Little Roads Unfiltered: Italy and Beyond

Special Guest: Our Friend Tati

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535361/fan_mail/new] Joining us today is our friend Tati. She is an American who lives in the Netherlands. A few years ago we met through Trusted Housesitters, a service we used to find sitters when we are on the road in Italy or elsewhere Since then, we have become friends, and she has come to Soriano several times. And since Tati’s life is so interesting, we thought she would be a perfect guest on our show! Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at:  www.LittleRoadsEurope.com [https://www.LittleRoadsEurope.com] www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope [https://www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope] We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland. And our "alter-egos" as musicians: www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it [https://www.orsinivirtuosi.it/]

Real Life in Italy - May 2026

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535361/fan_mail/new] We talk about what we've been up to this past month - concerts, birthdays, cats and more, and including our recent research trip up north, into the Italian Alpine lakes. Among other things, you’ll hear about…: - the priceless artwork we acquired on this trip; - how we spent Zen’s birthday; and  - the pasta that should have been a dessert. Food, wine, churches in cliffs, swans and swims in ice-cold lakes... We cover a little of everything as we recount our lives here in Italy! Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at:  www.LittleRoadsEurope.com [https://www.LittleRoadsEurope.com] www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope [https://www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope] We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland. And our "alter-egos" as musicians: www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it [https://www.orsinivirtuosi.it/]

Home Improvements in Italy

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535361/fan_mail/new] In this episode we chat about our experience with home improvements with our own little house here in Italy - what we did ourselves, what work we had done, what we learned and what we screwed up.  From gas to plumbing to electric to walls (building and tearing down) to installing furniture and appliances and solar panels, we've done a bit of everything.  It's a good topic for anyone thinking about buying and fixing up a place in another country. You'll also learn our favorite expletive to describe situations that start out terribly but end up better than you had initially imagined - we coined the word ourselves! Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at:  www.LittleRoadsEurope.com [https://www.LittleRoadsEurope.com] www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope [https://www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope] We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland. And our "alter-egos" as musicians: www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it [https://www.orsinivirtuosi.it/]

Special Guest: Our Neighbor Natalie

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535361/fan_mail/new] We have a special guest with us today - Natalie Smargiassi, an Italian-American who moved to Italy a few years ago. She has a house in Gallese, a neighboring town of Soriano.  We chat with Natalie about the path that led her to move to Italy, the things she did to get her house set up, and the interesting and fun things about her town and her region, from food to festivals to history to hiking. Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at:  www.LittleRoadsEurope.com [https://www.LittleRoadsEurope.com] www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope [https://www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope] We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland. And our "alter-egos" as musicians: www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it [https://www.orsinivirtuosi.it/]

Our Favorite Quirky Sites in the Northern Italian Lakes

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2535361/fan_mail/new] We’re currently on the road on a research trip, exploring the areas around Italy's Alpine Lakes.  So today we thought we’d talk about some of the more quirky and unusual places that we’ve visited up in those areas in the past.  Among other things, today you’ll hear about…: - the stuffed crocodile in the cathedral;  - the church carved into the cliff;  - and how a menorah fits into Lord of the Rings Follow along with us this week on our socials as we revisit some old favorite spots like these, and we search out new amazing places to visit.  Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at:  www.LittleRoadsEurope.com [https://www.LittleRoadsEurope.com] www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope [https://www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope] We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland. And our "alter-egos" as musicians: www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it [https://www.orsinivirtuosi.it/]