Harrison's Italy

All Roads Led to Rome...and Rome's Metros Led to Great Tourist Spots!!  Here are some reasons why I personally believe the metros are the best transportation in Italy while traveling---or for any other time! The Very Beginning. the metro the best transportation in italy while traveling Just to make sure we are on the same page, I just want to take a quick moment to hit on this subject (like in case this is the first time you are on the internet and my blog is the first post you saw...in that case, welcome!) The "Metro" (here is the Wikipedia link) is the same concept as the subway system in New York, USA.  The metro is an underground train which literally runs underneath the city, stopping at planned locations.  This system is a major and massive form of public transportation running from early in the morning to very late at night (but not 24/7). The metro had 2 tunnels and train which ran literally everywhere in the city, but a few years ago they (Italy)

The Craziest, Coolest Conversation I Ever Had In Italy...he couldn't speak English and I couldn't speak Italian!!  Imagine that! Ripa, Italy 1.  He Found Me. I was just spending the day walking around the little town of Ripatransone, Italy with my brother.  We were not really going anywhere--just seeing what we could see. When you travel to Italy, take a day just to do nothing.   I mean it.  You will greatly enjoy just walking around, nothing on your agenda....just letting the time pass by while soaking up Italy.  --It will mean so much to you! While walking around, an older man stopped us.  He started talking to us in Italian to which my brother and I both shook our heads and said we didn't speak Italian.  This didn't stop the man from continuing to speak to us in Italian...he just kept talking!  As he asked us a question, he pointed to us and then motioned in a gesture as if to ask "where are you from?".  I answered (in English) we were fr

One of the Greatest Jewels in Italy:  It's Not a Gemstone Crown, It's Not a One of a Kind Statue, It's Not a Custom Made Ferrari...The Unknown Jewel is a City:  Ripatransone . I want to share with you one of the greatest treasures you were never told about...until Now!  Let's begin our journey! Where Exactly Is Ripatransone, Italy  (Le Marche)? Ripatransone, Le March Region, Italy Everybody knows Rome.  Everybody knows something about Venice.  Most people have at least heard about Sicily or have seen a Mafia Movie.  However, people just scratch their heads and say, "where's that" when you mention Ripatransone. Ripatransone is a little "hill top" city which is in the Le Marche Region of Italy (Wikipedia link).  This region is on the Adriatic Sea on the right side of the country, and sits just about in the middle of the country.  This region is crazy cool because it has the Adriatic Sea (looks like the ocean) YET this region is bas

The very first time you bite into a Porchetta Sandwich on the streets of Italy...Your life will never be the same! Here are 3 Reasons Why a Porchetta Sandwich is a Reigning Caesar of Italian Street Food. 1.  The Obvious:  On the Street. Best Street Food In Italy It's true Italy is a master of cuisine:  3 Michelin Star Luxury places to Your Grandmother's Sunday afternoon red sauce down to Street Food.  All of these places have their own order and their own greatness....but I want to talk about Street Food. Street Food is the glorious side of Italy's eatery where you can literally grab a bite to eat while just walking down the avenue during your vacation, walk to work, or haircut--whatever and whenever.  The Street Food operations know exactly where to set up there food trucks for the maximum flow of foot traffic--this is great for people because they don't have to go out of their way to eat. It all breaks down to this.  You are walking around Rome or

The Very First Italian Coffee " There is a first time for everything "  --true statement.  There is nothing like your very first cup of Italian goodness brewed from a little coffee bar in Italian...this was the first time I ever had REAL Italian Coffee! First Time in an Italian Coffee Bar. Drinking Coffee in Italy Passing outside tables and chairs, I crossed the threshold of the door to the coffee bar, "caffe".  I was blown away just by the overall set up of how this little (maybe) 500 sq room packed a crazy amount of Italian refreshments.  The setup went like this:  bar with a giant espresso machine behind it, lining the the walls behind the bar where little espresso cups and plates, finally packed into the corner where alcohol bottles.  All of this with only space for 6-7 people to stand and turn around. Upon walking into the shop, a deep thick smell of coffee hits you--like going to Starbucks, but only 2X.  I immediately fell in love with this

Why a Convent is One Category of the Best Places to Stay in Italy. Different from a hotel and different from a Bed & Breakfast, a convent offers multiple benefits which you simply can not get anywhere else.  Hopefully you will gain some insight to greatly increase your impress of Ital during your visit.  Let's read on! Quality  Best Places To Stay In Italy I wrote a blog post about how staying in a convent stayed us a ton of money--this post really focuses on the reasons for considering staying at a convent during your trip to Italy. Every convent is a little different from the next (true with everything) however convents bring a unique travel quality to the common Italian tour:  the hotel FEEL with the Bed & Breakfast INTIMACY . If you are a single person traveling through Italy, convents are a great place to stay on your journey due to the fact that most of the rental rooms are for 1-2 people at a low rate...1-3 nights for just one room are very afforda