Blog – Take Me Home Italy

September 29th, 2015

Viaggiare da sola, To travel alone

A few years ago, I talked my friend Dot into going to Italy with me. I was so afraid to travel alone. My unidentified fears were trumped by my definite desire to experience Italy once again.

Dot and I traveled to London, Greece and Italy together for an entire month. We attended the same Italian language school in Florence, Instituto Italiano, but Dot returned to the US after 2 weeks of classes. Now I had to face my fears.

Viaggiare da sola, to travel alone, a woman travelling alone… What’s the big deal about that? What was I afraid of, anyway?

September 22nd, 2015

La Famiglia Italiana, The Italian Family

We all know what family means, don’t we? Well, maybe that word means different things to different people.

According to Dictionary.com, family means:

A. a basic social unit consisting of parents and their children, considered as a group, whether dwelling together or not.

B. a social unit consisting of one or more adults together with the children they care for.

That doesn’t sound like my Italian-American family. For us, our “family unit” consists of every single relative we ever had or our parents, grandparents and great-grandparents had. It means paesani, close friends, from the “old country” and, of course, our immediate family.

September 15th, 2015

Grandparents Day 2015

This past Sunday was Grandparent’s Day and all I could think about was my own Nonni (grandparents) and Bisnonna (great grandmother).

I grew up with one grandfather, 2 grandmothers and 1 great grandmother, all of whom were Italian. Nonna and Grandpa Ricci raised 9 children of their own plus 3 more nipoti (nieces and nephews) during the Great Depression. Grandpa loved his wine and loved his fisarmonica (accordion), his “squeezebox” as he called it, and he played it for all the kids.

September 8th, 2015

Travel Tips: Five Things to Do Before you Travel to Italy

Ciao a tutti! Are you dreaming of that trip to Italy? Have you begun your plans, secured lodging, transportation and you prepared to pack your bags? (If not, that is what I do for people every day!) It is so exciting, isn’t it? Andiamo! Let’s go!

September 1st, 2015

Flirting with Leo

Do you know why many people travel? I think it is for the adventure, the opportunity to explore and learn more about life itself. I know that is a huge motivator for me. I want to know. Sono curiosa. I am curious. My mother used to say, “Marilyn remember, curiosity killed the cat!” HUH?

August 25th, 2015

The Best Laid Plans of Mice and Men

I am a travel arranger. I work hard to make your travel adventures work well for you. However, I have learned how “stuff” happens even when well planned.

Per esempio, For example, In May 2015 some of my family members journeyed to Italy to meet our Ricci relatives. Overall the trip was fantastic! I planned everything and checked it all over multiple times.

August 17th, 2015

The Traveling Turtle

We have all been at the airport and seen a small family pick up 8 pieces of luggage, each one bigger than a ten year old. What is in all that stuff? Chi sa! Who knows!

After many years of traveling only in the USA, I chose to take a tour of Egypt. It was a 17 day trip and I brought a 26” and 22” rolling carry on plus a huge shoulder bag. When I had to drag that luggage down the hall or to the bus I wanted to leave it for the Bedouins! All I needed was a sundress and a shower. Why did I bring all that stuff?

August 10th, 2015

Three Things in Italy You Don’t Find in the US

Ciao tutti! Hello everyone! Have you ever wondered what it is about Italy that so very many people fall in love the country and culture? The US is a good place to live, the leader of the free world, and the land of the American Dream. Why are we so infatuated with Italy?

August 7th, 2015

The Sirens of Sorrento are Calling!

On that Ciao for Now trip a few years ago one of the favorite places I explored was the lovely Sorrento. My friend Dot and I visited Sorrento prior to starting our classes in Florence. Sorrento is the gateway to the Amalfi Coast in the Campania region of Italy. The rugged coast with its vertical stone cliffs is breathtaking. And the city itself has a charm of its own.

August 5th, 2015

Ciao for now, huh?

Ciao (pronounced like chow) for Now. What does that mean? Ciao is Italian for Hello or Goodbye. The expression Ciao for Now means Hello or Goodbye for Now. Huh?

July 29th, 2015

The Tarantella, the Italian Dance of Life

Ballare, to dance. Italians love to dance. They dance at the drop of a hat. But one dance in particular has been a hit here in America, the Tarantella. There are many legends about the Tarantella. It began in the town of Taranto is southern Italy. In the 1500s there was an outbreak of Tarantula poisoning. Yes there are tarantula spiders in Taranto, Italy.

July 27th, 2015

Festa Italiana MN 2015 Bocce is life

Bocce is an Italian Institution. The game of bocce has been around since Roman times and is part of the Heart and Soul of Italians. Two teams of up to four players toss heavy bocce balls approximately the size of a softball at a smaller ball called the pullino. Your goal with each underhand throw is to get your ball closest to that pullino. If that means knocking the opponent’s ball away, so be it.

July 22th, 2015

Fun at Festa Italiana Minnesota

Last weekend in St. Paul, Minnesota there was a gathering of Italian-Americans and those who love Italy. Thousands of people braved the 95 degree weather with 100% humidity to rub shoulders with other Italian-Americans and enjoy the Italian-American experience.

July 13th, 2015

Being a Traveler at Heart

I love the history of the Italian people. Our ancestors conquered the known world 2000 years ago and influenced nearly every culture in Europe and Northern Africa (not always for the best). Some of the greatest adventurers, philosophers, scientists, artists and musicians were and are Italians. The Renaissance again changed the world and the Italians instigated it. Dante, Gallileo, Michelangelo, DaVinci, Bernini, Puccini, Pavorati, Sinatra….need I go on?

July 11th, 2015

I’m Italian-American. So what?

Being Italian-American is one thing. Being Italian is another. I strive to be both. I am a dual citizen of the USA and Italy. Again, so what you say. Aspetta! Wait! I will explain.

July 10th, 2015

I’m Italian-American.

Ciao tutti! Hello everyone! My name is Marilyn Ricci and I am 100% Italian-American. Who cares you say. Why does that matter? Let me explain.

America is the Melting Pot. This melting pot brings so many wonderful qualities to the US citizenry that we have been leaders in new ideas since our inception. We have strengths and talents from the cultures of the world. However, as we blend our lives together, we do lose some of the flavors of each culture.

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