Review: Conversational Italian for Travelers

Ciao! Any of you who have read our post about Hello Pal will know that, as a transnational couple, we are always interested in untraditional language learning methods.

Having spent three months in Italy last year, and with plans to spend at least two months there this year, we feel it's high time to start learning Italian. 

Luckily, we think we've found the perfect little book to help us:

Weasel Squad, meet the pocket book, Conversational Italian for Travelers:

It's lightweight, but it's jam-packed with everything you need. 

Lightweight
Before we even open a book, we consider it's weight. We travel with just hand luggage only, so it's extremely important to us that books don't take up too much space. 

As you can see, it's ultra thin

With Conversational Italian for Travelers, there is no problem, the book is so lightweight and thin! This was the first thing we loved about it.

Jam-packed

The downside of having a thin book, is that you often don't get all the essential information. But Conversational Italian for Travelers has managed to win that battle! It's just under 100 pages long, and each page is filled with important information, laid out in an easy to read way. 

We particularly love that the Italian is in blue and the English is in black - it makes for very easy reading. 

Conversational Italian for Travelers contains 5 sections: 

From experience, talking about food is the most important thing to know in Italian. And this book contains 13 whole pages dedicated to food. (Note, side effects may include being hungry):

Interview with Kathryn   herself

We caught up with the author of Conversational Italian for Travelers - Kathryn Occhipinti - to ask her some important questions:

Thank you for taking the time to talk about your book, first things first: What do you love about your book?

I love the fact that my book is not just a list of phrases, but also provides a method for the reader to understand some Italian and also to create their own phrases and to understand answers to questions they may ask. I especially like the sections on social interactions that visitors can use to get involved in Italian life, many of which are standard, and others written with a touch of humor.

I definitely agree that it's humorous book, as a writer myself, I find it hard to keep the balance between funny and professional, but you've achieved that well! Next question: Why do you think our readers should choose it over any other method?

I think your readers should choose this over any other method because it is tried and true. This book grew out of my real-life experiences traveling to Italy and teaching American students prior to their travels to Italy. I know that this book really does contain "everything you need to know" to travel to Italy and feel comfortable there, since it has everything I have had to learn to enjoy my visits there.

Excellent, being able to teach from your own experiences surely is the best way! Slightly similar question: Why do you think our readers should choose it over any other book?

I think your readers should choose it over any other book since it was written especially for them - for the adult traveler to Italy! The vocabulary and phrases every visitor to Italy needs to know to get around and interact in Italian society comfortably are all included in this book. My book also has my personal, entertaining approach and is a lot more fun and engaging then a dry textbook or a phrasebook written by a college professor.

I can confirm it truly is fun and engaging! What made you want to write this book?

Actually, I did not set out to write a book at first; it just evolved over time. The more Italian I learned, and the more I taught Italian to other adults, the more I realized that a unique book to teach Italian to adults would be helpful. Adults don't learn the same way children do, and the formal Italian taught in American schools is really not helpful to adults; adults have very special needs when they travel abroad and who don't have the many hours it takes to truly master a language. I am very good at organizing and presenting material from my medical background, and so it seemed natural to me to combine my experiences giving Italian classes and traveling to Italy into a book that others would find useful.

Cool! The book certainly appealed to the organised part of my brain too. What other advice would you give to those wanting to learn Italian?

Some advice for learning Italian or any other language: In order to speak in Italian, you must first learn to think in Italian! This means learning about Italian culture and the Italian approach to life in order to make the language come alive. Movies have been particularly helpful for me personally and as a teacher. Movies are easiest for the beginner to follow, with the story line and actor's gestures, and the Italian phrases can be listened to over and over again. Movies also give insight into Italian culture and expressions and how the language is really used. But anything that interests the individual student is helpful - music, You Tube Videos, Italian newspapers on line. Just get involved in what you enjoy about Italy and the language will come naturally!

100% agree with this, also we recommend watching the kids movies that you watched over and over again, because a) the language is easier and b) you know the English/your native version off by heart! 

Thank you so much for answering our questions! We wish you lots of success with your books! 

Conclusion

All in all, we love Conversational Italian for Travelers, it's lightweight, has all the essentials (and more)! You just can't go wrong with it and we highly recommend it.

To find out more (and get your own copy) head over to their website: LearnTravelItalian.com and check out their social media sites: Facebook Twitter YouTube and Google+

Also make sure to check out http://blog.learntravelitalian.com/ for cultural notes about Italy, Italian recipes and advanced lessons in Italian and https://conversationalitalian.wordpress.com/ which is an open group for beginners. 

Disclaimer: Travelling Weasels received this book on a complimentary basis in return for an honest review. We would never recommend anything we don't personally use and love ourselves, because that's not cool. 

The Unbeatable House Sit

This post is all about our all-time favourite House Sit, we're hoping by telling you a little bit about it, it will inspire you to start House Sitting yourself! 

First things first, what kind of competition did this top House Sit have? Well, we've prepared a little infographic about our last two years of House Sitting for you to enjoy: 

Click to enlarge

Our all-time favourite House Sit over the last two years has been the house we sat in Italy. We first sat it in January 15 (if you'd like to read more about that, try here).

The owners were so lovely that they invited us back in the summer for a month. We House Sat for them again for a weekend and the rest of the time we stayed there as guests!

So what made us chose this as our ultimate House Sit?

The Pets

Now although we call it House Sitting, 

House Sits generally come with pets.

(so really it's pet sitting) 

In fact, out of the 20 sits we've done, only one has come without pets! However, being able to travel and still have the home comforts of furry friends is one of the best things about House Sitting. We LOVE animals and these are no exception. 

At this beautiful house we have three lovely ones: a Hound mix, a Jack Russell/Chihuahua mix and a ginger American Shorthair (i.e. this cat). 

All three animals are gorgeous (as you can see) , but they behave beautifully too. One of our favourite things in the world is waking up and walking these dogs around the vineyards and in the little town. 

Looking after the house is important too, but the pets are priority. This is mostly true for every House Sitting assignment. 

The House and view

The house itself is very comfy, pretty and everything in it has a logical place (which I love). Outside there is a forno for cooking pizza. The garden is absolutely beautiful with stunning flowers and fresh snacks (strawberries, tomatoes, etc):

She's smelling the flowers!!!

Another favourite thing about the house is the view: 

Not sure why. 

It's also the perfect place to practice yoga. 

The Vineyard 

Part of the reason we love the view so much is because of the vineyard. They grow both red and white grapes and it's really awesome to learn more about this process. 

We offered to help out with the vineyard, and we spent a few mornings teasing the vines back into the correct place (i.e. through the middle). It was beautiful work and a great work out. 

working hard (or hardly working?)

We also helped bottle last year's wine, which was a lot of fun. In the end 234 bottles were bottled!

This is just 174 of them though - don't worry, I counted for you. 

But how many did we drink? None! It needs to sit for a year or so (we had margaritas instead).

The wine

We love the Italian attitude to wine: generally if you're in a restaurant (or at least in any of the ones we've been to) you're lucky if they let you choose which colour of the wine, let alone which type. They tend to choose which wine goes best with your food, which is great because they know better than we do.

They'll also quite happily bring you a half-full bottle of wine too and it's not weird. 

The Location 

Another great thing about this House Sit is its location. The house is situated just a short walk from Ripatransone - the cutest Italian village in the world complete with it's own ancient wall:

The house is also just a short drive from the sea, which is gorgeous. 

The water is really warm and it's so salty you can float! 

The nearest city is Ascoli Piceno which, as you can see, is also delightful:

The Food 

The food in Italy truly is to die for. The tomatoes smell so fresh and are insanely flavourful. The fruit? Dito. The pizza and pasta are the best we've ever had (of course) and the gelato is creamy and delicious. There is also really great fresh fish. 

Our home owners treated us to some excellent meals. For example this one: 

This was just the first course of our five course meal! We had salmon, anchovies, mussels, prawns, calamari, sole and plenty of crisp white wine. 

We also had a few meals at a convent, which was a really fun experience. They nuns cook all the food themselves, and they even grow some of it in the garden. 

The Owners

But it's not just the house, the pets and the location that make a good House Sit, it does depend on the Home Owners too. These particular ones are insanely cool! They are both extremely intelligent, kind and funny. We are so honoured to be friends with them and are thankful every day that they chose us to House Sit! 

Conclusion

So, there you have it: after 2 years of House Sitting in 8 different countries we've had some superb experiences, but none has been better than our gorgeous House Sit in Italy. We hope this little peek into our favourite House Sitting assignment has whet your appetite to try it yourself, but you tell us: 

Have we convinced you? Would you like to House Sit in Italy? Or would you like to House Sit somewhere else in the world? House Sitting has been a dream come true for us, and if you think it could be for you too, we would love to help you achieve it. 

Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, in the comment box below or on our new Snapchat (travelweasels) and Instagram accounts! 

If you'd like some further reading about House Sitting check out these (awesome) posts:

• How to start House Sitting
• Should I become a House Sitter, your FAQs.

and this ebook 'A Guide for First Time House Sitters, which can be found here). 

Perhaps you don't agree that this was our best House Sit to date? These ones just missed the top spot: 

• Three weeks in Portugal in a house with an Orange Grove
• Two weeks in Adelaide in a house in the mountains with koala neighbours. 
•  Six weeks in Spain in a villa with a pool
• Three weeks at the Gold Coast with a  pool and a tennis court
• Two weeks in Berlin in a house with a sauna
• Three weeks in Western Australia with a private beach 

And finally, if you were wondering where we find all these ultimate House Sits, it's on this highly recommended, trusted website: TrustedHouseSitters

P.S. If you would like a 10% discount for trustedhousesitters.com subscribe to our free mailing list now!

(Subscribe here.)

10 FREE Things to do in Rome!

10 FREE things to do in Rome! Plus some ways to save money on meals, accommodation and transport. 

Rome is our favourite European city. It has everything: The weather is wonderful, the food is fantastic and everything is so pretty! 

But it's very easy to spend a lot of money in Rome - most of the main sites charge an entry fee, there are people trying to sell you things on every corner and you're not going to want to miss out on anything! Don't worry though, we've put together a great list of 10 free things to do in Rome - which take the main sites into consideration too:

1. The Colosseum 

It's no wonder the Colosseum is one of the seven new wonders of the world. We were astounded by the architecture and even more amazed when we remembered it's around 2,000 years old. I mean, if people nowadays are astounded by it, imagine what the people back then thought of it!! 

You have to pay to go inside the Colosseum - and how much it costs depends on if you want to jump the queue/if you book online etc, but a stroll around the circumference is completely free and still awe-inspiring!

It's nice to sit and stare at it (and the people),  but the guys selling things (junk) can get a bit annoying. My approach was to be rude and shout 'no' any time they came close, so they'd back off. Tanbay's approach was to try and sell them things (his sunglasses, my plastic bracelet etc.) Both approaches worked well (mine was more effective, Tanbay's more entertaining). 

2. Roman Forum 

Situated next to the colosseum is the Roman Forum. It is an impressive bunch of ruins originally used as a marketplace, but over the years hosted many important events including elections, trials and gladiator fights! 

It's completely free to walk through, and so cool! 

3. Altare della Patria 

In terms of age, this is super-duper young compared with most of the other sites in Rome (it was completed in 1925)! So, unless you're Australian, you won't be impressed by it's 'ancientness' ;) - so why am I mentioning it? 

Firstly, it's the largest monument in Rome. It also holds the unnamed soldier - a soldier picked at random after WW2 to commemorate all the unnamed and lost soldiers. 

It is also pretty controversial (the locals hate its newness and its whiteness). Hence it's earned a fair few harsh nicknames such as the wedding cake. 

We thought it was impressive though, and worth a look on your way to the Colosseum.

4. Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary

Less controversial and far cuter is the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary. This was one of my absolute favourites in Rome because it's where
archaic Rome meets cute, caring Rome.

Torre Argentina does what it says on the box and cares for cats. They collect the strays, neuter them and debug them. Then they are free to roam the ruins and wait in comfort for an adopter. 

They were so friendly and so gorgeous! Seriously! Most stray cats we've met have been (understandably) grumpy/stand-offish /scared but these guys were just so lovely and sweet :)

For more cute kitty pictures, check out Claire's post about the cat sanctuary on - World Traveler in Training 

5. Trevi Fountain

Photo credit: pixabay

Okay this one was a bit of a disappointment because it was under renovation! Yes the above photo credit goes out to pixabay.com. This is what it looked like when we were there:

There are two bits of bad news here, a) it looked bad and b) we didn't get to throw in a coin! Legend has it that if you throw in a coin you are destined to return to Rome (I did it when I was seven and it clearly worked). 

Luckily we believe in making our own fate, and will return to Rome! And see the fountain!

6. The Pantheon

This was my other favourite thing, we'd never heard of the Pantheon, but a couple of people recommended that we go there and it was easy enough to find on the map so off we headed. I'm so glad we went there, it is SO beautiful!

You can go inside, which looks great too.

But for me it was the outside that was marvellous. 

7. Piazza Navona

Piazza Navona is a great little spot. If you go in the morning it will be completely deserted and you can fully appreciate the fountains.

If you go in the evening it will be packed and you can enjoy the street artists and people watch. 

8. The Tiber

The Tiber is the main river in Rome, it's so beautiful! And not just the cute little bridges, even the water itself is a nice colour. Well done Tiber. Lovely to take a stroll along.

9. Castel Sant'Angelo 

Like the Colosseum, Castel Sant'Angelo has an entry fee, but is free to observe from the outside and, like the Colosseum, it has a good looking exterior.

Castel Sant'Angelo was built by/for emperor Hadrian! (Think wall.) I think it's cool. 

10. The Vatican City

Okay, okay our final free thing to do in Rome is actually not even located in Rome, because despite it feeling like you're still in Italy, and the border being a tiny gate, when you're in the Vatican City you are in a whole other country! 

It's the smallest independent state in the world, and it's beautiful.

This is where the Sistine Chapel lives, which does cost to enter, but the city itself is gorgeous and free to hop in and out of. 

So these were our 10 free things to do in Rome, 10 free things that will easily fill up about two days and leave you in love with Rome. But what about everything else? How can you save money in other areas? 

Tips on how to save money in Rome: 

Accommodation: 

Yes, we'll admit we weren't house sitting here (unfortunately, because house sitting in Rome would be the best). House sitting in Rome or cities in general is certainly possible - we've House Sat in Berlin, Helsinki and the Gold Coast, Australia, so we'd definitely recommend that you check out  this website where we find all our yummy House Sits. 

Failing that, you can do what we did and try AirBnB. We stayed in the most beautiful little apartment which had the nicest bathroom: 

It was like staying in a hotel, except it was cheaper, nicer and we had our own kitchen.

If you're new to AirBnB we are pleased to give you a AirBnB voucher - get 22 euros off when you spend 67. Yey :) 

Food: 

We have two tips here, the first one of which may or may not apply to you, so let's get that one out of the way first:

1. If you're staying at a House Sit or an AirBnB, you can make at least one of your meals at home (and save some dough). Eating home-made sandwiches at the Colosseum can't be the worst thing that's ever happened to you, right?

Of course, if you're only going to be in Rome once you're  probably going to want to have all of your meals out and soak up as much of that yummy Italian food as possible.

But for us (and maybe for you too) travelling long term means that our wallets (and growing bellies) can't cope with three meals out a day. 

So yes, if you are staying in Italy for a long time and/or have plans to return (we're here for a month and coming back in October), then consider having a few budgety meals in your AirBnB/House Sit. 

2. This one is for everyone: 

Eat away from the main sites wherever possible.

Like buying a croissant next to the Eiffel Tower, any quick, 'cheap' food bought next to the Colosseum will be a) over priced and b) not great for your taste buds. 

If you walk just a few blocks away, the prices will be cut almost in half, and the tastes will double in tastiness. 

Our favourite meal in Rome was at Carlo Menta. The pizzas there cost between 4 and 6 Euros, are massive, and are so, so, SO delicious!! Thank you so much Ashley and Alex from In Pursuit of Adventure for the tip!

Transport: 

We are massive advocates of public transport, and we love going on the underground, but when it comes to Rome, please AVOID TRANSPORT! You won't see half as much as you will if you just meander along at your own pace, get completely lost, and discover more fantastic ruins that certainly can't be found if you're on the bus/tube. 

But if you really, really hate walking, then we can highly recommend renting a bike and cycling round the city, you will still discover all the cool bits, and hopefully work up a bit of an appetite for more pizza. We really liked the company Bim Bim Bikes - why not give their wheels a whirl?

Time: 

This is just a general tip for the summertime - get up EARLY. Yes I know it's disgusting, but believe us you get to see things tourist-free (and generally native-free too) AND the weather is more agreeable. 

We actually got up early, did some sightseeing until lunchtime, had a nap and did more sightseeing in the afternoon/evening. Our favourite time of the day in Rome was early morning. 

Okay so what do you guys think? There is so much to do in Rome and 3 days is a great amount of time to get a good taster - we hope you enjoyed our highlights of a few of the things you can do for free!

If you did you may also enjoy our other European city guides - they're all about what things you can do for free in a short amount of time: 

• 22 Fun (and FREE) Things to do in Berlin
• Amsterdam for the day
• How Should you Spend Just One Day in Paris?
• Visit London on a Budget

For any questions you might have about Rome, or indeed anything else, please feel free to contact us on Facebook or Twitter - or leave a comment below :)