Jessica › Comments

What a clever site - yes, it's a book about "where to go when," and they certainly want you to buy the book... But you can use the site to see a few samples of places that are good choices for a vacation during any month you choose on the left. So cool. - Jessica

Fun swear words in Italian; one of them might be something you'd want to be careful about using, but all three of them are used by all ages in Italy! - Jessica

I love reading about how real travelers travel in this series; this profile is really wonderful of Andrew Evans, who recently took buses from Washington DC to Antarctica (well, except for the boat on the last leg of the trip!). - Jessica

Good tips for people who work in tech & want to move to Italy - what to do to make that dream a reality. - Jessica

Lovely prose dealing with the expectations of camping, as opposed to the realities (but put much more beautifully than that). - Jessica

I love Italian childrens' books, as they're often right at my reading speed! This one looks like it's even better - a book for kids to learn Italian. - Jessica

Beautiful essay about finding authentic India in the middle of a touristy city. - Jessica

Interesting new theory on what really killed the people at Pompeii when Vesuvius erupted - some scientists now say it wasn't being suffocated by gases and ash, but rather the extreme heat. - Jessica

Great tips for renting a bike and getting around Amsterdam (and elsewhere in the Netherlands) by cycling. - Jessica

I LOVE THIS. As if the sweet local markets in Italy weren't enough, this is a market that comes to you - a guy selling cheese & sausage out of the back of his car. LOVE. - Jessica

This is a really interesting look at some of the things (according to some people) that keep the Italian economy from growing. If the things keeping the economy in slow-motion are important to national identity, what wins? (So far, it's been the national identity.) - Jessica

A smart and well-written rant about being annoyed with the way the travel industry often markets to the GLBT community. - Jessica

Most Italians make coffee at home using a stovetop espresso maker like the one pictured here - and here's how you can do it, too. - Jessica

Interesting article about the hunt for the perfect Italian cappuccino in San Francisco, as well as a lesson in making one (from an Italian master barista) & recipes for two Italian coffee classics you can make at home. - Jessica

Good tips on how to find the north star, the southern cross, and why it makes a difference for long-exposure photography. - Jessica

If you have more time after visiting Venice, these 5 places along the Adriatic Coast may be worth your time - especially if you're interested in getting away from tourist crowds. - Jessica

I wouldn't ordinarily think of castles when I thought of Sicily, but these five castles are making me re-evaluate that... - Jessica

Although the replies here are humorous, there's some great advice in this Q article as well. - Jessica

This is a lovely essay about writing in general, but I would genuinely like to read the travel romance novels talked about here (because - if they're written by someone who knows what they're doing - they don't have to be vapid at all). - Jessica

I loved this line: "I realized that having a definition of travel at all does nothing for you, except allowing you to miss out on valuable life experiences." - Jessica

Good round-up of advice for traveling successfully with a significant other. - Jessica

Great summary of the three things to think about when you're weighing the car/train equation for getting around in Italy. - Jessica

This post goes over the history of gelato, along with how it's made and how it's different from ice cream. Very informative! - Jessica

I love Venice, and I love hearing about other people's impressions of the city. This is a sweet memory from a visit 10 years ago. - Jessica

I like reading about travel writers who don't hit a new country every other week... Makes me feel less like a travel failure. :) - Jessica

There have been many calls for instant replays at the World Cup this year, and one Italian company thinks it has perfected a system of high-speed cameras that would help cover "what are typically referee blindspots." - Jessica

I love the three main differences between gelato & ice cream that are clearly laid out on the front page of this site. Great information, clearly described. - Jessica

So many people hate the vuvuzela... It's like white noise to me, but I'm not in the stadium. This was written by someone who's in South Africa & has been to several of the games already. - Jessica

Italians are famous for their creative & prolific gesturing when they speak. As this video demonstrates, most don't seem to gesture wildly (like they're often portrayed), but they're still fun to watch. - Jessica

Super interesting list of odd facts about Iceland - but it's not just a list, it's also packed with useful travel info. - Jessica