Thursday, March 5, 2015

Italy: Learn Italian in Sorrento

Mature Solo Travel Readers: there is a special offer

SPECIAL OFFERS

26/02/2015
LEARN ITALIAN IN ITALY!

Study Italian in Italy - Special Offer for March 2015

Come and learn Italian in Italy at Sant'Anna In ... >>

Special offers

Study Italian in Italy - Special Offer 2015

Come and learn Italian in Italy at Sant'Anna Institute!

Are you looking for a complete and exciting Italian language program?

Choose Sant’Anna Institute (Sorrento, Italy) and get one of the following special offers reserved to you!

OFFER for Former students: students who come to attend a second course will get 20% off + Enrollment fee free of charge!!!! For each friend enrolling with you receive 20% off your course! Bring 5 friends and attend your course for FREE!

OFFER for New students: 10% off on the Italian course rates and Enrollment fee at 60€ instead of 75€.
If you want to stay for 2 weeks, book: 2 weeks Italian BASIC course + 2 weeks family accommodation B&B + enrollment fee at 590€

Deadline for Enrollments: March 20, 2015

Our Institute offers a wide range of high-quality Italian language courses for any level: from beginners to Italian teachers courses, all the year round (Italian language courses start every week).
Sant’Anna Institute provides:
- effective, flexible, modern and communication-oriented teaching method
- a friendly atmosphere
- qualified and motivated teachers
- small groups of students from different countries (a maximum of 12 people per class)
- Certificate of attendance
- Afternoon Cultural activities
- Trips and Excursions to Capri, Pompei and Amalfi coast
- Mediterranean cooking courses and tasting
- Pizza Making courses and tasting
- Ice-cream (Gelato) making courses and tasting
- Visit to Limoncello factory and tasting
- Tandem programs with local Italians
- Accommodation (host families, shared apartments, private apartments, hotels, B&B and more…)

Visit our FB page Lingua Italiana a Sorrento https://www.facebook.com/linguaitaliana.asorrento?fref=ts to discover the Sant’Anna world and get in touch with us!

For information contact us: info@santannainstitute.com

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Meeting People on the Road: Hats for the Royal Family

Hats fit for Royalty: Winchester, UK

Six Little Minster St, Winchester

                                                              www.caroldarby.co.uk

Walking the cobbled lanes in Winchester, trying to see everything before I left for Southampton to catch a ship, I found Carol Darby's hat shop.   In the USA you often do not see hat shops any longer. Yes specialty store in high tourist areas but years ago hats were common for Sunday's and to go to 'town'.

So I had to smile when I saw Free Spirit, a compact corner store with windows full of HATS!   The owner Carol Darby was inside working on a fabric or felt hat that would become a treasured piece of 'art' for a special occasion.

I hesitated to enter and bother the owner late on a rainy afternoon, but if you don't speak to people on the road, you may as well stay home and read about other countries in a book. I was warmly welcomed and soon learned that Carol has been creating hats and jewelry for more than 20 years.

No two hats in the shop were alike and Carol told me 'designs the hat to suit the wearer'. There are many special events in the UK that require a hat.

Commissions include engagement, wedding, Ascot perhaps and for members of the Royal family.

Carol had some wonderful stories to tell and I took more of her time than was polite but it was hard to leave. She shared with me that she didn't bother with face book or email but would check for my post when she visited a friend..................I hope to visit again and perhaps even try on a few of the most popular styles.

Travel is not only visiting museums, photographing monuments but also meeting the locals and learning about life in their town. Oh and this is the best part of travel.

Thursday, February 19, 2015

Eating Solo: Great Variety in Florence, Italy Food Court

Solo Travelers can find great meal choices
at a new type of Food Court

Florence Mercato Centrale a great food hall for solo travelers, no more restaurants with only couples!

The San Lorenzo Market may be best know for the lively local market on the first floor: meats, fish, cheese, fruits and vegetables.

The building dates from 1874 with soaring ceilings and windows with wrought iron.

After many solo trips to Italy I try to develop a list of restaurants I am comfortable eating solo.
Leonardos is one place I stop on every trip.

With the conversion of the second floor to a massive upscale 'food court' the Mercato Centrale has become my BEST SOLO dining location.

Early in the day I could choose a coffee at a bar on the first floor where many of the vendors were stopping for a quick espresso or take a a cappuccino and cornetto on the second floor where there are many tables and no rush to vacate your seat.

Byafternoon the market slows before the dinner rush. This is a good time to try beef at La Carne e Salumi, Il Pesce Fresco (fresh fish), La Mozzaella di Bugala, I formaggi (with a wide assortment of cheeses) and the tempting il Cioccolato and il gelato bar.

Ramondo Mendolia, La Pasta Frsca

La Pasta Fresca was my choice for an early dinner. You choose from the selection of fresh pasta and a sauce. the pasta is cooked while you wait and served with chees on top.

The owner Ramondo Mendolia, was working and kindly chatted with me while my pasta was cooking. Having his own business had been his dream. He is hands on and the hours are long, from lunch to the late closing 7 days a week. When many restaurants close one or two days a week it is wonderful for the traveler to find a place where you can find a meal at any time of the day. Pasta and sauce is available to take home and enjoy.

Fresh breads, rolls and of course CAKE

Pizza by the slice with a variety of toppings.

Solo Lunch: This is a much more crowded time of day and with limited Italian language skills I try to select something that is easy to pronounce or something I can point to. There is a pasta outlet with featured fresh pastas offered each day. Of course pizza, a vegetarian stand where you order fresh juices, soups and salads. I sampled the assortment of fried vegetables and chicken. I could not manage trying the fired rabbit........ So far the meals were all around $8 to $10 USA.