I am amazed by this site...i have been reading pieces here and there and i am happy to join this wonderful site! I live in north of Edmonton in Alberta, western Canada and have been able to experience some wonderful travels around the world. I have done exchanges with New Zealand and Ukraine so i lived with host families and experieced life as a local which i absolutely loved! I have also travelled to Autralia and several countries in Europe. However the Europe trip was named "A Taste of Europe" 2 days max in one country - not ideal for me. I am starting to plan a trip to Italy in September for 4 months and i look forward to geting a lot of info from this site. So far i have really enjoyed the pages that tell what is good to eat in what regions in autumn. YUM! I cant wait to taste those wonderful foods! Thank you for the wonderful information!
Welcome to Slowtrav, Limoncella! You must be living right next door to me, north of Edmonton...where's home for you?
Are you totally serious? Italy for 4 months??? A trip to die for, Rhonda!
Slowtrav truly is a fantastic place, with so many generous and kind-hearted people who will share all of their knowledge with you, in an Athabascan heartbeat. Ask all the questions you need to, and take some time to read thru' the archives...I've been reading them bit by bit since I joined and I've barely scratched the surface.
By the way, if you haven't been to the Italian Center Shop in Edmonton's Little Italy, go! It's wonderful! I'm going there on Saturday to stock up on fontina cheese, tapenade and bruschetta from the deli, plus a few other little yummy treats... Please keep us up-to-date with your trip planning!
“You may have the universe if I may have Italy!” ~ Guiseppe Verdi Brenda...north of Edmonton, also!
Welcome to another Canadian, and Western Canadian too! I spent 3 years in NZ and we recently had a GTG in Vancouver with some ST folks from Wellington. The last thing I expected was to make new friends face to face when I joined this board but -- it's been just lovely. Contribute and enjoy!!
Welcome Rhonda! I answer here the question you asked me in a different thread. You're planning a great trip to Italy. Autumn is very nice here, and I'm sure that you'll enjoy your stay.
I can't tell you for sure that on December there will be snow on Italian mountains... You know, climate seems to change and the last December was not an ideal month for skiing in Italy. Anyway I hope next December can be different.
Concerning temporary work (picking fruits and vegetables, or harvesting grapes) I'm sure you can find something, but I'm not informed about it now. If I read something useful I let you know.
Ciao!
--- "Sow a Thought, and you reap an Act; Sow an Act, and you reap a Habit; Sow a Habit, and you reap a Character; Sow a Character, and you reap a Destiny" -- Charles Reade
Posts: 97 | Location: Italy | Registered: 06 December 2006
Brenda, i am not too far away - i am in Morinville! How about that blizzard?!?!? Yes, 4 months - it was 7 at first until my boss had a bit of a heart attack when i told him and my mom almost cried because i was going to get kidnapped by the maffia... When i was younger, i said if i wasn't married by the time i was 30 i was going to depart from my normal life and celebrate my 30th year in a big way. Something like go to Hawaii to pick coffee beans and pineapples for a year. Maybe the anticipation of this 'big trip' is the reason i am not yet married? But somewhere along the way,Italy popped up! After reading Under the Tusan Sun i was hooked. There are endless cooking shows on the Food Network that are of the Italian theme and National Geographic magazines - it is like a sign! haha. YES!!! i have been to the Italian store - did u know there is a new south side location? - i love it!!! The downtown store is amazing - so many people it is exciting!! I just stood and people watched for a while and asked people about some of the cheeses they were buying. I would like to check out the cafe next door one day soon. Maybe we can meet up there one day!
Morinville! Wow, we are nearly neighbours! I'm going to the Italian Center this weekend...likely Saturday some time. I'm out of fontina cheese and I want to buy a huge tub of their bruschetta. I'm too lazy to make my own, and theirs is fresh every day and sooo good, who can resist? I heard about their south side store but I've never been there. And, I'd love to meet you for a capuccino and a visit... I'm still envious over your 4 months in Italy...someday, that'll be me!
"Lump the whole thing! say that the Creator made Italy from designs by Michel Angelo!" ~ Mark Twain Brenda
Originally posted by Limoncella: When i was younger, i said if i wasn't married by the time i was 30 i was going to depart from my normal life and celebrate my 30th year in a big way.
Ciao limoncella and welcome. Watch out what you wish for I came here for a break when I was 30 (restaurant biz - 90 hour work weeks for 11 years) and 12 years later I am still here. What was planned as a 6 month sabbatical, turned into 1 year and now - forever.
Janie and Geoff, Thanks for the welcome! I have come to realise the world is so small once you start to travel. How awesome is it to meet like minded people when it comes to travelling? Most of my friends are not into travelling too far which for me means no travel partners. But thanks to fantastic sites like this we are able to meet eachother! I was in Vancouver in September with some farmers from Ukraine. They loved the city - and i too have forgotten how nice it was! I vacationed there when i was young but this time was in the downtown area. What an active city! I will return one day...
Grazie Marco! Thank you very much for answering the questions! I will check out the site regarding the festivals. I am overwhelmed with the research necessary for a longer trip. All of the trips i have done until now have been mostly planned or i was at least with a group in which someone read the Lonely Planet book. Now it is all up to me to be the tour guide!! Yikes! This morning my friend gave me a Lonely Planet book - at least that should get me started!!! I am sure i will get great ideas from the people on this site. Ciao! Rhonda
BC Brenda- Thank you for the welcome! Yes i have heard about your wild winter...you are getting hit hard!! How long will your trip be to Italy? Once i have somewhat of an itinerary i will let you know - it would be great to meet up if possible! I look forward to hearing more about your trip. Rhonda
Fox Creek Brenda - enjoy your Italian Centre Shop experience this weekend. When will you come again? Let me know and we can meet up for cappucino. Ciao for now!
I'm fairly new here myself and am from from the East Coast (where we are still waiting for winter to arrive - mind you not all of us will be offended if it never shows up!) I fear my Alberta connection is tenuous at best - my best friend's sister married an Albertan and now lives in Edmonton.
I'm headed to Italy this July for my second trip (first for my hubby and daughters). I always said I couldn't imagine living anywhere but Nova Scotia, but after my first trip, I'm starting to eye the Italian real estate sites! (Ok, so hubby brings me back to reality with all the nonsense about where is this money tree I think we have, but oh well...a gal can dream!)
Hello Limoncella! I'm going to Italy in September too...but only for four weeks. Good for you for going for four months! What an adventure you'll have. softdrink
Posts: 245 | Location: Morro Bay CA | Registered: 05 January 2007
Limoncella, Welcome to the board from another Alberta resident - I am in Edmonton. I gather from remarks in this thread that you are looking for ways to spend 4 months in Italy, perhaps doing some farm work? Last Spring my 18 year old daughter, Julie, spent 3 months in France working at several different organic farms- for room and lodging, no pay - through an organization called World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms - WWOOF. Their website is www.wwoof.org; the Italian branch is www.wwoof.it You pay a small fee to access a database of farms with brief descriptions, and you contact the ones that sound like a good fit for you. Julie's experiences at the different farms ranged from fairly dismal (she dubbed the owner of the first one Cruella) to sublime (the owner was a chef; gourmet meals/excellent vino/dinner parties were a regular event.) - Marie
Hi from the Maritimes (N.B.) Limoncella - you mentioned buying Lonely Planet...I used to be a travel guide junkie...I confess but I would not buy anymore travel books for awhile. The research you can do if you scour this entire site is really so much more up to date and helpful than published guides I have found anyways...I've been reading here for a year now - planning a trip for next April and once I realized the wealth of information posted and the intelligence and experience of the posters here...the old travel books just can't give you that! I did decide to get two tiny "pocket guides" - one for Florence, one for Venice - just for directions, maps, reminders about interesting things, etc. The "search" function on the board is excellent and answered so many questions before I had to ask them on the board. What I have realized is that most of us want to see "everything" and write into the board to essentially ask people how we can do this! We don't seem to pay attention to the fact that it is called "Slow Travel....." Anyways,read, read, read and from reading you will get a sense of what areas you might want to focus on...you have a looong time to plan and you will be in Italy for an extended stay - so don't rush to decisions. I know I changed my mind numerous times the more I learned. I've also travelled extensively but never to Italy - so I am very excited for my two weeks - I can't imagine if I had the luxury of months and months!! Happy planning!
Hmm - no one from Ontario? I shall fill that void!
Welcome to another Canuck! Even if you are from 'there' LOL My trip to Italy was originally planned for my 40th birthday. It didn't happen for various reasons until I was 42 but when it did - good lord I was hooked! I even had the pleasure of meeting up with Brenda in Rome.
We'll soon be busy planning our next trip there - spring 2008!
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Andasamo - still no snow eh? I am loving this snow(exciept for the driving)!! Bring winter on! It sounds like you have fallen in love with Italy and i am sure your famiy will love it! Let me know when you find your money tree and i'll com visit you in your new home!
Softdrink - have you been to Italy before? Where are you going this time? maybe we can meet up if we'll be at the same plalce same time? Let me know...
Marie - thanks for the info on WWOOF... I've heard of them but forgot about them! I will check out their website - thanks for that. I still may be asking more questions after i read through it. As well, i am looking for a native Italian language instructor in the Edmonton/St. Albert area. Do you know of one? Otherwise i might start classes at the end of january, but the instructor is native english.
Debrah - you make a very good point! I like to get my info from people anyways - we have good stories to tell each other. It's easier to get the exact info i want from talking to others. So i think i will stop at my one BIG LP book. It scares me to see how much there is to read!!
Jerry - thanks for filling the cndn void! I am scared i might get hooked on Italy too. Jsut because i like it so much right now...i cant imagine how i'll feel once i am there! I might end up like Christine and not come home...but don't tell my mom that! I really like your quote "toursits..." it is fantastic! Where was your fave spot in Italy and why? what months did u go?
As well, i am looking for a native Italian language instructor in the Edmonton/St. Albert area. Do you know of one?
You could ask to the "Dante Alighieri Society" in Edmonton. Read here and here.
Ciao!
--- "Sow a Thought, and you reap an Act; Sow an Act, and you reap a Habit; Sow a Habit, and you reap a Character; Sow a Character, and you reap a Destiny" -- Charles Reade
Posts: 97 | Location: Italy | Registered: 06 December 2006
Limoncella, For Italian language classes try Metro Community College, formerly the adult education arm of Edmonton Public Schools. You may be able to find an evening class offered at Ross Shepherd high school which is in NW Edmonton just off St. Albert Trail. I have taken a couple of these classes which were taught by native Italian speakers; I thought the classes were very good and at a reasonable price. Classes are also offered at the U of A but some of the teachers are the same and course prices are a lot higher. The advantage is that some are day classes which you may prefer. Good luck! - Marie
Limoncella - we were in Italy the last week of september and the first two weeks of October. I don't know about a favourite spot - with me it is often experiences. While I loved Rome I also have negative memories of Rome. Our villa outside of Florence was wonderful - coming home at the end of a day of tooling about Tuscany was so nice. I thought that venice was MAGIC!
Jerry
The traveler sees what he sees. The tourist sees what he has come to see. ~G.K. Chesterton
Softdrink - have you been to Italy before? Where are you going this time? maybe we can meet up if we'll be at the same plalce same time? Let me know...
The last time I was in Italy was in 1990. My college roommate and I were backpacking through Europe, so it's a blur. We'll be in Rome from 1-8 Sept, Tuscany 8-15 Sept, the Veneto (based outside of Padua) 15-22, and in Verona from 22-24 Sept. If our schedules match up anywhere, I'd love to meet up and hear how you're doing!
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...north of Edmonton, also!
But somewhere along the way,Italy popped up! After reading Under the Tusan Sun i was hooked.
I came here for a break when I was 30 (restaurant biz - 90 hour work weeks for 11 years) and 12 years later I am still here. What was planned as a 6 month sabbatical, turned into 1 year and now - forever.