WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:03.439 Your flights and accommodation, a book, Your itinery is sorted. 2 00:00:03.720 --> 00:00:06.080 You have dreamed about this trip for longer than you 3 00:00:06.120 --> 00:00:09.720 would admit to most people. So what is worth organizing 4 00:00:09.800 --> 00:00:12.599 in the final weeks before your trip to Italy. That's 5 00:00:12.599 --> 00:00:15.759 what we're covering today on this latest episode of the 6 00:00:15.839 --> 00:00:17.920 Untold Italy podcast. 7 00:00:24.519 --> 00:00:29.039 Tawatuti and Benvenuti Tuan Told Italy, the travel podcast to 8 00:00:29.079 --> 00:00:32.600 where you go to the towns and villages, mountains and lakes, 9 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:36.960 hills and coastlines of Beli, Italia. Each week, your host, 10 00:00:37.159 --> 00:00:39.880 Katie Clark takes you on a journey in a search 11 00:00:40.000 --> 00:00:45.719 of magical landscapes, history, culture, wine, gelato, and of course 12 00:00:46.039 --> 00:00:48.840 a whole lot of pasta. If you're dreaming of Italy 13 00:00:48.960 --> 00:00:52.799 and planning future adventures there, you've come to the right place. 14 00:01:02.679 --> 00:01:06.959 Jao Tuti and Ben Venuti, Welcome to episode three hundred 15 00:01:07.000 --> 00:01:10.760 and thirty two of the Untold Italy podcast. I'm Katie, 16 00:01:10.840 --> 00:01:13.439 the founder of Untold Italy and if you're tuning in, 17 00:01:13.480 --> 00:01:15.400 there is a fair chance you have a trip to 18 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:18.439 Italy on the horizon. We know a lot of our 19 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:22.319 listeners travel in September and in October, so we thought 20 00:01:22.400 --> 00:01:25.200 that we would cover what needs to get done before 21 00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.040 you get on the plane, because sometimes we planned a 22 00:01:28.079 --> 00:01:31.400 lot of in advance, and we may have left a 23 00:01:31.439 --> 00:01:34.000 few things to the last minute. A few months out 24 00:01:34.000 --> 00:01:36.439 from your trip, the big planning is mostly behind you, 25 00:01:36.519 --> 00:01:39.159 the countdown has started, and somewhere in the back of 26 00:01:39.200 --> 00:01:41.359 your mind is that short list of small things you 27 00:01:41.439 --> 00:01:45.000 keep meaning to sort out. After many many trips to Italy, 28 00:01:45.120 --> 00:01:47.280 my guest Monica and I have got this down to 29 00:01:47.560 --> 00:01:50.760 what we think is a fine art and so today 30 00:01:50.799 --> 00:01:54.000 we're here to share these tips with you. Now, before 31 00:01:54.040 --> 00:01:56.359 we get started, I wanted to share a lovely review 32 00:01:56.400 --> 00:01:58.719 that we got from one of our recent tour guests 33 00:01:58.760 --> 00:02:02.680 on our trip to and this is a really beautiful 34 00:02:02.719 --> 00:02:07.400 trip that's immersing everyone into the region and really meeting 35 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:11.199 the locals and having a beautiful time. And so Nola said, 36 00:02:11.240 --> 00:02:15.159 the Untold Italy Umbria Tour was a truly wonderful experience. 37 00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.639 This was only my second guided tour. I usually preferred 38 00:02:18.680 --> 00:02:22.319 to arrange things myself, but this trip has completely changed 39 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:26.360 my mind. We visited places, met people, and discovered artisans 40 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:28.840 I never would have found on my own. With just 41 00:02:28.960 --> 00:02:32.479 nine guests, the tour felt wonderfully personal and attentive. Our 42 00:02:32.560 --> 00:02:36.400 guide Sarah was exceptional, endlessly helpful. Nothing was ever too 43 00:02:36.479 --> 00:02:40.120 much trouble, and she consistently made sure every single person 44 00:02:40.560 --> 00:02:44.240 was getting the most out of the experience. Umbria itself 45 00:02:44.520 --> 00:02:47.919 was breathtaking, so many beautiful villages and cities to explore. 46 00:02:48.280 --> 00:02:51.960 The accommodation and food were equally fantastic. I honestly couldn't 47 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:54.400 find a single fault except that it had to end. 48 00:02:54.759 --> 00:02:58.280 I cannot recommend this tour highly enough. Everything is taken 49 00:02:58.319 --> 00:03:00.719 care of. All you have to do show up and 50 00:03:00.879 --> 00:03:05.080 enjoy it. Oh Nola grout simulate. Thank you so much. 51 00:03:05.120 --> 00:03:07.360 It was so much fun to have on tour and 52 00:03:07.400 --> 00:03:09.400 we are so delighted to be able to share this 53 00:03:09.479 --> 00:03:13.400 beautiful region with you listeners. If Umbria is calling, we 54 00:03:13.479 --> 00:03:15.919 do have some spaces available on our trip to parting 55 00:03:15.960 --> 00:03:18.960 in October where we will immerse ourselves in the region 56 00:03:19.039 --> 00:03:22.719 and the all important olive harvest. The link is in 57 00:03:22.759 --> 00:03:24.479 the show notes, or you can reach out to us 58 00:03:24.520 --> 00:03:27.800 at info at untold Italy Tours dot com for details. 59 00:03:28.159 --> 00:03:31.400 Okay on with the show andiamo let's count down to Italy. 60 00:03:33.159 --> 00:03:35.639 Buon Jono Jel Monica. 61 00:03:35.879 --> 00:03:40.120 Dow Katie Come stae Ava, Beneva Berner two. 62 00:03:40.680 --> 00:03:43.800 Walter Ben grats. It nice to be here with you again, 63 00:03:43.840 --> 00:03:46.000 and this time we can also see each other. 64 00:03:46.719 --> 00:03:49.599 I know we're gonna do this on video for everyone. 65 00:03:49.719 --> 00:03:52.840 If you're listening on the audio, we will be posting 66 00:03:52.840 --> 00:03:55.479 this on YouTube as a video as well, so you 67 00:03:55.520 --> 00:03:59.439 can see lovely Monica in your beautiful house done in 68 00:03:59.479 --> 00:04:04.039 the coast in Australia and I'm in the city in Melbourne, Australia. 69 00:04:04.120 --> 00:04:07.120 So well, we are very far away from Italy, but 70 00:04:07.199 --> 00:04:09.800 we're always thinking about Italy, aren't we, Monica. 71 00:04:10.439 --> 00:04:14.120 All the time? Yes, how can you know, especially this 72 00:04:15.000 --> 00:04:19.079 time where here is a bit chilly and I start 73 00:04:19.120 --> 00:04:22.120 to see all my friends like organizing getting ready to 74 00:04:22.120 --> 00:04:27.199 go into the beach, like nice weather back in Italy. 75 00:04:27.319 --> 00:04:29.720 So yeah, of course I'm thinking about Italy. 76 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:32.879 I think it's super hot there though this week I 77 00:04:32.879 --> 00:04:36.319 think it's forty degrees, which is for our American listeners 78 00:04:36.439 --> 00:04:39.480 is well over one hundred and ten I think, so 79 00:04:39.680 --> 00:04:42.639 it's really really hot. Sorry, people are going soon, make 80 00:04:42.720 --> 00:04:46.639 sure you are ready for that type of weather because 81 00:04:46.759 --> 00:04:49.439 it's not the best for sightseeing. I would say It's 82 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:53.079 great for the beach and maybe the mountains, but sightseeing 83 00:04:53.480 --> 00:04:54.279 maybe not so much. 84 00:04:55.040 --> 00:04:59.000 Maybe just inside, like if you are going to the city, 85 00:04:59.360 --> 00:05:02.199 just playing a lot of activity inside, lots of museums, 86 00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:04.000 air con we need. 87 00:05:04.040 --> 00:05:08.160 That is fine. Air Con initially can be not what 88 00:05:08.199 --> 00:05:08.800 we expect. 89 00:05:09.720 --> 00:05:14.000 Yeah, good museum, some big museum they have, but yes, 90 00:05:14.079 --> 00:05:17.360 it's through sometimes, Yeah it's missing, isn't it. It's like 91 00:05:17.439 --> 00:05:21.600 so different from here. Even houses in general. Sometimes you 92 00:05:22.079 --> 00:05:24.600 book an Airbnb and you assume that there is going 93 00:05:24.680 --> 00:05:26.800 to be air con, but they just suggest to live 94 00:05:27.439 --> 00:05:30.079 their windows open or they have some fan. 95 00:05:30.839 --> 00:05:33.160 Well my favorite one was when we were in Tuscany, 96 00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:35.399 it and I agreed to rese mo Ones and they 97 00:05:35.480 --> 00:05:40.920 had the AIRCN wedged like literally sticky tape down on 98 00:05:40.959 --> 00:05:43.560 twenty five degrees and I said, I know that's heating. 99 00:05:43.800 --> 00:05:46.519 That's fine, that's not air conditioning. 100 00:05:46.639 --> 00:05:49.240 Sorry, we just turned it off. It wasn't worth it. 101 00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.439 Yeah, it is true. Yeah, you feel like we all 102 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:58.199 live in twenty twenty six and we assume that everywhere 103 00:05:58.279 --> 00:06:01.160 the standard is the same. But yeah, it's not like 104 00:06:01.279 --> 00:06:04.079 every time where you travel somewhere, like they have their 105 00:06:04.120 --> 00:06:07.519 way to live and Italian have something. I don't know 106 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:11.079 if you heard about that, but it's called cold podaria. 107 00:06:11.680 --> 00:06:16.000 So everyone is very scared about the air con and different, 108 00:06:16.279 --> 00:06:18.600 like if the air comes in your neck, you can 109 00:06:18.639 --> 00:06:22.279 get very sick. Yeah, we are very careful as Italians, 110 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:25.439 like you don't get sick if it's old. 111 00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:30.439 Somehow, I know that's when the papa jackets come out, 112 00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.160 when it's as soon as it's October, everyone's got their 113 00:06:33.199 --> 00:06:40.399 papa jacket. Anyway, some people may not know you, so 114 00:06:40.399 --> 00:06:42.800 i'd love you to introduce yourself to everyone again and 115 00:06:42.839 --> 00:06:43.720 let everyone know who. 116 00:06:43.680 --> 00:06:44.720 You are and what you do. 117 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:46.839 And yeah, so. 118 00:06:47.000 --> 00:06:51.199 My name is Monica and I am from Italy, Pierre 119 00:06:51.240 --> 00:06:55.319 Monte to be precise, so which is north west next 120 00:06:55.360 --> 00:06:58.279 to France. As you can hear, English is not my 121 00:06:58.319 --> 00:07:02.560 first language. I'm Italian and I learn English when I 122 00:07:02.600 --> 00:07:06.279 was twenty six. I learned English for a long time, 123 00:07:06.360 --> 00:07:08.959 but then I really learned to speak English when I 124 00:07:09.000 --> 00:07:13.120 was twenty six and I came to Australia. I noticed 125 00:07:13.199 --> 00:07:17.040 how the way I was learning the language was probably 126 00:07:17.079 --> 00:07:19.639 not my way. So as soon as I came here, 127 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:23.639 I learned to learn the language in a more practical way, 128 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:28.079 and even if I study architecture, so I'm an architect 129 00:07:28.199 --> 00:07:31.439 in Italy. My profession in my career change when I 130 00:07:31.480 --> 00:07:34.720 came here because I noticed that there is another way 131 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:37.439 to learn a language, and I wanted to share that 132 00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:40.519 with people that want to learn my language. So I 133 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:45.879 start do language languages change, and then I thought, oh, 134 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:47.839 this is this is what I want to do. This 135 00:07:47.920 --> 00:07:50.519 is I want to help people to learn a language 136 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:55.160 or to communicate really in a more relaxed way that 137 00:07:55.319 --> 00:07:59.279 is not really the school sort of way where you 138 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:01.480 have a program, you need to follow the program and 139 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:05.199 is the same for everyone. And so in in twenty 140 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:09.040 and eighteen I opened my school and I yes, I 141 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:12.759 teach Italian and with a group of teachers, and we 142 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:16.399 specialize in adults and in people that want to learn 143 00:08:16.439 --> 00:08:19.519 Italian to travel or to reconnect with their route. So 144 00:08:19.639 --> 00:08:25.199 sometimes we have, especially in Australia, second generation Italian secondary 145 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:28.040 generation that they want to start speaking and with one 146 00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.800 on one session, this is what we do. My school 147 00:08:30.879 --> 00:08:35.080 is called Sumizura Italy. And yeah, we tend to Taylor 148 00:08:35.240 --> 00:08:39.120 the lesson. In fact, Sumizura in Italian means Taylor. 149 00:08:39.279 --> 00:08:40.720 Yeah, she's a very clever lady. 150 00:08:40.799 --> 00:08:45.399 Monica and her teachers are fantastic, So definitely we'll be 151 00:08:45.440 --> 00:08:47.720 giving you some more information about how you can get. 152 00:08:47.559 --> 00:08:48.240 In touch with her. 153 00:08:48.519 --> 00:08:51.960 But what I wanted to do today is Micha had 154 00:08:52.000 --> 00:08:55.000 this suggestion actually is like, what do you do when 155 00:08:55.039 --> 00:08:57.679 you're getting ready to go to Italy? So what are 156 00:08:57.720 --> 00:09:00.519 the things that you need to do and think about? 157 00:09:00.600 --> 00:09:03.159 And is it even too late to learn Italian? So 158 00:09:03.159 --> 00:09:05.039 we're going to go into a little bit of that 159 00:09:05.600 --> 00:09:09.600 as we go through this episode today because a lot 160 00:09:09.679 --> 00:09:12.639 of people at this time are getting ready to go 161 00:09:12.799 --> 00:09:15.799 later this year, so September is the busiest month for 162 00:09:16.000 --> 00:09:20.480 non European tourists in Italy and especially in the major cities. Actually, 163 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:22.720 so today I thought we could chat about all the 164 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:24.600 things that you need to do to make sure that 165 00:09:24.679 --> 00:09:27.159 when you arrive in Italia you're at the top of 166 00:09:27.200 --> 00:09:31.039 your game and you've got all that pent up excitement. 167 00:09:31.000 --> 00:09:33.840 Building and you're ready to go. Because I do know 168 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:34.519 that a lot of. 169 00:09:34.440 --> 00:09:38.200 You have been planning these trips for over twelve or 170 00:09:38.240 --> 00:09:41.080 eighty months. So sometimes once you've booked the tickets and 171 00:09:41.080 --> 00:09:43.039 you've booked all the main things that you need to do, 172 00:09:43.120 --> 00:09:45.759 and you've got all your plans in order. Everything goes 173 00:09:45.840 --> 00:09:48.759 quiet for a little bit, and then two months before your. 174 00:09:48.639 --> 00:09:50.639 Trip you're like, ah, I'm going to do a lot 175 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:51.159 of things. 176 00:09:51.240 --> 00:09:53.440 So I thought we could go through all of those 177 00:09:53.480 --> 00:09:55.960 things and work out how you can make sure you 178 00:09:55.960 --> 00:09:57.639 can have the very best time when you get there, 179 00:09:58.000 --> 00:10:01.080 and if you're listening and you are not driving or 180 00:10:01.120 --> 00:10:04.279 walking or whatever, and you're close to a computer. We 181 00:10:04.360 --> 00:10:07.519 do have a companion article to this episode that has 182 00:10:07.600 --> 00:10:10.200 lots of links and details if you want some more 183 00:10:10.240 --> 00:10:12.519 information about what we're talking about today. 184 00:10:12.559 --> 00:10:14.240 We'll also link to that in the show notes. 185 00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:18.480 So you can search our website as well for this episode, 186 00:10:18.519 --> 00:10:21.399 which is episode number three hundred and thirty two, or 187 00:10:21.480 --> 00:10:24.080 you can search our website Untold Italy dot com for 188 00:10:24.200 --> 00:10:29.279 the pre departure checklist. Okay, Andiamo, how excited do you 189 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:30.159 get when you're going. 190 00:10:30.000 --> 00:10:33.759 Back to Italy and Monica, Yes, very excited. I try 191 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:37.919 to go every year. It's a different excitement, probably because 192 00:10:37.919 --> 00:10:40.799 when I go back to Italy, I got first to 193 00:10:40.879 --> 00:10:43.639 visit my family and then we try to put because 194 00:10:43.639 --> 00:10:46.320 my husband is not Italian, we try and also I 195 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:48.480 enjoyed to travel in Italy. We try to put some 196 00:10:48.559 --> 00:10:52.480 different place to visit every time. But yes, it's so 197 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:55.799 exciting and every time it's different. As you said, it 198 00:10:55.919 --> 00:10:59.960 depends the time of the year you're going, the atmosphere, 199 00:11:00.440 --> 00:11:03.559 and also all what I have to think about luggage 200 00:11:03.639 --> 00:11:06.840 and what to get ready, like how to get ready 201 00:11:06.960 --> 00:11:10.320 really like it depends on by the city or by 202 00:11:10.399 --> 00:11:13.399 what I'm going to do. Yeah, so it's always new 203 00:11:13.480 --> 00:11:14.919 and lots of research. 204 00:11:15.039 --> 00:11:19.200 I think next time Money will be traveling with her 205 00:11:19.320 --> 00:11:23.240 three boys under the age of five everyone. So that 206 00:11:23.399 --> 00:11:26.200 is a big job to get a family of five 207 00:11:26.440 --> 00:11:29.600 from Australia to Italy, which is a twenty four hour flight. 208 00:11:29.679 --> 00:11:32.159 So I is off to you, Monica, because that is 209 00:11:32.200 --> 00:11:35.960 a huge job. But I also get excited when I'm 210 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:39.600 going to Italy, and sometimes I get lulled into a 211 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:41.759 fullse sense of security because I do go so often, 212 00:11:41.799 --> 00:11:44.039 and I think, well, I know everything, I know what 213 00:11:44.159 --> 00:11:47.159 to do, I know I've got my routine, I know 214 00:11:47.240 --> 00:11:48.960 when I get to the airport, I know who's going 215 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:50.559 to meet me and all of those things. 216 00:11:50.600 --> 00:11:52.559 But I think I didn't. 217 00:11:53.080 --> 00:11:56.519 Instagram real earlier this week about a document that people 218 00:11:56.519 --> 00:11:59.399 are missing when they go and it's actually a very 219 00:11:59.399 --> 00:12:02.279 important doctor. So I've learned my lesson that I do 220 00:12:02.320 --> 00:12:03.840 need to slow down a bit, and the time to 221 00:12:03.879 --> 00:12:07.399 do that is if you're traveling in the next six months, 222 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:09.360 it's good time to take stock of that now. So 223 00:12:09.399 --> 00:12:12.440 that's what we're going to talk about today. So, first 224 00:12:12.480 --> 00:12:15.000 of all, travel is not what it used to be. 225 00:12:15.559 --> 00:12:18.039 When I first started traveling. You could really just wing 226 00:12:18.080 --> 00:12:20.000 it a lot of the time and just turn up 227 00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:22.480 and you know, go to the places that you wanted 228 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:24.360 to go, to eat at, the restaurants that you wanted 229 00:12:24.399 --> 00:12:26.639 to eat at, and do all of the things. But 230 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:29.879 these days, if you've got something really important that you 231 00:12:29.960 --> 00:12:33.960 had in mind, please you need to book these things early. 232 00:12:34.639 --> 00:12:42.000 So I'm thinking of things like Colisseum tickets, Vatican Museums, Borgesa. 233 00:12:41.480 --> 00:12:42.279 Gallery in Rome. 234 00:12:42.360 --> 00:12:45.000 This is a favorite gallery of mine and it always 235 00:12:45.039 --> 00:12:45.559 sells out. 236 00:12:45.600 --> 00:12:46.840 You must have a ticket for that. 237 00:12:46.879 --> 00:12:50.200 They only allow a few hundred visitors a day, so 238 00:12:50.440 --> 00:12:53.559 there's very limited tickets for that one. Also the Last 239 00:12:53.559 --> 00:12:57.919 Supper in Milan. So those type of important sites, if 240 00:12:57.960 --> 00:13:00.759 you're traveling halfway around the world and you really really. 241 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:02.240 Want to see them, you don't want to miss out. 242 00:13:02.279 --> 00:13:05.320 So if you haven't got onto those things yet and 243 00:13:05.360 --> 00:13:09.000 you're traveling soon, please do that. Maybe you can talk 244 00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:11.360 about restaurants money because I know you used to work 245 00:13:11.399 --> 00:13:12.559 in the restaurant industry. 246 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:17.759 Yeah, this is exactly what I was thinking, because sometimes myself, 247 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:22.080 first I save all this restaurant on Instagram where I 248 00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:25.480 want to go when I can go to Italy. Yeah, 249 00:13:25.519 --> 00:13:28.080 and then you realize that the day you were thinking 250 00:13:28.120 --> 00:13:31.440 to go is the closing day or they booked out. 251 00:13:31.679 --> 00:13:34.879 Especially again, I'm from Pimonte, so if you want to 252 00:13:34.919 --> 00:13:39.159 go in Pimonte from September to December, I really really 253 00:13:39.200 --> 00:13:42.399 think that you should look months in advance the restaurant 254 00:13:42.480 --> 00:13:45.679 where you really want to go. Again, we're quite lucky 255 00:13:45.720 --> 00:13:47.720 because in Italy there are lots of place where you 256 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:51.559 can eat well, but if you really want to specifically 257 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:55.000 have that kind of experience like a cooking class or 258 00:13:55.519 --> 00:13:58.759 a restaurant table, and also maybe where you want to 259 00:13:58.759 --> 00:14:01.360 sit in the restaurant, because you like sometimes you have 260 00:14:01.399 --> 00:14:04.679 beautiful restaurants. But then if you think about the booking 261 00:14:04.759 --> 00:14:07.480 in advance, then you might be able to sit in 262 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:09.799 front of the window where you can see the dome 263 00:14:09.879 --> 00:14:14.320 and all the big cathit and you can have that request, 264 00:14:14.480 --> 00:14:16.679 which changed so much if you are sitting in the 265 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:20.519 same restaurant and like near the kitchen, for instance, So 266 00:14:20.519 --> 00:14:23.200 the football is the same, but the experience will be different. 267 00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:28.120 So definitely, yes, if it's something you want to experience, Yeah, 268 00:14:28.200 --> 00:14:29.679 you need to do it in time. 269 00:14:31.159 --> 00:14:32.120 Yeah. Absolutely. 270 00:14:32.519 --> 00:14:37.799 My favorite example is Roscholi's Slumina, which is well, it 271 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.600 used to be my favorite restaurant in Rome, but I 272 00:14:39.639 --> 00:14:41.559 can't get in there, like you need to book three 273 00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:45.720 months in advance, and as Monica said, the experience can 274 00:14:46.200 --> 00:14:48.799 differ wildly. The first experience I had that was right 275 00:14:48.879 --> 00:14:51.200 up near the deli counter there. It was so much fun. 276 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.440 There was a lot of interaction. And then I think 277 00:14:53.440 --> 00:14:55.279 the last time I was there was down in the cellar, 278 00:14:56.840 --> 00:14:59.679 which is a different environment. It was actually quite nice, 279 00:14:59.759 --> 00:15:02.480 but it was a different experience to what I had 280 00:15:02.519 --> 00:15:05.519 imagined it was going to be because I was just 281 00:15:05.559 --> 00:15:07.399 so desperate to get the table at that point. 282 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:10.039 As as you said, I worked for so long in 283 00:15:10.200 --> 00:15:13.720 a restaurant. It's a three Starmishlan restaurant. When I was 284 00:15:13.720 --> 00:15:17.519 studying university, and I remember how many times people were 285 00:15:17.559 --> 00:15:20.519 calling assuming to be able to find a place, and 286 00:15:20.559 --> 00:15:22.679 they were like, oh no, but what can you put 287 00:15:22.720 --> 00:15:24.879 me in a waiting list? But even waiting lists in 288 00:15:24.919 --> 00:15:27.879 those kinds of restaurants, they sometimes like there is one 289 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:31.240 percent possibility that you can get table, and it's such 290 00:15:31.240 --> 00:15:35.039 a disappointment because you travel so long, like so far away, 291 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:37.759 you spend so much money to be there in that place, 292 00:15:38.039 --> 00:15:41.000 and then you can't experience that. It's very sad, like 293 00:15:41.240 --> 00:15:44.639 this is why it's so important. I'm sure standing you 294 00:15:44.639 --> 00:15:49.279 can get a reservation exactly a Sally Richie. Yeah, I 295 00:15:49.279 --> 00:15:51.799 don't know, like maybe not, because sometimes it's woken. 296 00:15:52.840 --> 00:15:54.320 I love that about Italy as well. 297 00:15:54.399 --> 00:15:57.320 Sometimes people are not impressed by celebrities at all, so 298 00:15:58.200 --> 00:16:01.320 they'll be like not, but why sorry, you go on 299 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:02.559 the list like everyone else. 300 00:16:03.480 --> 00:16:03.840 Yeah. 301 00:16:04.039 --> 00:16:06.720 For instance, this restaurant where I used to work, as 302 00:16:06.720 --> 00:16:09.399 a beautiful table in the kitchen, so you can actually 303 00:16:09.440 --> 00:16:14.120 sit in the middle of this chef that are preparing 304 00:16:14.159 --> 00:16:16.120 the food, and it's so beautiful because you can see 305 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:19.519 like smoke coming out of the little thoughts and you 306 00:16:19.519 --> 00:16:22.399 can see how they get raided. Your plates that are 307 00:16:22.840 --> 00:16:27.279 twenty chef like that work for a table. So if 308 00:16:27.320 --> 00:16:29.720 you can sit in the kitchen, that is a crazy 309 00:16:29.799 --> 00:16:33.759 experience and doesn't cost more than sitting in the restaurant 310 00:16:34.279 --> 00:16:37.840 and the room. So if you can get that table, like, 311 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:42.039 how cool is the experience? You know? So again, yeah, 312 00:16:42.240 --> 00:16:46.840 good to be ready and to think about that at 313 00:16:46.919 --> 00:16:48.320 least a couple of months in advance. 314 00:16:49.840 --> 00:16:52.480 Let's take a quick break, both brief and back before 315 00:16:52.480 --> 00:16:59.000 you know it, planning your own easily trip but feeling overwhelmed. 316 00:16:59.159 --> 00:17:02.840 Our consultings give you personalized guidance based on years of 317 00:17:02.879 --> 00:17:05.240 insider knowledge and local relationships. 318 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:11.880 Learn more in the show notes. Yeah, definitely. 319 00:17:12.039 --> 00:17:13.680 I think everyone wants to know the name of that 320 00:17:13.720 --> 00:17:15.440 restaurant now, Monica, can you share. 321 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.759 It with us? 322 00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:21.720 It's called Yazza Duomo Alba. The chef is Enrico Crippa. 323 00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:24.240 I want to go there now, that's the type of 324 00:17:24.359 --> 00:17:25.839 experience that I would love to have. 325 00:17:26.119 --> 00:17:27.240 I wanted to go there with you. 326 00:17:27.160 --> 00:17:30.640 Though, yeah we go, we all go together. You need 327 00:17:30.680 --> 00:17:33.039 to save a bit of money, but I have a 328 00:17:33.039 --> 00:17:33.720 good discount. 329 00:17:34.799 --> 00:17:35.759 That's why I want to go with you. 330 00:17:36.160 --> 00:17:41.400 Joking, It is beautiful, but yeah, a restaurant, it's ladies. 331 00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:44.319 But also yes, booking and make sure you have accommodation 332 00:17:44.759 --> 00:17:49.440 because again, one like let's say one event in the 333 00:17:49.440 --> 00:17:52.920 city can change completely. No, even in my town on 334 00:17:52.960 --> 00:17:55.640 the week the third week of August, and my town 335 00:17:55.720 --> 00:17:58.079 is such a small town where you know, we have 336 00:17:58.119 --> 00:18:01.240 a few tourists, but it's not as busy and crazy 337 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:03.440 in my town is called Governe. If you try to 338 00:18:03.440 --> 00:18:07.480 book in Govane, they're week that they have their saga, 339 00:18:07.680 --> 00:18:12.400 which is their fester, their party of the town, and 340 00:18:12.920 --> 00:18:15.920 it's impossible. So again, maybe you want to enjoy something 341 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:18.359 ladies and you think, oh, why not, I'm going to 342 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:21.279 go in a little village. You see that it's always 343 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:24.839 like you always find booking, but then you realize that, 344 00:18:25.000 --> 00:18:28.039 oh wow, this is the same week that they all 345 00:18:28.079 --> 00:18:31.079 want to go there. So yeah, that's another thing to 346 00:18:31.119 --> 00:18:33.200 think about. Yeah, And I think the. 347 00:18:33.200 --> 00:18:35.880 Other one that people need to get onto. If you're 348 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:37.960 traveling by train and you want to go on the 349 00:18:38.039 --> 00:18:43.680 big intercity routes between say Rome and Florence or Venison, 350 00:18:43.720 --> 00:18:45.799 it's good to book about two months out. I think 351 00:18:45.839 --> 00:18:48.200 you can get the best prices and then you can 352 00:18:48.240 --> 00:18:52.480 also have options. The I like to go business class. 353 00:18:52.519 --> 00:18:54.319 It's only a few more euros and you get a 354 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:57.440 little bit more space, but you'll have more options, and 355 00:18:58.000 --> 00:19:00.759 just on that. With the trains, I had a few emails, Oh, 356 00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:04.640 I can't book any trains for September because and in 357 00:19:04.720 --> 00:19:07.720 early June. And that's because every six months in Italy 358 00:19:07.759 --> 00:19:11.559 and in Europe they turn over the timetable, so a 359 00:19:11.599 --> 00:19:14.759 lot of trains weren't able to be booked in June. 360 00:19:14.920 --> 00:19:17.599 So now when we're recording this, this is the end 361 00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:20.039 of June, so you should be able to book everything 362 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:21.680 that you need to do for the rest of the year. 363 00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:23.559 But yeah, definitely get onto the train. 364 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.920 I didn't know that you didn't know. Yeah, I didn't 365 00:19:26.960 --> 00:19:29.480 know that. It is true. For instance, last year I 366 00:19:29.519 --> 00:19:31.519 went with my family and back then we had just 367 00:19:31.519 --> 00:19:34.599 two kids. And as you said, if you book in advance, 368 00:19:34.640 --> 00:19:38.400 for instance, you can find family tickets or you can 369 00:19:38.440 --> 00:19:42.240 also find that pay one go into like and that 370 00:19:42.400 --> 00:19:45.480 was so convenient for us. We had like our own 371 00:19:45.559 --> 00:19:48.400 section because actually we decided to travel during the night 372 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:52.160 and what's fun with the kids, So we had our 373 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:55.920 on cabin and we basically pay like like one ticket 374 00:19:56.119 --> 00:20:00.200 because the kids were struveling for free and we were too, 375 00:20:00.519 --> 00:20:03.920 So that was was great, just because we talked about 376 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:06.480 that a bit in advance and it was so fun, 377 00:20:06.799 --> 00:20:10.680 like they even put normal like beautiful leaning. It was 378 00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:11.680 was very cute. 379 00:20:12.839 --> 00:20:14.599 Was that from room to tuin. 380 00:20:15.119 --> 00:20:17.759 We did from Turin to roam. Yeah. When we came 381 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:20.359 to Roma and we met there, this is what we 382 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:23.279 did during the night. Yeah, the kids love it. It 383 00:20:23.359 --> 00:20:27.599 was such an experience. You have bang dead and you 384 00:20:27.640 --> 00:20:32.119 went you were arriving in Rome like around five thirty 385 00:20:32.160 --> 00:20:34.079 six in the morning. Was just fun. 386 00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:35.359 Did they sleep? 387 00:20:35.640 --> 00:20:38.359 They sleep, and I sleep as well. I was so tired, 388 00:20:38.599 --> 00:20:39.359 I was pregnant. 389 00:20:41.440 --> 00:20:43.720 And it's probably cheaper than a hotel room too. 390 00:20:44.079 --> 00:20:46.920 Yeah, exactly. So we said, okay, we will be tired, 391 00:20:46.920 --> 00:20:50.759 but we already booked a little accommodation was now and 392 00:20:50.880 --> 00:20:55.240 airbnb was an apartment and so we said, okay, it 393 00:20:55.279 --> 00:20:57.759 will be fun. We arrived there and then we went 394 00:20:57.839 --> 00:21:00.279 for a walk. We actually went to Piazzaa wore now 395 00:21:00.319 --> 00:21:05.000 at six am, which was already busy, but what's nice. Yeah, 396 00:21:05.039 --> 00:21:07.599 and then we had a little nap in the afternoon. 397 00:21:07.960 --> 00:21:12.519 Oh so nice. Okay. Well, and I think around this time. 398 00:21:12.359 --> 00:21:15.759 People are thinking, oh my goodness. I was always thinking 399 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:18.000 that I should learn some Italian before I go. So 400 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:20.720 Monica tell us. You are the Italian teacher. Is it 401 00:21:20.759 --> 00:21:23.200