Espresso tour of Italy - Article published by Dominion Post

21 May, 2011 by shahlamotadel

FIVE DAYS in Italy. I know. It’s ridiculous to think you can do justice to the delights and diversity of Italy in five days. My friends thought I was mad. You need at least a month, they said. Well, I didn’t have a month. I had five days.

My objective was to spend the time indulging my passion for food. A cooking course was not a realistic option so I turned to my network of foodies for idea. What could I do, given my tight schedule and lack of Italian language?

Initially, the suggestion of a guided women-only tour didn’t appeal. I wanted something more personal. Then I got put in touch with Shahla Motadel, from Women Tour Italy, and several email exchanges later it was sorted. She offered a five-day guided tour, just for me. So I set out to see, taste and smell Italy, one-on-one.

What I Pack

15 December, 2009 by shahlamotadel

WHAT I PACK

1) Do you travel light or heavy?

I try to pack light. After paying 500 Euros (NZ$1000) for excess luggage on a trip back home from Italy I’ve definitely learned my lesson.

2) Cattle or first class?

Cattle. I prefer to spend my money on the ground.

3) I can’t travel without. . .

My Visa card—awoman’s best friend.

4) What type of suitcase do you carry?

My suitcase is a sturdy four-wheeler, but lightweight, that I have dragged all around, on train journeys, cobbled streets, bus rides, you name it.

Looking for an unforgettable holiday? Come to Italy!

15 December, 2009 by shahlamotadel

For me Italy is the number 1 holiday destination! I said that when I was 21 after visiting seventeen European countries and I say it now many years later and after seeing a lot more of the world. Why? Here it's in brief.

Italy is really a 'bel paese' (beautiful country), with its breathtaking coastline, like the Amalfi coast and the Cinque Terre, and a picture-perfect panoramic inner landscape, covered with olive trees, vineyards, figs, orange and lemon trees. Its lakes and mountains, jeweled with seaside and cliff-hanging towns, make Italy a real paradiso!

Published by shahlamotadel

Espresso tour of Italy - Article published by Dominion Post

What I Pack

Looking for an unforgettable holiday? Come to Italy!