house on how I wanted the book to “feel”. I chose Fabiano watercolor paper for the cover and a more rustic paper for the inside. The book is stitched and then glued, so made to be used. Every other page is lined for notes from the chef- I really wanted this to be a cookbook that would be used and passed on.

Thank you Judy, for taking the time out to chat!

Q&A with Craig Martin and Subscription Giveaway

The launch-of-the-new-website-celebration continues with another interview and giveaway! Today, I am so excited to have another special guest. A big name in the Independent Travel genre- or in my humble opinion, the name in Independent Travel – none other than Craig Martin of the Indie Travel Podcast!

Craig and his wife Linda have been traveling around the world independently and teaching others, through both spoken and written word, how to do it for years.

They are indeed very courageous! I am not sure that I could do what they do- or at least not for as long as they have been doing it. And for that- they have my utmost respect and admiration.

Here is my interview with Craig. Details about the giveaway will follow.

MM: Have long have you and Linda been traveling ’round the globe now?

CM: My wife Linda and I started off with a trip around the South Island of New Zealand in February 2006 then headed up to Europe by way of Hong Kong. Since then, the longest we’ve stayed in one place is six months (Perth, Australia) and in 2007 the longest we stayed anywhere was just 13 nights (Bursa, Turkey).

MM: What motivated you to just pack up and become world traveling nomads?

CM: We’d been wanting to travel for some time … since our last year of Uni in 2002, if not before. It took that long to find gainful employment, pay off student loans and start saving up for tickets and an emergency fund.

We talk about it more in a recent episode of the podcast, why we love travel.

See shownotes

MM: You both run the Indie Travel Podcast. Tell us about that and how it came about?

CM: The Indie Travel Podcast is a multimedia site with video, audio and pictures alongside regular travel articles. We do pretty well with a wide range of guest writers submitting work and we won the Lonely Planet’s Best Podcast 2009 award which was great too. People can browse through the site or sign up for free in iTunes, which will download new audio and video as it becomes available.

After our first six months of full-time travel we had learned a lot of really practical information that we had never seen in any guidebook. We mainly learned it through huge mistakes, like trying to catch a train from Catania to Rome on the last day of the University holidays without a seat reservation. As teachers by nature we wanted to share what we’d picked up and a friend whom we were flatting with suggested a podcast. The first page went live in November 2006 and it all grew from there.

Now we publish a magazine, are expanding our selection of ebooks, and publish four to six stories and multimedia pieces a week … all while travelling around the world.

MM: You are at one extreme of the independent travel spectrum- and the other would be organized travel, like group tours. Going from one extreme to the other might be too scary a thought for most, so what do you recommend for people that really want to get their feet wet, without diving right in?

CM: I wouldn’t label us at the extreme, but we’re definitely in that direction. I guess a lot of people consider the world as a scary place; one that’s out to attack them or harm them. And although bad things can happen, I would posit the opposite is true. As a traveller, the world is overall a friendly, inviting place if you approach it with a curious, engaged and generous mind.

Practically, and in baby steps for someone who’s concerned about travelling, I’d suggest adding several days to a tour you’re already going on. Heading to Paris for a week? Book into a three day tour and ask your agent to extend your hotel stay and flights for another three days. That way you can spend some time understanding the city with a group, find your feet, then explore by yourself.

You might want to pick up a copy of my book, Travelling Europe (mp3 version), which answers a lot of common first-time questions.

MM: And for those who are resistant to even try- can you give them a few benefits of independent travel?

CM: In a very banal sense, independent travel is a cheaper, more time intensive option, but it’s so much more.

Travel is an adventure, an act of discovery, a pilgrimage. By getting away from tour groups, you allow yourself greater freedom of thought — you are forced to ask questions and communicate with people you don’t know. You take risks and learn to trust your judgements and you also learn from your mistakes.

When travelling as a group of friends there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy the community feeling of overcoming these obstacles together and discovering new things, but when everything is organised for you, it robs you of this, becoming just another commercial product that you evaluate with comments on the tour guide or quality of food.

Independent travellers tend to linger more than others: if they like somewhere, they’ll stay for a week, month or even a couple of years. This gives you more opportunities to make friends and find the oft-cliched “authentic” or “hidden” aspects of a place. They’re normally in plain sight if you take a breath and look around.

MM: Since my blog’s focus is on France and Italy, can you tell us where in those countries you have been? Which was your favorite city in each of these countries and why?

CM: I’ve spent around two months in each country, in chunks of a week or three each time. When we left Malta, we came up through Sicily to Rome, then up to San Remo in the north. I’ve spent time in many of the northern cities and outlying regions of them; places like Florence, Milan, Bologna and Venice have all been “seen”, but we stayed a couple of hours outside of them in small (wine-growing!) towns. Somewhere I’ll never forget is Baiardo: a small hilltop town out of San Remo. We were lucky to spend a few nights there in the re-constructed remains of a castle basement dug into the hill. It was beautiful.

In France too, we’ve mainly been in the north but I don’t feel I know France too well. It’s often been a transition point from London to Paris to …, or a stop in Strasbourg while driving from Lake Constance to Trier, for example. The one time we really felt connected to France was when we “borrowed” a canal boat from a distant relative then spent several days on the Niverne with our siblings. We added in a quick visit to several champagne houses early on, which made for great drinking every evening to accompany my sister-in-law’s excellent cooking.

MM: Something else we have in common is traveling light, which of course in your line of work must be challenging. I was lucky enough to be included in one of your traveling light podcast episodes. Can you give us a few tips on how you travel light?

CM: I can give you dozens.

The easiest way to start is to buy a small bag! You’ll keep adding things to a bag that seems empty, so starting with a smaller suitcase or pack really helps. I currently carry a 45+8 litre Berhaus pack, while Linda has a backpack by Aarn which is amazingly comfortable to wear and maximum carry-on size for most airlines. I think my next pack might be an Aarn too.

MM: Your latest project is a hard copy of the Indie Travel Podcast magazine, which one of our lucky readers will win a year’s subscription of- other than photos, how will this differ from the actual podcast and what can we look forward to in the upcoming issues?

CM: The travel magazine is quite different from the podcast. On the show we talk about topics from the practical to the inane and try to interview travellers who are doing interesting things or are experts in their area. The magazine is much more location focused, although we still bring up topics like travelling in Burma in the first issue; greenwashing and eco-tourism in the upcoming one.

We’ve found a great collection of real travellers who write regular columns on health, women’s travel, working from the road and consumer issues. We also highlight popular and off-the-beaten track locations, like Lagos or Tonga. There’s something for everyone who’s passionate about the world and connecting with people globally.

The best thing about it, is that it’s completely free. We’re giving away PDF copies or you can read it on site in a digital flipbook. If you prefer to hold it in your hand, we print a strictly limited number of each edition and post them around the world. For NZ$40 a year including all taxes and postage, you can get it delivered. We use a professional printer in New Zealand and it’s full, glossy colour on great quality paper. Everyone that’s got a copy has been impressed with it — and that’s readers in the USA, Canada, Chile, UK, Australia, New Zealand, and various places throughout Europe and Asia. I think Africa and Antartica are the only continents we currently don’t have a subscriber on!

MM: What’s next for you guys? Where on the globe can we expect to see you this year?

CM: Well, over December and January we’re travelling with UK blogger Andy Hayes on the Great Kiwi Trip. We’re planning on spending six months in South America after that, then a few months in Europe. We’ll explore some of northern Africa then might be able to go wine-tasting with a few podcast listeners in South Africa. If all goes to plan — and it never does — we’ll be heading into Asia in the last part of 2010.

Thank you so much Craig! And please, thank Linda as well!

* * * * *

Not only have Craig and Linda been gracious with their time, but they have also agreed to give one lucky reader a free print subscription to the Indie Travel Podcast Magazine! All you need to do is leave a comment about Independent Travel on this post. Perhaps you can tell me about an experience you had when traveling independently, why you like or dislike indie travel or if you’re hesitant to try traveling alone- tell me why.

You have until December 10th at midnight to leave a comment.  I will choose a winner that will be announced here on the blog the next day!

Good Luck and thanks for playing!

Q&A with Nan McElroy and Book Giveaway

For those of you who don’t know Nan McElroy, she is an American expat living in Venice, Italy (jealous, maybe a little!). Matter of fact, her website is called Living Venice. How appropriate!

I have had the pleasure of getting to know Nan. I consider her a friend and a colleague. Most notably, Nan has published a wonderful series of travel books-which I highly recommend to you and to clients.

Nan agreed to do an interview to kick-off my new website and give away a free copy of one of her books to a lucky  reader! But, you’ll have to stick around ’till the end of the interview to find out which one!

Here is our chat. Enjoy!

MM: Nan, why Italy? How did you end up living there?

Nan: It’s odd…I’m not one of those people who always wanted to live in Italy, or who, upon my first visit (in 1995) swooned and went home to pack thinking I’d return to live some storybook version of La Dolce Vita. I had no delusions about the difference between being on vacation here and trying to be productive. I do remember thinking, “I can’t believe this country has been here my whole life and nobody told me.”

Being from the Southeast, I’d had little exposure to Italian culture of any sort, and the difference between Pizza Hut and Olive Garden and the country itself was stupificante, to say the least. I continued to return yearly for a month or more at a time, in ’96 to learn the language, then to travel, research and write “Italy: Instructions for Use.” In the end, the supreme effort it took to leave a stable life as a video editor behind and relocate at cinquant’anni, was motivated purely by what I wanted my daily life to consist of: less time in the car, and more in a less-manic, more-forgiving, arts-investing, food-based culture that’s as agile as it is gracious. Perfect? Macché(certainly not!). But then less face it: neither am I.

MM: And how did you land in Venice?

Nan: It’s Europe’s (and Venice’s) intimacy that suits me. The scale of the city. The water. The absence of cars, and the built-in walking. Being in constant contact with the outdoors. The food. The wine. The prevalence and appreciation of art and artisanship. All facets of daily reality, face-to-face, undeniable. The fact that every relationship is personal, no matter how short-lived, from the bank teller to the restaurant owner to a member of the remiera (boat club) or my singing companion, the barista, the president of the association or the lady from the post office to the ex, all of whom, prima o poi (sooner or later), I’m likely to run into on the street or the vaporetto.

Maybe it’s a quick “ciao,” maybe you’ll stop for a chat (Tutto bene?), maybe it’s a promise to get in touch, but it’s incredibly sustaining…just like the fresh vegetables that arrive by boat from Sant’Erasmo weekly…it creates a tangible “we’re all in this together” atmosphere. And of course, the voga. But we’ll get to that.

MM: What do you love about Venice?

Nan: Going somewhere else and coming back home. I waited ten years for this sensation to wear itself out…and now after fourteen, it still hasn’t. There are times I do feel I live in a sort of Lilliput…in that the rest of the world can have a tendency to recede…but I try to keep things in perspective. Also, no matter where you are in the city, in any sestiere, whether out walking, on a boat, or at home with a window open…you can hear the grand marangona in the San Marco campanile, toll the stroke of midnight.  I never tire of hearing it.

MM: Can you share a Venice secret with us, perhaps something not in a guidebook?

Nan: The secret is there aren’t any. If you sit at La Cantina, half of the folks there will have a guidebook talking about that unknown cafe with no menu, marvelous food, great wines and friendly service (I call it Venice’s version of “Cheers”). If you are a local living in almost any remote campo, a writer (with her photographer) will stop you almost daily telling you she is writing a book on “Secret Venice” and then asking to confirm some detail of the oddity that occurred there.

If there are secrets about Venice they have to do with how, rather than what or where. I wish visitors would spend less time worrying about booking the perfect hotel (there are lots) or determining the ideal location (anywhere but San Marco), and more time reading just a smidgen about Venice and her story…it will bring you a whole other awareness of everything you take in when you are here. Keeping in mind that Venice was not originally created as a resort can make a big difference in how you enjoy the city, no matter how little time you have.

That…and spend more time here. It is a cumbersome city and simply takes more effort than others to become orientated to. When you don’t allow that time, you cheat yourself, I think…and frankly, risk wasting money solely due to lack of knowledge of how the city functions.

I will tell you one secret, I think: Orsoni Mosaics. It’s the Other Venetian Glass. Signing up for a class there (three days or a week) is a wonderful way to really connect, literally, with the city’s artisan history…and slow you down enough to really live it. The other “secret” is the voga…but I’ll get to that in a minute.

MM: Do you ever get homesick for the US?

Nan: I miss friends, family, and colleagues, of course…and I am always amazed at how inexpensive things are in the U.S. compared to Europe. I am not homesick for living behind the wheel of a car, though…I love having trains and mass transit, and someone else to do the driving while I read, or work, or nod off…

MM: You and I are alike in that we wear many hats. Can you tell us what you are involved in?

Nan: I do organize travelers time here in Venice; however, I work more often as the “Venice connection” for Italian Travel Consultants as opposed to working directly. One of my most popular services is “Venice: A Welcome Introduction,” a unique, on-arrival orientation that’s marvelous for helping folks get their bearings. I sit people down in a calm location with maps (Venice and vaporetto) and other materials, marking them for booked activities, my suggestions, dining recommendations, and otherwise noting all their options according to interests and the time they have. People seem to find it extremely helpful.

Otherwise, my catch-phrase is “vini, voce, e voga.” For pure pleasure, I study la lyrica (lyric opera) with Sara Bardino (thus the voce, voice), and team up with mezzo-soprano Valentina Borsato and a few other for the occasional concert. (When it goes well, it yields what we refer to as soddisfazione, such satisfaction…)

As for the “vini,” I *should* be an AIS sommelier by February (the exam is not easy and the course is in Italian, so…pray for me). But with all this wonderful wine at a stone’s throw it seemed a shame not to immerse myself in it…so to speak. I’m particularly enjoying getting to know wines made from native varietals by small producers who don’t export, made with as little “correction” as possible; I’m hoping to help clarify the maze for the everyday wine enthusiast through writing, offering visits to local wineries, and on-site introductions to regional wines here in Venice. (I bet €50 you do too like white wine!).

MM: You have a deal, Nan! And speaking of wine, what kind of wine do you prefer?

Nan: I like good wine. That’s all. Good. Balanced, complex. Good. Red, white, French, Italian, any country, sfuso (on tap), invecchiato (aged) , I don’t care. A Corolla for lunch or a Lamborghini for an occasion. Good wine.

I will say that generally, I prefer lower alcohol wines. Complexity seems to shine through more easily, I think. And…you can also enjoy more wine with less risk of negative effects. So…good French wines, when I can get my hands on them, make me absolutely swoon. As a friend puts it, they are the undisputed masters at the techniques to pull every last nuance out of a grape…they have to, being so far north. And unlike high-alcohol “jammier” wines from super-mature fruit, they can have an overall elegance that’s hard to beat. I don’t think you have to be an expert to sense it either (i.e., if I can…).

However, Italian wines are simply smashing for their extraordinary variety, excellence of production, and sheer enjoyability – if that’s a word. Many of the wines produced in the Tre Venezie are in fact low in alcohol, and I’ve really come to appreciate them…they’re just compatible with the way I consume food and alcohol…so it works out great!

MM: Tell us about your Instructions For Use series and which countries we can look forward to seeing next?

Nan: Illustrata Press publishes the Instructions for Use Travel Series (Italy: France: , and Greece: Instructions for Use, and now the new Vap Map Vaporetto Guide). I would love to follow up with Spain, but the truth is that both the travel and publishing industries are undergoing enormous changes almost daily. I’d like to get my bearings a bit before launching into another country. I’m very proud of these pubs though…they serve exactly the purpose I was hoping for: to keep all practical info at folks’ fingertips (because they’ll never remember it all, or have time to locate where they read something on a website when they’re on-site).

MM: What is Voga?

Nan: My all-consuming passion is vogare: to row, Venetian style. If there is a “secret” that lives – or perhaps is disappearing – right under the nose of every single traveler, this is it. “Vogare” in Italian means “to row”: the voga alla veneta is the style unique to Venice and her lagoon, performed standing up, facing forward. “We row with our heads,” one guy tells me. “The rest of the world rows on its ass.” It’s the method the gondoliers employ (look closer, they do not pole); and it has propelled Venetian craft throughout its long history fin dall’inizio: when Dandolo sacked Constantinople, when Bellini and Titian and Tintoretto were painting, when Casanova escaped from the Piombi, and even when Napoleon arrived, up until after WWII, Venetians vogavano, they rowed.For us foresti, we never feel so Venetian as when we row the voga alla veneta.

I am the president of a non-profit cultural association called VIVA (Voga per l’Identità Veneta) formed by five women vogatrici: three “Veneziana DOC,” or Venetian by birth, and two by choice). VIVA is dedicated to the celebration, salvation, conservation, and documentation of the voga and its culture, including returning the oar-powered traditional craft to their rightful place in Venetian canals. This amazing core group of women numbering over thirty and still expanding is determined not to let the motorcraft monopolize the canals and the lagoon.

Along with their supporters , VIVA is collaborating with other organizations like Arzanà, Pax in Acqua and voga boat clubs like Settemari, and is co-producing a documentary film, “Grit and Grace,” that will help spread the fascinating story of the voga, past and present, and the women’s efforts to maintain it as an integral part of Venetian life. If you’re looking for “hidden Venice,” this is where you’ll find it.

Can you contribute? I thought you’d never ask! Of course you can…and we need you. (10 minutes, €10).

Why is it important? It’s less about the money, and more about letting the City of Venice and our potential funders know how many people to whom this is an important cause.

To lend a hand…from wherever you are, surf to:

* VivaVogaVeneta.org and join VIVA – just €10 per year, then
* pass the word to other Venice lovers, rowers, and wooden boats builders – we need them too.

Then, when in Venice:

* keep an eye out for traditional craft and particularly us women rowers (feel free to express your appreciation vociferously. “Bea barca!”).
* for a larger contribution we will row you in our sandolo so you can have a truly authentic experience.
* and please…ask your taxi driver to SLOW DOWN!

________

Thanks so much Nan, for answering my questions!

And now for more fun, Nan has been nice enough to give away one of her fabulous books to one of my lucky readers! It’s my favorite in the series (I have previously reviewed it), Italy: Instructions for Use.

So, all you need to do is leave a comment on this post about Venice. It can be anything really. A helpful tip, your favorite memory, a different food you tried while there or even what you dream of doing in Venice if you haven’t been yet!

You have until December 5th at midnight EST to comment and then I will pick a winner, who will be announced on the blog the following day.

And if you want more Italy, don’t forget to enter to win a FREE subscription to the Dream of Italy newsletter!  Time is running out!

In bocca al lupo!

All photos in this post are copywrite Nan McElroy and cannot be used without express permission.

Q&A with Afar Magazine

This Travel Tip Tuesday, Cherrye and I are both doing interviews with people in the Travel Industry.  You’ll have to wait until the end to find out who Cherrye is interviewing.  It’s sort of a surprise!

But until then, let’s get to my interview, shall we?

Over the summer, a brand new travel magazine was launched and I was lucky enough to receive a free premier copy of the first issue.

Needless to say- I loved it!

Honestly, I used to subscribe to all of the biggies out there. Over the years, I never really connected with them, with the exception of Budget Travel.

But, I really found something different about Afar. I wanted to know more.

Susan West, the Editor-in-Chief for Afar magazine, was nice enough to pop over and answer a few questions about the new magazine!

Here is our interview:

MM: It’s pretty gutsy launching a new travel mag in this economy, when so many other magazines are closing up shop. What made you decide that now was the right time for a new Travel Mag?

Afar: Our founder, Greg Sullivan, is a serial entrepreneur, who believes a down time is actually a good time to start any business. The idea is that we’ll work out the kinks during the slow period and be in a strong position when things turn around. It’s much riskier to start an enterprise when everything is booming and there’s lots of competition.

As for why a magazine now, the whole team believes strongly in the power of magazines to inspire, create community, and build a brand. Especially in the travel category, there’s nothing like a magazine—the immediacy of fresh, inviting photography and riveting writing—to convey the pull of the road and the experience of exploring the planet. And there’s nothing like a magazine to establish a media brand and seed a community; Afar magazine is just the start of a bigger media enterprise that will soon include a social network Web site, books, events, and TV programming.

MM: We are all familiar with Budget Travel, Travel & Leisure, Conde Nast Traveler- how is your magazine different and who are you hoping to reach?

Afar: We’re for people who seek experiences when they travel, who are not just “consumers” of travel like they’re consumers of fashion or food. “Experiential travel” takes you into a culture and connects you with the essence of a place and its people. Every travel magazine covers this approach to some degree—it’s a growing trend right now, and we’re certainly not claiming that we invented this type of travel—but none of the competition do it exclusively. We do.

That means we have the freedom to organize the magazine around that philosophy: For example, our departments are divided into sections called See, Connect, and Go. The See section is about seeing the world as a whole and appreciating how our culture is just one of many. The Connect section introduces readers to individuals and ideas that illustrate experiential travel. And the Go section is all the practical, how-to material.

After that come our features, which re-create on the page the experience of this type of travel. Every single one of these stories is presented from the point of view of traveling to understand another culture. So, even our so-called service information—all the must-have material about places to stay and eat—is grounded in that approach: How does this regional dish reflect the culture? How does this hotel or lodge put you in touch with the community?

The readers we’re hoping to reach—and our early feedback indicates we’re succeeding—travel because they are curious and open-minded about how the world operates and how others live. They are cultural explorers, who often follow a particular passion when they travel, who ask questions and engage with other people, who are open to the unexpected, spontaneous delights that travel offers.

I always picture two types of readers: Boomers like me who did the backpack-through-Asia thing and who now travel in a more upscale way but haven’t lost their taste for authentic experiences, and the generation behind them who grew up doing overseas community service projects in the summers and who feel comfortable anywhere in the world.

MM: I love that your mag has an eco-friendly vibe. Your Travel with a Purpose feature is a great example of how travel can have a positive impact on the environment. Can you tell us about all the things you are doing to promote the environment, both as it relates to the writing and the production of the magazine. Why is it so important to you and why should it be important to your readers?

Afar: It just makes sense that those who travel in this deeper way have these leanings. While we don’t take an advocacy stance, we do believe in responsibility. Our Good Trips department, which you mentioned, is one place where we’ll regularly offer trip ideas that align with these values. For every issue, we make a contribution to Sustainable Travel International’s Gold Standard portfolio to offset the carbon emissions generated by flights taken for the magazine, and we print on paper from sustainably managed forests. We also make a point not to use green-washing buzz words; instead we describe specifically how a particular project or accommodation choice or whatever is responsible.

MM: I notice there is no mention of the U.S. in the Premier Issue and while I love that, I am wondering what the decision was behind that? Might we see some features involving the U.S. in the future or has that market been over-saturated?

Afar: We made a deliberate decision to cover only destinations outside the U.S.. We felt that other publications were doing a good job of writing about travel in the US, and that the notion of travel to understand other cultures pointed more toward overseas destinations. But we do joke about starting a U.S. version called “Nearby”!

MM: I love the Spin the Globe concept. What are some of the upcoming areas that you’ll be reporting on in your Spin the Globe feature?

Afar: Ah, that’s part of the surprise! We really do keep those destinations under wraps so the writers don’t know until the last minute where they’re going. That department is our way of suggesting to readers that they can have amazing travel experiences without the slightest advance planning.

—–

Thanks so much for stopping by and answering my questions Susan!  I look forward to reading future editions of Afar and seeing what the upcoming destinations are for that Spin the Globe feature!

I hope you have the chance to read Afar. I wonder where it will take you?

—–

And as promised, I wanted to reveal the surprise guest Cherrye over at My Bella Vita is interviewing. It’s none other than l’il ol’ me!  Click here to learn a little more about me and My Melange.

Q&A with Dream of Italy and Subscription Giveaway

I am so excited to have Kathy McCabe, the founder of the award-winning newsletter, Dream of Italy, stopping by today! Kathy and I have partnered together before – in fact, you can see my contribution in her new FREE Christmas in Italy Guide! Perfect for the Holidays.

Kathy and I have one very important thing in common. Our love for Italy.

Kathy was kind enough to agree to a little interview. And to help me kick-off my new website- Kathy is offering one lucky reader the chance to win a entire year’s subscription to the Dream of Italy publication!

So, let’s chat with Kathy!

MM: Kathy, how did you fall in love with Italy?

DOI: I fell in love with Italy right after college when my mom took me on a graduation trip to Italy. Our itinerary included the major destinations – Venice, Florence, Rome, Amalfi but we decided to add a decidedly untouristy destination to our plan – the small town Castelvetere sul Calore – in the mountains of Campania, near Avellino.

This is the town my mother’s grandfather left for the United States at the end of the 19th century. No one from our immediate family had been back and we – two blonde Americans who didn’t speak any Italian showed up there one day. It was one of the most incredible days of my life – about 20% of the town had my mother’s maiden name, we learned that anyone with that name only came from this town and that our family were originally Norman invaders. I ended up falling in love with Italy and going back any chance I could and returned to my ancestral home town several times again as well.

MM: What part of Italy is your favorite and why?

DOI: Picking my favorite part of Italy is like picking a favorite child. But I’ll play along. My favorite city in Italy is Rome; I am just mesmerized by the mix of antiquity and modernity. I also think Turin is a special and undiscovered city offering incredible museums and cuisine. In general, I’m partial to all of southern Italy. I’m completely enamoured with Puglia – gorgeous beaches, beautiful vineyards, the biggest olive trees I have ever seen. I also love Basilicata – especially the seaside paradise of Maratea.

MM: What is your favorite Italian recipe- you know the kind you’d eat every day and never tire of?

DOI: Depending on the season, when I’m heading over to Italy there are a number of dishes I can’t wait to eat. Stuffed zucchini flowers is one of my favorites. I love visiting Tuscany, Umbria or Piedmont during truffle season and enjoying truffles in a variety of dishes especially on pasta. Who isn’t a gelato fan? My favorite flavor is straccitella.

MM: Can you share your most memorable moment in Italy?

DOI: I have so many memorable moments from my travels throughout Italy. The ones closest to my heart are definitely from that first day I stepped foot in Castelevetere sul Calore. I have a wonderful memory of visiting Rome for Christmas and standing with my parents in St. Peter’s Square at midnight on Christmas Eve to observe midnight mass. The hottest I have ever been and coldest I have ever been in my life have been in Italy! Hottest – Venice – August 2003 when an unbelievable heatwave was hitting Europe. Coldest – February 2006 – watching the snowboard cross at the 2006 Winter Olympics.

MM: Dream of Italy has a subscription special running right now. Can you tell us about that?

DOI: Sure. Right now, we do have a terrific susbcription package which you can read more about at the Dream of Italy website.

A subscription includes-
+ 10 issues over the coming year
+ online access to 70 back issues
+ BONUS DVD – Visions of Italy: The Great Cities

And I’ll give one of your readers the online subscription – $39 value.

________

Thanks so much for chatting with me Kathy! It was great getting to know you better!

And since Kathy has been nice enough to give-away an online subscription and bonus DVD, I thought we would have a little fun with it!

All you need to do, is leave a comment on this post between now and midnight EST on December 1st, telling us why you Dream of Italy! I will randomly pick a winner on December 2nd, and announce the winner on the blog.

In bocca al lupo, all of you Italophiles!

Miss Expatria: The Winner

After a week of getting to know Miss Expatria better, and lots of entertaining comments, the time has come to announce the winner.

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.

***

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!

—

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!!

Interview and Book Giveaway : The Paris Apartment

This is quite a surreal experience for me.  I have owned, no worshiped, the book The Paris Apartment for the last 8 years.  I have referred to it on many occassions.  Then one day the author made a comment on my little ole blog on a post about the Vanves flea market in Paris.  I was tickled pink, though I had to pinch myself and shriek like a little girl whose Daddy just bought her the pony she'd always wanted. I had to call Chris over to make sure I wasn't seeing things.

I answered her comment.  Soon we were emailing back and forth and a fast cyber-friendship was born as only could be in the world wide bloggosphere.  I remain both grateful and stunned.  Really.

One of the reasons I love Claudia (yes, there are many),  is that she is my poster child for successfully managing many facets of a business.  She is an author, business owner, designer, blogger, Flea Market tour guide, consultant and a fellow Francophile.

As someone who has many creative passions, but grew up with others judging me, telling me that I was too scattered-brained and that I needed to focus on only one thing-I appreciate that she has proven those naysayers wrong!  It is ok to have your eggs in more than one basket.  Frankly, I know myself well enough that I would be bored doing just one thing-as I am sure Claudia would too.

I feel in this respect we are kindred spirits.  Soul sisters, if you will.

So, without further ado…

As promised, here is my long-awaited interview with Claudia from The Paris Apartment.  Don't forget to read all the way through to the end, where you will find the details of the contest and book giveaway.

***

What is the first memory you have of being creative? 

Rearranging my bedroom furniture at around 9…my parents were shocked I’d moved some pretty large pieces!

How did you fall in love with Paris?  

Ah, true love…I guess it started while traveling with my family (dad worked for Air France), then sank in after college when I discovered the fleamarkets.  

What can I say, I’m human, and her spell was cast! It’s definitely a love affair that hasn’t faded in the least.

How old were you when you made your first trip there and what spoke to you most on that first trip? 

Most of my early memories were kept alive cause my Dad took films of our travels. I think seeing them over the years has planted a seed cause it was pretty picturesque. 

He got us at the top of Notre Dame, sitting on the gargoyles, and sailing boats in the fountain at the Luxembourg Gardens.

When did you know you could make a living from your passion? 

As soon as I thought of the name! It helped me define my direction and point of view. Up until that point, I had a mishmash of ideas but nothing specific.

How did The Paris Apartment come about?

In 1993 I quit the corporate world and rented a store in NYC. I had no idea what it would be, other than Claudia’s Clutter and it was a hodge podge of furniture from my parent’s attic and the flea. 

Once the name hit me it was like I knew exactly what to do. The store was only 300 square feet so I had to focus on something specific. I was fascinated by all things boudoir and saw it as a fun, untapped niche market.

What was harder than you expected when you first went into business?

Keeping Books!

There are so many facets to your business.  You ran a retail store, you do flea market trips, interior design consults and makeovers, you wrote a book, you write a blog and now you are designing and selling your own furniture. Which is your favorite and why?

It’s sort of a curse cause I only put a layer on each here and there. It’s a part of entrepreneurship I guess, so much to do with only so much creative time. 

I wish I could focus more on each cause I do love working on them all. My blog is the most fun probably, since it’s interactive and my bloggers give me so much love.

It’s a great creative outlet for no reason at all except pleasure.

What are you currently working on?  What is new and in the works? 

I have about 6 books in the works, everything from Apartments in Paris to Bachelor Boudoirs. I never seem to finish any of them which is a bit frustrating! 

Officially in the works is a furniture line called Boudoir Noir, based on designs from old movies and stills. We hope to debut it at the Maison et Objet next year. 

The new web boutique will be launching any day and we’re introducing a line of unfinished furniture. The list goes on and on, everything’s a work in progress!

What is one thing you haven’t done, but hope to do one day? 

Have a great partnership and create an affordable organic furniture and bedding line with a major manufacturer. 

Your work inspires many, including myself.  Where does a talent like you get your inspiration? 

Wow, thank you! I get inspiration everywhere, from nature to magazines, graffiti and architectural details.

I read everything I can and watch old films, listen to 20’s music and surf the web. I love to learn about other cultures’ dances, traditions, colors and heritages. 

What advice can you give other creative souls out there about making a career out of doing what you love? 

Don’t judge it by how much money you make, judge it by whether you want to do it everyday.

I’d suggest getting someone to do the books while you’re out being fabulously free and focused on your art. 

Follow your instincts and you’ll create a signature that’s completely unique.

Get as much publicity as possible and try to focus on something specific you can be known for. Be a big fish in a small pond!

Can you share a debacle or a lesson you learned from a bad experience? 

Oh, well I face and try to dodge debacles everyday! I guess my greatest lesson is to put things in writing.

Quality control has been my biggest challenge because I manufacturer all over the world and can’t always see the finished product before it goes out.  If there’s an error, it’s a domino effect creating mega debacles.

And I loathe debacles! 

We all know you love flea markets.  Which is your favorite and why? 

I adore the NY flea but it’s in peril and may close this year. In Paris I’d have to say Clignancourt cause after all these years I’ve finally learned all of the nooks and crannies. 

Now I know where the bargains are, and they’re the best in the world!

It’s a city of its own with a history and heritage that’s treasured by Parisians. I’ve been collecting early pictures of it for a book…See, just another work in progress!

What has been your most fabulous, most extraordinary, deal of the century bargain from a flea market?  What did you do with it? 

Everything at the Paris fleamarket is an extraordinary deal of the century in my mind! But for the really wild stuff, I always seem to find those pieces when shopping with clients. 

I try to be gracious not let them know I’m freaking inside! Last week I finally scored a pair of chairs for $20 each from a ratty FL thrift shop. 

People were offering me hundreds for them on the way out but  I think I’ll enjoy them at home for a while. 

How about the strangest thing you have seen at a flea market?

Fleas are microcosms for strange things aren’t they? For me it was a  70’s photo album of a woman who was a sort of sex symbol wanna be. She was lounging all over her very fancy and frilly apartment.

The one consistent prop in every shot was her taxidermy stuffed cat. She put it everywhere from on her lap to the top of the highboy. Seeing it in the same position over a hundred times was a dead giveaway!

When you see something you love when shopping for a client, do you have a hard time parting with it?  Do you often keep it and look for something else for the client instead?

I’ve tried not to get too attached to things and if there’s one then there’s probably another somewhere close by. I always let the client have the piece cause I can’t keep it all! 

Where else have you lived besides NY and Florida?  Do you ever dream of living in Paris? 

I grew up in NJ (my parents are still in the house) and went to college in PA. I lived as an au pair in Paris after college but since then I’ve been stateside. 

I do dream of living there, or at least having an apartment when I visit! But then again, everywhere I go in the world  I think, “I could live here”!

Are you fluent in French?

Not at all, but somehow I manage, it comes pretty easily. I brush up before I go by watching French movies and listening to it on the radio.

What are the things that you can’t miss doing when visiting Paris? 

Laduree,  hitting every single flea, the Marais, croissants, BHV, a picnic on the bridge, exploring a new neighborhood, and riding the bus aimlessly.

What is your favorite area/arrondissement of Paris?

I’d have to say the Marais because it has so much history as it’s the oldest part of the city. It feels like a little village and has at least 3 glorious mansions that were homes to the great Salon Hostesses of  the day. 

What is your favorite food to eat in Paris?  

I love sandwiches on baguettes. I usually get tuna or egg and tomato. Not sure how I don’t gain weight cause everyday I get a croissant,  a café au lait, an entire baguette and bottle of wine.

Sometimes I share that!  I love to cook when I’m there so I make pasta salad or fish if I’m renting an apartment.

Do you have a favorite restaurant or café? 

I love all the Costes Brothers’ restaurants and cafes. There are a few at the Hotel Costes, the Louvre, and Le Boudoir on Rue de Rivoli.

There are tons of others too, we find them everywhere. Some are designed by Jacques Garcia so there’s the double pleasure of beautiful decor and a great meal.

If you could have dinner with one person dead/alive who would it be and why? 

Tough question! Probably Josephine Baker. I love her life. Her spirit and struggle and the way she broke barriers and boundaries inspires me. 

I’d like to ask her about her life and times. Of course, Madame Pompadour ties with her and I’d ask her all the same questions!

Of all my accomplishments, I am proudest of…

Hmmm, that’s interesting cause it’s a bit therapeutic. I guess I should feel I’ve accomplished something, so let me think. 

I guess that I haven’t given up and have managed to work on this just about every day for over a decade. 

And it’s been a job I created and maintain, so there’s that.

There’s so much I want to do and don’t seem to ever really accomplish much of anything in my opinion. Maybe I’ll rethink that, thanks!

The economy has taken a sharp downturn here in the US, what advice can you offer folks on a tight budget about decorating rooms in their homes in The Paris Apartment style?

*Minimize and edit. It’s a good time to downsize to just the things you adore and have meaning to you.

*More than adding to a room, sometimes what’s needed is to take something away (same principal when Coco Chanel says to take off one piece of jewelry before you go out)

*Even in a bad economy you can have the best of everything. Start with your bedding.

*Satisfy your shopping urges by supporting the fleamarkets where you can get bargains on vintage pillowcases and linens.

*Shop for linens and dishes at places like Marshall’s and Ikea for staples like rugs and bookshelves.

*At local fabric shops, cottons, velvets, shirting are just a couple dollars a yard. You can completely change the vibe by making curtains yourself (use ironing tape if you don’t want to sew).  If you’re in NY then there’s the garment district, in the burbs there’s Wal Mart or Jo Ann fabrics. 

*Paint your ceiling an old traditional color like turquoise or Chinese red, or just pearly over white.

*Add a great plant to set a tone. Potted Bamboo is really striking and mod.

*Rearrange what you have and use items you normally save for special occasions. Everyday is one!

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Thank You so much Claudia, for agreeing to the interview.  It was a pleasure learning more about you!  We have so many things in common (keeping books!?), it is no wonder we are friends.

Now comes the fun part.  It is your turn to leave a comment or a question for Claudia below and you will be entered into the drawing.  Claudia has graciously agreed to give away a signed copy of her extraordinary book, The Paris Apartment!

You have until midnight EST on Saturday, December 13th.  The winner will be announced on Monday December 15th!

Bonne Chance!