Some years ago I took a class in the history of the Italian language. It was somewhat difficult, as it was taught in Italian, but I learned so much about a language that I love, that I became completely absorbed in studying and reading.

Imagine my surprise when I came across a book that has much of the same information, and more, written in English! The book, La Bella Lingua by Dianne Hales, is the story of one woman’s love affair with Italian. This book includes chapters on the history of Italian, including entertaining descriptions of Dante, Machiavelli and other famous Italian writers. There are also chapters which address the uniquely Italian approach to loving, eating, living, and even getting angry.

If you have ever wondered why In boca al lupo (In the mouth of the wolf) means good luck in Italian and buona fortuna (good luck) is considered unlucky—this is the book for you. It is highly entertaining and readable—and will be enjoyed whether you speak fluent Italian or just a few words.

La Bella Lingua by Dianne Hales was given 5 stars from Amazon readers!

From Publishers Weekly

In this charming love letter to the language and culture of Italy, journalist Hales recounts her inebriation with Italian's sounds and her lovesickness over its phrases. Enamored of this lovely and lovable language, Hales immerses herself in Italian culture on numerous trips to Italy in her attempt to live Italian. She comes to think of Italian as a lovable rascal, a clever, twinkle-eyed scamp that you can't resist even when it plays you for a fool. Hales regales us with the mysteries of the language, such as when a color becomes more than hue. She tells us that yellow, for example, refers to a mystery because thrillers traditionally had yellow covers. In her rapture over the language, she also swoons over Italian literature (from Dante to Manzoni), opera (Verdi and Puccini) and cinema (Marcello Mastroianni and Fellini) as she rehearses the many ways in which the language has seductively slipped into Western culture and consciousness.

It was a beautiful day when we set out to explore the lake. We had planned to go to Menagio but the boat which came to our dock was going nearly everywhere except Menagio; we got on anyway. We crossed the lake on a charming boat enjoying the towering mountains and the warm sun. We decided to get off in Tremezzo as we planned to take the boat again the next day—all the way to Como. We did not venture far from the water in Tremezzo—it is a small but charming little town. We noticed a restaurant where all of the tables were on a deck built out over the water. Even though it was early we decided to eat lunch there. The restaurant, called Albergo Tremezzo, though we did not see much of a hotel there, was very good. I had homemade tagliatelle with cinghiale—wild boar! My husband, Allen had an excellent pizza. We each had a glass of wine—I had Prosecco, the sparkling white wine from a neighboring region.

We returned to the dock and finally found the boat for Menagio, yet another charming little town on Lake Como. We walked from the dock to a pasticceria and sat and had our ice cream and coffee. The town of Menagio goes up the hill from the lake and is very pleasant to walk around.

We decided to head back to Bellagio and discovered that the boats make the Bellagio-Menaggio trip quite frequently (about every 20 minutes or so).

It is safe to say that enjoying Lake Como is like enjoying Italy itself—take time to enjoy the scenery, the people and the knowledge that you simply cannot plan exactly how your trip will unfold!

Submitted by Susan Willey Spalt

Some years ago I had a bout with plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the thick tissue on the bottom of the foot which most often causes severe heel pain. I learned from that experience to check the soles and arches of my shoes before a trip. It is usually possible to see where the soles are worn.

To check arch support is more difficult. I check by comparing my old shoes with a similar pair in the store. If I can tell a real difference I replace the shoes. It is important to do this far enough in advance of a trip to make sure the shoes are comfortable. Sandals may take longer to “break in” than tennis shoes.

Having had problems with my feet has made me appreciate their importance to any travel planning!

Submitted by Susan Willey Spalt

You can reach Pisa by train or bus from Livorno or Florence. If you come by train you will either need to find a taxi or take about a 20 minute walk to the tower. You can also drive, and with determination, find a place to park. There are many hotels in Pisa as well.

Pisa is one of my favorite cities. I first visited Pisa in 1957 when I was 12. Our family had just moved to Italy and we all climbed to the top of the tower and looked at the beautiful city below us. The tower was closed for many years—but it has re-opened and it is worth the climb!

PIAZZA OF MIRACLES AND THE LEANING TOWER

Why is Pisa worth the trip? Everyone knows that it has a tower and that the tower leans. What most people don’t know is that it is a beautiful tower in a breath-taking piazza—the Piazza dei Miracoli (piazza of miracles). The tower does lean—it is rather amazing to see. And climbing a leaning tower is as exciting now as it was when I was 12. The stairway is made of marble stairs which are worn according to how the tower leans. There are a lot of them. Nearly 300! Visitors can go out on the bell level—and admire the beautiful bells and then climb even higher to the very top. There are mountains off in one direction, the Arno in another, and far in the distance the sea is sometimes visible. Looking down on the Duomo and the Baptistery is impressive, and the stairway has some windows where you are at eye level with the statues on the roof of the Duomo.

There is also a museum next to the Duomo, which we did not go in this trip.

You can buy tickets to all of the attractions or to any combination that you would like. Tickets are available on-line. If you want to go up in the tower you will be given a specific time as only 40 people are admitted at one time. You will be allowed to stay about 20 minutes in the top of the tower. You will need to check purses and bags in one of the ticket offices as you are not allowed to bring anything into the tower with you.

There are bathrooms nearby—which cost 50 cents but which are so modern and spiffy—the cost is worth it—especially for those of us who remember Italian toilets of yesteryear.

PISA IS A COLLEGE TOWN!

Most tourists don’t know that Pisa is a college town. The University of Pisa is one of the oldest and most highly respected in all of Italy. It was founded in 1343. Galileo, who attended the university, was professor of Mathematics there in 1589.

The University is within easy walking distance of the Piazza Dei Miracoli. After your visit to the Piazza, stop for lunch at one of the restaurants nearby. Yes, they are touristy, but everyone from Rick Steeves, to Arthur Frommer and going back almost a thousand years has recommended a trip to Pisa---you can still get a good meal there. Continue walking (ask directions from your waiter) to the Piazza dei Cavalieri where you will see the Palazzo della Carovana dei Cavalieri. This beautiful building houses the Scuola Normale Superiore, founded by Napoleon, and part of the University of Pisa.

GALLILEO AND ICE CREAM

Continue walking towards the house where Galileo was born in 1654, the Ammannati House, on Via Giuseppe Giusti, 24. While there is no museum and the house is not open, it is a beautiful house, and a pleasant walk—past many pasticcerie. Salza; Borgo Stretto 46, is the oldest (it opened in 1928) and many would say the best pasticceria in Pisa. They have pastries and their ice cream is incredible. Try a combination I especially like—nocciola (hazelnut) and chocolate.

THE ARNO

From Galileo’s house it is a short walk to the Arno River.

There is a beautiful celebration on the river every year on June 16, the day honoring Pisa’s patron saint, San Ranieri. After sunset, candles are placed in the windows of all the buildings lining the Arno. In addition, thousands of candles are floated down the river. The tradition which began in 1688 was recently ignored by some residents. There is now an ordinance which requires the citizens of Pisa, lucky enough to live on the river, to participate! I remember seeing this in the late 50s—it was an incredible sight to see so many candles floating down a river.

The church of Santa Maria Della Spina, one of Pisa’s small churches, is located on the banks of the Arno. It is a pretty church and owes its name to a spine from Jesus’ crown of thorns brought from the Holy Land. The spine is no longer at the church. The church it is an easy walk to the train station.

Contributed by Susan Willey Spalt

For those of us who have to endure at least an 8 hour flight to get to Italy the getting there can be torturous. This is especially true if you are traveling by yourself and don’t know who you will be sitting next to. Like most travelers I have sat next to some of the most eccentric people I have ever met.

We never remember the person who was friendly but not overly friendly, the ones who actually stay within the confines of their armrests. No, we remember the ones who bring their pet bird onboard – yes I actually sat next to a woman who had a bird in a cage stored safely under the seat in front of her. Or the man who spoke nonstop for 8 hours about how awful his trip to Italy was and how he was no longer speaking with the person he went with who was sitting uncomfortably close to us on the same flight.

Your flights to and from Italy are always going to be something to be endured rather than enjoyed but with these tips you can make them more bearable:

•Headphones Not Earbuds: Nothing says I don’t want to talk to you like a pair of noise cancellation headphones. They take up more space in your suitcase but they are worth it if you are trying to block out all noise.

•Eyemask: I can’t always sleep on a plane but at least I try. Some people never even try and leave their reading light on all night. Get a comfortable eyemask with an adjustable strap. You need an adjustable strap or you will get a headache if your eyemask is too tight. They also come in handy if you end up staying in a hotel with a lot of ambient light.

•Bring a Snack: With rare exceptions the food on flights is just barely edible so eat before you board and bring some on-board snacks. I know when I get to Italy the food is going to be wonderful. If I am not so sure about the food at my destination I fill my backpack with granola bars. I have survived for days on granola bars.

•Water, Water, Water: Bring enough water to last the flight. Since you can’t bring liquids through security you will have to buy it in the gate area but it will be worth it. The last time I flew they did not even have bottles of water but little cups of water. That meant you had to drink it right up when they gave it to you, not as convenient as a bottle that you can recap and save for later.

•Bring a Pillow: There are a lot of comfortable neck pillows out there. I use an inflatable pillow that is easy to store in my backpack. Since it is inflatable I can add air or let air out until it is comfortable. With all the concerns about the flu and flying no way am I using an airline pillow.

•A Shawl Can Be A Blanket: Ladies, bring a shawl or big scarf and use it for a blanket that way you can avoid using airline blankets or use them only to cover your legs. Shawls come in handy when you travel to Italy so I always bring at least one.

I can drink some caffeine but too much and I am wired. Drink it too late in the day and I am up all night. That is where the Watersafe D+Caf Strips (caffeine test strips) come in. I heard about the Watersafe D+Caf Strips somewhere – on the news maybe or in a magazine. In any case I thought I would give them a try and they work!

When I order coffee in Italy I am never sure if I am actually ordering decaf and if I do manage to order something decaf I am not sure that is what I am getting. Watersafe D+Caf strips let me know for sure.

Here is what you do: Pour a little coffee in a spoon or some other small container, you only need a few drops, then take one of the Watersafe D+Caf strips and dip it in the coffee. If the liquid goes towards the D it is decaf, towards the C and you are drinking a caffeinated drink.

Camilleri always interjects some new information about Sicily. In this case it is the heat of Sicily in August and the rather lax building codes that exist in this part of Italy (actually given what happen in L’Aquila after the earthquake this may be the case everywhere in Italy). There is also a rather short description of what happens on Montalbano's least favorite of holiday's: Ferragosto. Ferragosto, August 15, is Italy’s biggest holiday of the summer. It is a day off for almost everyone which leaves the beaches littered with trash and with garbage floating in the waters off Vigata.

Once again Montalbano takes long swims to escape the heat, defies the Italian bureaucracy and struggles with his complex relationship with his long suffering love Livia. As has been apparent in the last few Montalbano books the Inspector is feeling his age more and more and that perhaps is causing him to behave a little strangely and out of character. And as is the case in most of his books Camilleri cannot avoid taking a swipe at Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

Notice I left Fiat off the list – that is because most of us want to get where we are going without making a stop at every car repair shop on the way.

Drive on one of the Autostrada anywhere in Italy and you will soon have a car riding your bumper. Pull over and you will see the driver gesticulating wildly. I prefer to think they are telling me how happy they are to see such a beautiful woman driving along on such a beautiful day.

I was reading “Little-Known Facts about Well-Known Places” on Italy by David Hoffman and found a few fun facts about Italians and their cars. Did you know........

Visit Italy and you will want to plan your days around eating. But where to go? Not only are there dozens of options of what to eat but there are a lot of options of where to eat.

Autogrill: Autogrills are located on big Interstates and can be small or big enough that you could do a week’s worth of grocery shopping there. More than once, I have picked up food at an Autogrill for a picnic.
Bar/Caffé: These are an Italian institution and Italians would not be able to survive without them. This is where Italians begin their mornings and where they stop throughout the day for an espresso, glass of wine or small snack. It is the perfect place to sit and relax, read the paper and watch people.
Enoteca: Enoteca’s are Italy’s version of an American wine bar. You can buy wine by the glass along with a salad a tray of cheese and meat. You can also buy a bottle of wine to take with you and usually an opener if you do not have one.
Gelateria: Everyone needs to stop at least one gelateria on their visit to Italy. Gelato is creamy and delicious and comes in all kinds of flavors both usual and unusual.

Enel said the 12 megawatt plant, at Fusina in Venice's industrial zone of Porto Marghera, was the first of its kind in the world to operate on such a scale.

Powered by hydrogen by-products from local petrochemical industries such as the Eni group's Polimeri Europa factory, it can meet the needs of 20,000 families, while saving emissions equivalent to more than 17,000 tons of carbon dioxide a year, according to Enel.

The power station forms part of a project dubbed Hydrogen Park, which is backed by the Venice region and Italy's environment minister to the tune of four million euros (5.6 million dollars).

The Crowne Plaza Quarto D’Altino Hotel’s normal rate is $92 to $170 a night. The offer was taken down quickly, but not before 230 people booked an average of 6 nights at the 1 cent rate. The error has cost the hotel around €90,000 ($130,000). Crowne Plaza hotels are part of the Intercontinental Hotels Group, the world’s largest hotel chain.

The hotel is located 20km (12.5 miles) from the center of Venice so visitors are still going to have to find their way into the city.

So the question is, would you be willing to swap out the 1 cent rate for a rate of €55?

Armedei, Paul de Bondt, Roberto Catinari and Luca Mannori are all located in the area. A chocolate bar made by Amedei has been selected the best chocolate in the world by the Committee of Experts of the London Academy of Chocolate three years in a row. You have to wonder how you get appointed to that committee. Many of the chocolatiers in Chocolate Valley offer cooking classes, factory tours and chocolate tastings. Some require you to book in advance but others are open during regular Italian business hours.

Turin, Italy is the city that made chocolate what it is today. In the mid-1600’s chocolate was only available as a beverage and was so expensive only the very rich could afford it. At the end of the 18th century a Frenchman named Doret living in Turin invented a chocolate machine that ground cacao seeds into a paste from which chocolate was made. Turin now produces more chocolate annually than France and Germany combined.

Colors are adjectives and must agree with the nouns they are describing. For example, il rosso guanti means the red gloves.

To describe a color as light add the adjective chiaro to the color so rosso chiaro is light red. Adding scuro makes the color dark so blu scuro becomes dark blue.

When I travel to Italy the colors I use most are rosso and bianco as in vino rosso and vino bianco.

Here is the list of colors in Italian with their pronunciation:

black in Italian is nero and is pronounced neh-roh

blue in Italian is blu and is pronounced bloo

brown in Italian is marrone and is pronounced mah-roh-neh

gold in Italian is oro and is pronounced or-oh

gray in Italian is grigio and is pronounced gree-joh

green in Italian is verde and is pronounced ver-deh

orange in Italian is arancione and is pronounced ah-ran-choh-neh

pink in Italian is rosa and is pronounced roh-zah

purple in Italian is viola and is pronounced vee-oh-lah

red in Italian is rosso and is pronounced roh-soh

silver in Italian is argento and is prononced ar-jen-toh

white in Italian is bianco and is pronounced bee-ahn-koh

yellow in Italian is giallo and is pronounced jahl-loh

Trash in Venice has to be collected on foot which is labor intensive and expensive.  Men with wheelbarrows cruise the alleys and canals collecting trash. Collection costs over $300 per ton compared with just under $100 per ton on the mainland according to Ricardo Seccarello, a city official. And the trash collectors only collect trash from bins, not the trash including a large number of plastic bottles that ends up in the canals each day.

Italians drink more bottled water than consumers anywhere else in the world drinking more than 40 gallons per person per year. Go to any restaurant or home in Italy and you will be offered bottled water “con gaz” or “senza gaz” meaning sparkling or natural. Rarely are you offered tap water and never are you offered ice.

City officials are claiming at least partial success saying the amount of plastic trash collected has been reduced from 288 tons per month to 261 tons per month one year ago.

Convincing local residents to drink tap water is easier than converting the hordes of tourists that invade Venice each year. City officials are trying to convince tourists to try drinking from the public spouts that are scattered around the city. That is going to be a hard sell given the prominence of stores and restaurants selling water and the hesitancy of most tourists to risk drinking water from a public spout. The city may have more success if they try to implement a “refill and reuse” campaign as in buy one bottle then refill it at your hotel for reuse.

This year the tour has the added excitement of having Lance Armstrong who is competing after a 4 year layoff spent drinking beer – his words, not mine. He also has to cope with the aftermath of recent shoulder surgery, the result of taking a spill in a race this past spring.

Adding emotion to the race is Danilo Di Luca from the Abruzzo region of Italy. Abruzzo is home to L’Aquila, the city damaged in the April 6 earthquake. Di Lucca who was poised to come in second before being overtaken by Stefano Garzelli in the last seconds was cheered wildly by Italian fans who in turned booed Garzelli. Di Lucca the clear fan favorite finished third in the stage.

While the Tour de France has its yellow jersey The Giro has the “Maglia Rosa”, the pink jersey. You would think it would be easy to pick out a pink jersey in a group of male cyclists but given the bright outfits cyclists wear it is harder than you would think it would be.

Even if you are not a cycling fan it is fun to watch the tour as it winds through the towns and cities of Italy.