I wanted to mention a few things that landed in Italyville’s inbox recently.
- Judy from Hawaii is heading to Italy in September and staying in apartments and B&Bs…she’s looking for ideas for a thank you gift to bring for her hosts. Anyone?
- Two great events coming up this summer that you might want to check out: The Fancy Food Show is back in NYC June 27-29 at the Javits Center…E and I went last year and we loved it! Foods and exhibitors from around the world (along with lots of free samples!) and Foodista is co-hosting the 2nd annual International Food Blogger Conference in Seattle Aug 27-29.
- After posting on my father’s home-town of San Michele (CZ) in Calabria,I received a few emails from my cousins Tom (Virginia) and Rose (Australia) who have created a monster family tree…so glad they contacted me. I’m helping to fill in my father’s side and hope to meet Tom and Rose someday. Grazie 1000 Tom and Rose!
The clock tower in San Michele (CZ) Calabria used to ring every 15 minutes
- Finally,E and I are headed to Italy in July (I know…2 trips in 1 year! thanks to my Delta Skymiles) We will be headed to the Amalfi coast for a few days before heading south to Calabria. I haven’t spent much time on the Amalfi coast,so any recommendations on hotels,restaurants and must-see places are welcome. Positano? vs Amalfi?
Joe –Thanks for the heads up on the fancy food show. Re:2nd trip to Italy in one year –you can never get enough and the Amalfi coast is just stunning. I’m sure you have plenty of great suggestions but of course I’d recommend the usual suspects –Positano,Sorrento,Amalfi and go to Capri for sure. Get away from the main town square and meander to some off the beaten paths. It’s a whole different place. Take the cable car to Anacapri. Take me along!
Good gifts for hosts &hostesses:
Since you’re coming from Hawaii –some chocolate made from your local Criollo beans (they are amongst the best in the world);
Good quality products from Hawaii but absolutely no trinkets and touristy stuff because the average Italian has very good taste and really won’t be overly impressed ….
Really good Californian wine or if you’ve left it too late –a bottle of the best Italian will do just nicely;
If you’ve really left it late,pop into a local pasticceria and take about 2 –3 per guest plus a bottle of champagne or a really good prosecco;
For Judy –Friends have always been thrilled when I bring bags of of macadamia nuts (the plain salted nuts) and always request more when I return (I also live in Hawaii).
Joe,I was only on the Amalfi Coast once for a week many years ago. Gorgeous area! I stayed in Sorrento (thought it was too touristy). I really enjoyed visiting the town of Amalfi and thought about staying there the next time I visited the area. It seemed a little less oriented mainly for the tourist than Sorrento,Positano,and Capri did. Positano and Capri are fun places to visit though. I have heard that Ravello is also a very cool place to stay. I would also love to visit the islands of Procida and Ischia. I look forward to hearing about your time there as I hope to return during my next visit to Italy.
Judy,as someone who runs two self-catering apartments in Italy,I can tell you that a “hostess gift”is actually not expected. We see it like this:people are trusting us with their holiday,not only in terms of their hard-earned cash,but also in their precious holiday time. You are paying them,after all!
That said,it is a lovely thought and,if you really want to offer something,make it a very small “pensiero”and something which is pertinent to Hawaii.
Speaking personally,a card or email after someone has returned home saying a couple of positive words about their stay is worth a million.
Oh! And Joe –you really need to ask Scintilla –she is a wealth of wisdom re Positano!!!
So,just a wee bit jealous of your 9ahem) 2nd trip to Italy in one year. However,planning a trip in 2011 for my 25th anniversary (yes,it does happen) so am up for any suggestiions. I know we cannot do it all!
If you are renting quarters,that’s a business arrangement and gifts are not necessary at all. (I wouldn’t say no to macademia nuts,however.) When using something like Couchsurfing,however,a gift never goes down badly if only as an indication that you know you’re lucky.
Joe,I visited the Amalfi coast many years ago. Sorrento and Capri stand out and so does a side trip to Pompeii. Ischia ois also an interesting island to visit ..it’s near Naples. Enjoy!
Thanks for the Fancy Food show info –I hope it is open to the public? Very often JJ events are for licensed vendors only.
My husband and I spent our honeymoon in Sorrento this last August and took trips to Amalfi,Positano,Vesuvio,Capri and Ischia. We stayed at il Grand Hotel Aminta. The staff there was exceptional. They have a nice pool,fairly large rooms by Italian standards and a gorgeous view. It is up on the hill but they have a free shuttle service to and from il centro (only about a 5 to 7 minute ride). There is no place like Capri but Ischia is also beautiful with natural hot springs and thermal showers. Positano is my favorite town on the coast but they are all worth a visit. We rented a scooter to get around Sorrento and the islands and were able to visit a lot of places of the main streets and be very mobile. We also had great pizza (my favorite was il caprese) at il Leone Rosso in Sorrento. I wish I could go back again this year!