Only A Bag - An Italian Travel Podcast

If you asked a friend, "In one hour, tell me everything that's important about visiting Rome," this would be pretty close to their response.

In this episode we delve into the people using broad generalizations, what kind of transportation to expect (or not expect), why the south feels so chaotic, what's with all the 1980s apartment buildings, and did we say "witchcraft"? Why yes, we did.

In this second episode we cover the differences in coffee (shorter and punchier), food (dry pasta is southern), and the Mediterranean Diet. As well as a whole slew of other sidetracks.

This is going to be a two-part episode, with this as part one: a rambling history and some general ideas of what to expect. The next episode will [hopefully] focus more on concrete expectations!

To support Only A Bag, you can sign up for one of the travel-oriented credit cards below. None of them have a yearly fee, which is one of the reasons we like them so much. (To learn more about the cards, you can either listen to the 3rd episode in the series, or search online for reviews about the card.) If you're not comfortable with opening a Credit Card, we encourage you not to. There is no pressure here, just some helpful tips. 

Points, Miles, Cash Back: Which is best for you? And do you really need a credit card?

We finally purchased a second microphone, so this special episode mini-series might sound a little uneven while we work ou the kinks. If it sounds especially atrocious on your headphones/phone/speakers, please let us know!

To support Only A Bag, you can sign up for one of the travel-oriented credit cards below. None of them have a yearly fee, which is one of the reasons we like them so much. (To learn more about the cards, you can either listen to the 3rd episode in this mini series, or search online for reviews about the card.) If you're not comfortable with opening a Credit Card, we encourage you not to. There is no pressure here, just some helpful tips.

Checking accounts, debit cards, and how to access your money abroad without paying extraordinary fees.

We finally purchased a second microphone, so this special episode mini-series might sound a little uneven while we work ou the kinks. If it sounds especially atrocious on your headphones/phone/speakers, please let us know!

To support Only A Bag, you can sign up for one of the travel-oriented credit cards below. None of them have a yearly fee, which is one of the reasons we like them so much. (To learn more about the cards, you can either listen to the 3rd episode in this mini series, or search online for reviews about the card.) If you're not comfortable with opening a Credit Card, we encourage you not to. There is no pressure here, just some helpful tips.

How to convert currency, let your bank know you're traveling, and everything else you need to know before you hit the road!

We finally purchased a second microphone, so this special episode mini-series might sound a little uneven while we work out the kinks. If it sounds especially atrocious in your headphones/phone/speakers, please let us know!

To support Only A Bag, you can sign up for one of the travel-oriented credit cards below. None of them have a yearly fee, which is one of the reasons we like them so much. (To learn more about the cards, you can either listen to the 3rd episode in this mini series, or search online for reviews about the card.) If you're not comfortable with opening a Credit Card, we encourage you not to. There is no pressure here, just some helpful tips.

Perugia, a relatively unknown city in the north; a just-as-beautiful relative of Tuscany at a fraction of the price.

(At some point Nathaniel mistakenly said Montepulciano is in Umbria, when it is in fact in Tuscany, so, sommelier classes aren't going so well.)

The larger-than-life stretch of towns along the Ligurian Coast with their pastel homes and craggy coves have inspired tourists for years. In this episode, we delve into what those towns are, what sets the apart, how to get there, how to walk between them, and some of our favorite food.

While the Palio and the Duomo are two of Siena's major draws, they're not the only reason to visit this hilltop town.

In this episode we cover getting there, the history of the Palio, why the Duomo is so interestingly built, and why you should try panforte and cantucci. Plus, some of the best day trips!

Using Florence as a home-base for your Italy trip? Here are the top 17 places to visit in one-day from Florence. We're talking about places from 40 minutes one-way on the fast train to Bologna to 3 hours, for those bucket-list locations like Venice and Cinque Terre.

Sandwiches, pastries, gelato, wine to-go, and what is lampredotto? We've got you covered with a list of our favorite food in Florence.

Hello and welcome back! In this episode we are back to talking about Florence! Headed to Florence but short on time? We've got you covered with tips on what to see in Florence, what to skip, what's free in Florence, and what's worth the price. While we mentioned in episode 3, Florence can be a day trip, an ideal trip to Florence could be 4-6 days. Enough time to see the galleries, catch a few sunsets from the rose garden at the Piazzale Michelangelo, and stroll the Ponte Vecchio.

Hello, hello! Welcome back to Episode 3 of Season 2.

In this episode, we're talking about Florence. Specifically, we are taking about how to get there (planes, trains, and automobiles (buses)), and how to get around.

We're also offering a very brief history. Not necessarily of Florence, but of Italy as a whole, and how the local dialect of Florence ended up as Italy's national language.

Hello and welcome back to Episode 2!

Before we get to talking about the North, Florence specifically, we wanted to very briefly go over a few points of interest about Rome that we haven't previously mentioned. In particular, we wanted to talk about how to stay cool on those heat-wave days that send Rome past the triple digits, and which day trips are feasible (and which aren't).

In this episode, we mention a few parks:

Villa Borghese (Near Flaminio)

Piazza Vittorio Emmanuele (Near Termini)

The grounds of Palazzo Barberini (The front area of the Museum)

Giardino degli Aranci (Near the famous keyhole)

Giardino di Sant'Alessio (Also near the keyhole)

Villa Celimontana (Near the Baths of Caracalla and the Colosseum)

Welcome back!

Welcome back to another episode of our housesitting series!

Welcome back!

Hello all, and welcome to our "Kitchen Sink" episode for Rome.

There were so many little things we wanted to mention in the last few podcasts that either didn't fit, or we weren't factually sure on. So we added them into one large podcast. A "just in case" type of thing.

Some of it is also updates to prices or practices as we've experienced them

Welcome back to another episode of the Rome series! 

In this episode we discuss how to navigate the used clothing markets of Italy, and the ones we like to frequent.

We hope you enjoy! 

If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Towards the end we mentioned a group of vintage stores in the Monti neighborhood which are:

Pifebo Vintage Shop

Flamingo Vintage Shop Roma

Humana Vintage Roma

King Size Vintage

Pulp Vintage

Blue Goose

Abito

Welcome back after our impromptu 6 month break! 

To get things started, we figured we should round out the last of the food episodes talking about the thing we love best: gelato. Not only do we discuss the parts of a gelato cone, we discuss things to look for when hunting for the best gelateria in any city. 

Everyone tells us where to eat in Rome. Where to find the best cacio e pepe or pizza. Even Google Maps gives advice.

So we wanted to tell you all how to eat at restaurants and what to expect when you do.

As always, I hope you enjoy!

Nathaniel on Twitter: @MellorNathaniel

Darcy on Twitter: @not_mr_darcy

Welcome back to our episode on food! We try to lay the groundwork for any trip you might take to Rome by discussing street food, food markets, groceries, the customs around food, and what to do if you have allergies.

Darcy was coming off a bit of a cold, so I did a heavy portion of the talking, sorry about that!

We hope you all enjoy!

Hello everyone!

We are so sorry for our long absence. We moved houses again, lost internet, and real life got in the way. We are now back! 

In this episode we talk about getting to Rome by flying there, getting from the airport to the city, and getting around Rome once you're there. 

I also mentioned a website for cheap student flights which is called www.studentuniverse.com.

Some of my talking might be quick in this episode, and I do apologize! I realize I talk quickly when I'm excited about something, and I'm working on talking slower so everyone can understand. 

I hope you enjoy! 

For the next few episodes Darcy and I will be talking about Rome, since that's where we are currently! 

Instead of talking about the normal sights and "to-do" lists, we thought we'd talk about some of the quieter sides of life. Like gelato, used clothing markets, and finding good food!

I hope you enjoy! 

In this episode I invited my travel partner, Darcy, to talk with me about traveling together. We discuss the pros and cons, costs, and how it's important to sometimes take some time apart.

I hop you enjoy!

Possibly the greatest debate while traveling is whether or not to go alone. For some, it's an eye-opening experience, a chance to connect with themselves and learn about the person they really are without distractions. For others, it's a deeply lonely experience that reinforces how far out of their comfort zone they are.

In this episode, I discuss having a new normal, changing your perspective, and learning how to travel alone.

I hope you enjoy! 

In this episode I cover things you will need before you hit the road. This isn't about packing or any gadgets, but the bare basics such as a passport, visa, vaccines, travel insurance, and more.

I hope you enjoy! 

Welcome to Only a Bag, a travel podcast!

Since this podcast will weave certain topics in and out of every episode, I thought it would make sense to give a brief overview of those topics: One bag, ethical traveling, long-term traveling, and housesitting.

I will go into more depth in the following episodes.

If you have anything you'd like to hear me talk about, please let me know!

Thanks for listening,

Nathaniel