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10 Italian Phrases to Inspire You in the Next ...

What better way to kick off the decade than with some inspiration! This year for my birthday I am sharing 10 Italian phrases that will help inspire you in 2020

10 Italian Phrases to Inspire You in the Next Decade

Meet Nicole: Creative Professional, Italy Travel Enthusiast

By Halie Taylor

Nicole Bauer: An Inspiring Female Professional and a Lover of All Things Italy

After being pre-med and taking a year off, Nicole did some serious soul searching. Did she want to stay in the medicine and science route? Or was she more passionate about doing something that would allow her to be creative? In the end she pushed aside any hesitancy or fear and leaped towards a career in the creative realm. As if fate was on her side, networking and friendships led Nicole to a position with Darling Magazine where she is now Online Managing Editor as well as a freelance writer in her spare time.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

But feeding her passion for creativity isn’t her only desire, she also loves curating her passion for travel.

Travel can become a way to get outside of your usual routine, a way to realize that your way of doing things isn’t the only way. 

This is a concept that resonates with Nicole fully as she finds travel inspiring and a way to cultivate a new views of the world. Though her travels have taken her to a variety of places, Italy has left a permanent mark on Nicole. The streets at night, the pizza, a cup of espresso-it was all magical.

There was beauty everywhere and Nicole couldn’t get enough of it. Italy afforded Nicole the opportunity to live presently and to take nothing for granted, both of which had resounding effects on her which is why she full heartedly believes women should not be afraid to travel.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

If it’s something like finances stopping you, Nicole suggests sitting down and giving yourself a budget. Slowly cut back on things you don’t need, buy less and save more. 

Travel can provide you with such amazing experiences, so buckle down and make a budget that will allow you to set off an your next adventure. 

However, if finances are the least of your worries and instead you’re experiencing anxiety because you just aren’t sure you’re able to travel alone, there’s hope! Instead of sitting down to come up with a budget, sit down and come up with the root of this fear.

Do you always need a distraction? Is there a particular person that you just can’t travel without? Are you scared of being alone with your insecurities? Travel can not only help you overcome all of these fears, it can also help you become the women you’ve always wanted to be.

You’ll find the unique parts of yourself and learn to love who you are. Besides you don’t have to travel completely alone, there are always tour groups like Travel Italian Style ready to extend a hand and to help you be all you can be!

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

Of course, it’s also important to know the practical side of things when traveling. Yes, traveling, especially to Italy, is a magical experience, but your experience can also be magnified by the right packing essentials and social cues to fit in.

Nicole’s must have items include: stylish, worn in shoes for all of the walking to be done, a book for the plane/train ride, a nice leather bag or backpack (you want your arms free while exploring the area) and a camera whether that be a phone or a good camera because you’ll want tangible photos to remember everything by. Once you’ve arrived in Italy with all of your essentials, prepare to immerse yourself into the Italian culture.

You don’t want to be just another annoying tourist, right? Nicole suggests that Italy travelers should be ready to adjust their eating times especially when it comes to dinner. Plan to arrive around 9:00pm at restaurants and you’ll be in the midst of the locals. Oh, and did you need to pay for that shirt you just found in that cute little local store? Be sure to place your money in the dish or bowl on the counter instead of handing it directly to the cashier. Nicole also points out that you should be very aware that you speak English, but those around you may not. Try to learn a few Italian phrases and use those as you wander around. You’ll connect with the locals and the more you try out the language, the more you’ll learn.

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

PHOTO COURTESY OF NICOLE

Italy is filled with culture, beauty and history. The small towns and the large cities can revive your soul like you’ve never thought possible.

Nicole’s Italian experience left a lasting imprint on her, just as other women’s journeys to Italy have done the same. Travel Italian Style hopes to offer Italian tours that are life-changing and with Nicole’s tips you’ll be fully prepared to immerse yourself in all Italy has to offer.

 

If you're ready to strip away your fears, pack your bag of essentials and practice your newly learned Italian social tips sign up for a tour with Travel Italian Style!

Halie is the Travel Marketing Trends Coordinator for Travel Italian Style and is currently a senior at College of Charleston in Charleston, SC where she is majoring in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. Living in Charleston, Halie developed a love for beautiful scenery and unique culture. This love led her to her passion for travel which allows her to discover beautiful scenery and unique cultures in places all over the world. When she is not daydreaming about her next traveling adventure she can be found redoing warn out furniture found on the side of the road, writing fiction and attempting Pinterest crafts.

The Local Life of Florence

By Kelsey Gibson

Day #1: A Gelato Tour of the City Center

Each week we will be giving you some great insider tips from team members: Cassandra, Kelsey or Giorgio who live or have lived in Bella Italia! We will even have some special guests with even more insider info so be sure to follow along! First stop: Florence for some Gelato!

Living abroad is both exhilarating and challenging. You may try your best to live by the golden rule of “when in Rome, do as the Romans do”, but sometimes the hardest part is knowing where to begin. Living and working in Florence pushed me to explore the city and find some cool, unique, and local spots to eat, relax, and be adventurous. First on the list, of course, is the unforgettable Italian GELATO. We may view this delicacy as a dessert, but to many Italians this can be a midday snack, a refreshing addition to a meal or even a breakfast option for those with a sweet tooth! Today I’m going to take you on a Gelato Tour to my top 5 Gelato shops in Florence!

First key fact and most important one to remember: the shops along the streets with giant and beautifully designed amounts of gelato in the glass cases are simply for show. Just like they say, “Don’t judge a book by its cover” …don’t judge gelato by its display design. Normally this means that the gelato is made with more artificial chemicals in order for it to hold shape better, not to taste better. Another tip is to look for the gelato that is held in metal tubs with tin lids. It doesn’t have to be some famous historical shop either to be real house-made Italian gelato!

Here are my top 5 Gelato Shops in Florence, Italy:

5. Grom – Close to the Duomo, this shop is famous among both tourists and locals. Staying open later than most shops around the Duomo, I often visited this shop with my local coworkers after getting off work. The crema di Grom is an original that pairs well with most flavors and is a must-try. The torroncino (nougat) is also a great unique option! Along with this being a great and conveniently located gelato stop, it is completely gluten-free and has a detailed chart on their menu for other food intolerances! 

http://www.grom.it/en/index.php

4. Gelateria dei Neri – this popular gelato shop is also in a convenient and well-known area near Santa Croce where many international students stay. It shares the street with many trendy restaurants and recognized stores that are around the world. The lines get long, but once you order, you won’t regret waiting for it. The ricotta and fig was recommended to me, and once I tasted it, I had to get it again and again!

Via dei Neri 9, 50122 Florence Tuscany, Italy

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

3. Le Botteghe di Leonardo– Off the path from the Central Market, you will find this quaint gelateria. Right as you walk through the door, you feel the true Italian atmosphere with original murals on the inside walls and built-in stone benches. Not only is the ambiance authentic, but the gelato is the perfect texture, the variation of flavors is creative and unique, and the taste is unforgettable. Their dessert wine flavor you can taste the ‘after dinner sweetness’. Their refreshing mint flavor tastes as though you are biting into a mint leaf rather than chewing a piece of artificially flavored gum. And their unique milk flower flavor melts in your mouth on a hot summer day. On top of their amazing flavors of gelato, they also sell cakes, popsicles, and other treats! The owner is knowledgeable, personable and willing to answer any questions and let you try any flavor!

http://www.lebotteghedileonardo.it/firenze-via-de-ginori-21r/

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

PHOTO COURTESY OF KELSEY

2. Gelateria Santa Trinta – This was one of the first gelaterias I had ever visited in Italy and, man was I spoiled! Not only does the line go out the door and around the corner to wait for the immaculate flavors they make, the view of the Ponte Vecchio and the fresh air from being right above the Arno River makes the experience that much better! They have 38 flavors at a time and are known for their dark chocolate flavor. I have never been able to pick just one favorite because each flavor leaves an exceptional memory that you will have to go back for over and over again.

http://www.gelateriasantatrinita.it/index_ing.html

1. Gelateria della Passera- Finally, my favorite gelateria of all time is this precious and authentic gem found on the other side of the river in the ‘Oltrarno’ neighborhood. This hole in the wall sells the freshest, most mouthwatering, authentic gelato in all of Florence. They always have new flavors, and even though the variety is limited day to day, the flavors do not disappoint. Their lavender flavor cannot be found in other well known gelaterias, at least not to the quality Gelateria della Passera holds. This place will change any expectations you had and raise the bar for your future endeavors.

Hope this tour has gotten your mouth watering and taste buds churning in hopes to one day try these out if you haven’t already!

 

What’s your favorite gelato flavor/shop you have been to? If you don't have a favorite sign up for one of Travel Italian Style's upcoming tours and we'll be sure to help you create your own list because isn't gelato the best?!

Kelsey is the Part Time Assistant Travel Consultant for Travel Italian Style and a student at the University of Mississippi studying Hospitality Management with a minor in Spanish and Business Administration. Kelsey took part in an exchange program in Argentina in high school, which created a flourishing passion for travel and learning about other cultures. From then on, she took every advantage to study abroad and backpack around Europe. This past summer, Kelsey interned for a local restaurant, Touch, in Florence, Italy and fell in love with the Italian culture. She was able to have a real local experience by making friends with coworkers and locals. She wants to make it possible for everyone who travels to be completely immersed into the culture in order to gain another perspective and to be able to enjoy life even more!

Your Italian adventure awaits.