Just one week of immersion in Bari in Puglia, living life like a local, has taught me this:
Italians are patient. They happily queue for fifteen minutes at Panificio El Focacciaro to buy Apulian focaccia, bread, arancini and panzerotti - fried pockets of dough crispy on the outside, soft inside, and filled with melted mozzarella and tomato. Panzerotti are the heart and soul of Puglia’s street food tradition and El Focacciaro has been making it for over fifty years. I seriously dislike queuing, yet there I was happily waiting my turn as I contemplated all the deliciousness in front of me. So worth the wait!
Italians walk really slow, whether male, female, young or old. I have intentionally stayed behind people to understand how it is possible to amble at such a slow pace. I can’t do it.
It is a myth that women need to pay a lot of money for a haircut. I found a 9.8 review hairdresser; had a good looking Italian man cut my hair; said no to the shampoo and walked out fifteen minutes later, happy with a cut that cost me 25 euro!
Timing is critical if on a shopping mission because it shouldn’t take half a day to buy an iron and ironing board. Being a practical and organised person, I made a list from my ‘where to buy an iron in Bari’ online search; found the locations on my map and off I went, knowing I had time before the typical closing time of 1:00pm for siesta. Two shops had run out of irons; one shop didn’t exist and one closed early. Finally, a shop selling washing machines, microwave ovens and irons! No ironing board though. The kind lady from the iron shop pointed me in the direction of a shop with cleaning products. There in a hidden corner was one ironing board. Clutching a saucepan, iron and chocolate in one hand and the longest, heaviest ironing board I’ve ever bought under the other arm, I walked five kilometres home, taking care not to take anyone out with my ironing board.
After 300 years of being allowed to sit on the Spanish Steps, Rome imposed a new rule. No sitting. It was early morning and the ‘step police’ weren’t out.
Find your perfect Italian adventure in 2026
NOW is the best time to book flights for April, May and June. Spring time is when Italy smells and looks amazing!
If you love . . .
sunny, crisp days in the low twenties
hilltop, medieval villages in the Tuscan countryside
impossibly picturesque seaside towns clinging to steeply terraced mountains
gorgeous lakeside villages nestled on Lake Como
less crowds
then the Tuscany / Italian Riviera / Lake Como tour in the last two weeks of April is perfect.
The first two weeks of May promise . . .
one of the oldest places on the planet that delivers an experience like no other
heavenly places on the Amalfi Coast
the most beautiful walks in the world
boating, islands and swimming in the Tyrrhenian Sea
The Matera / Amalfi Coast itinerary allows you to experience all of these stunning locations in the best possible way.
If Sicily has been on your mind, imagine this . . .
the most beautiful mountain top resort town in Sicily
once in a lifetime adventure on the slopes of Mount Etna
melting pot of culture, food, history and people
island stays on tiny Ortigia and Lipari, one of seven islands an hour by ferry off the north coast of Sicily
The last two weeks of May promise great weather for the Sicily / Aeolian Islands tour.
For lovers of rugged mountains, lakes and flower filled valleys, there is nothing like the Lake Garda/Dolomites tour . . .
glorious Riva del Garda tucked into the northern tip of Lake Garda
extraordinary landscapes of indescribable beauty
weather in the low to mid twenties and snowcapped mountains
an incredible network of cablecars, gondolas and chairlifts traversing the mountains and valleys
wonderful walking trails requiring only a moderate level of fitness
The optimum time is the first two weeks of June when everything has just opened, the weather is amazing and not many tourists have arrived.
July and August are typically the hottest months and teeming with tourists, so September and October in autumn are perfect for Tuscany / Italian Riviera / Lake Como in the last two weeks of September; Matera / Puglia in the first two weeks of October and Sicily / Aeolian Islands in the last two weeks of October.
Life is too short not to travel. Everyone needs something to look forward to, something to plan for and something that allows us to keep growing. Travel does that.
“We travel not to escape life, but for life not to escape us”
Get excited and talk to me about your next life-changing travel adventure. Of course it has to be Italy!!
Ci vediamo la prossima settimana.