Zee Michaelson Travel
A Travel Podcast. The Zee Michaelson Travel Podcast is devoted to the travel industry. Produced by Collage Travel Media Network, a company that produces Podcasts, Streaming Radio, Travel Expos and Travel Advising. Your guide to travel is Zee Michaelson a Travel Advisor and Jay Lawrence your concierge of podcast travel. Episodes are about 30-minutes about everything and anything you want to know about travel. Travel tips and more. Guest Travel Advisors. We work closely with travel vendors to bring you the latest information. Zee Michaelson Trave Podcast. And check out https://live365.com/station/-a03518
Zee Michaelson Travel
Discovering Abruzzo's Wonders: National Parks, Outdoor Adventures & Rich Culture with Dominica
Ever wondered why Abruzzo should be your next travel destination? Join us for an enthralling conversation with Dominica, a passionate advocate for this hidden gem in Italy. Discover the pristine beauty of Abruzzo's national parks and nature reserves, the thrilling outdoor activities in the Apennine Mountains, and the region's commendable wildlife conservation efforts. Dominica takes us deep into the heart of Abruzzo, sharing insights on local culture and the magic of exploring this breathtaking region just 62 miles east of Rome. You'll learn why local guides are invaluable for enriching your travel experience and why Abruzzo is an essential addition to every traveler's bucket list.
But our journey doesn't stop there! We also explore the rich history and stunning landscapes of southern Italy, including Molise and Basilicata. Imagine strolling through towns with ancient origins and relaxing on the serene beaches of Vasto while savoring delectable local cuisine. Get practical travel tips, like packing comfortable walking shoes for navigating hilly terrain and cobblestone streets. This episode concludes with a heartfelt connection to our listeners, encouraging you to share your travel dreams and experiences. Stay inspired and informed by visiting our website and following us on social media—your next adventure awaits!
Welcome to the Z Michelson Travel Podcast. This podcast is devoted to the travel industry. Z says let your imagination run wild and start dreaming about where you want to go. And dream big, reach for the stars, and if you only get to the moon, at least you enjoyed the trip. Your guide to travel is Z Michelson, a travel advisor, and sitting at the controls is Jay Lawrence, your concierge of podcast travel. Now here's Z.
Speaker 2:That's me, I'm Z and I'm Jay Lawrence at the controls. You are at the controls.
Speaker 3:And boy am I excited today.
Speaker 2:I know you are, but before we get into it we've got to let everybody know that we're brought to you by Collage Travel Media Network.
Speaker 3:Which has streaming radio podcasting and a travel advisor.
Speaker 2:Me, and you know today's topic. This is what's gotten you so excited because, every month we bring in your lovely wife, yes, and she talks to us about some great places to visit in Italy that might be off the little beaten path.
Speaker 3:And she knows it. She does. She was born off the beaten path.
Speaker 2:You know well, she's been here in the United States for quite a while. Yes, yes, but she goes back and visits, yes, and then she comes back and she tells us all about these great places that we got to go to.
Speaker 3:And it's so much that I've learned. Yes, and we're talking about next year. We're going to have a tour, right.
Speaker 2:Next year. We're looking at doing a tour in 2025, close to September October.
Speaker 3:All right.
Speaker 2:And we're going to go to Italy, all right, so that's going to be a lot of fun, and you'll hear more about that as we move along.
Speaker 3:You think she should be like the host of the tour?
Speaker 2:Well, she can actually probably translate a lot of information that we see.
Speaker 3:Well, let's bring her in and see if she can answer.
Speaker 2:So, dominica, welcome back to the show. Tell me, what are you going to be telling us today, what are you going to talk about today?
Speaker 4:Well, today we're going to talk about the beautiful region of Abruzzo.
Speaker 2:Abruzzo.
Speaker 4:Now that's a region, right it is. It's one of the 20 regions in Italy and it is one of the most beautiful, I think. If you like nature, mountains, seeing different animals. So they do have the National Park in Abruzzo. Oh, okay, they have nature reserves. They are big now into also preserving the wolves, like we are in Yellowstone.
Speaker 3:Okay, I want to know where is this?
Speaker 4:Where is Abruzzo?
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:That's what you want to know, right? Well, abruzzo is actually only 62 miles east of Rome. Oh, so it's not far from. Rome it's not far Fabulous, yeah, I mean well, it's kind of a narrow country really.
Speaker 3:Would it be kind of on the west coast of Italy?
Speaker 4:It would be on the east coast of Italy. I know it's a little bit backwards. Rome is on the west coast. Oh, and so the Adriatic is on the opposite side of.
Speaker 2:Rome. It's right on the Adriatic coastline.
Speaker 4:It is oh east.
Speaker 2:Okay, oh, I'm sorry, it's okay, we have to give Jay a map.
Speaker 3:I was totally turned around there. Right, yes, right, it's east coast.
Speaker 2:Okay, it's the east side. Yes, I got it now, as opposed to west side yes, all around the town. So now you say there's mountains there and national parks and nature reserves and you were talking about. Let's talk about the mountains, because I love mountains?
Speaker 4:Well, it is the Apennine Mountains that form like the backbone of Italy. You know they go all the way down. Can you ski? So, yes, beautiful skiing in the winter time. You know we were known as sunny italy, and so you know, if you go up north then you're going to get the clouds and the, but in sunny italy you're going to have beautiful skiing and sunshine. Have you skied in these mountains? I'm not a skier. Oh yeah, these mountains, I'm not a skier.
Speaker 2:Oh, you don't, but I know I'm not a skier either. You two are bunnies, right.
Speaker 4:We're lodging. We love to lodge. I like the lodge.
Speaker 2:Yes, so they. So you have these mountain, this mountain range, and then you say this they have bike paths, you can actually bicycle around.
Speaker 4:Yes, you yes, you can ride your bikes, you can do horseback riding, and you can also get a guide to take you on some of these trails if you don't feel confident enough. And so if you're interested in these, I'm sure that Z we can set you up with some of the nice tour guides that we can have over there.
Speaker 2:Right, I would love tour guides. I like tour guides.
Speaker 3:They know what they're talking about Right.
Speaker 2:They live there, they know what the interesting points are, and that's how you can get around a lot simpler.
Speaker 3:And what we learned from Globus the other day was that in Italy you have to hire the local guides to do the tours.
Speaker 2:Right. The tour directors guide you to the guides.
Speaker 3:Yes, tour director to the.
Speaker 2:To the local guides To direct it to the local guides.
Speaker 4:Because if you have like a guide to take you all through Italy, once they get off that bus, they turn over the controls to the local guides.
Speaker 2:Right, that's how they make their money and they know the place.
Speaker 1:They live there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that's good. Now tell us about these. You had mentioned that they have nature reserves and that they're bringing the wolves back. You said yes.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so they are preserving the wildlife. And I remember I hate to say this, but when I was a little girl wolves were not our friends because they would attack our livestock.
Speaker 1:Livestock.
Speaker 4:And you know. So things have changed and people, you know we've become more conscious of right.
Speaker 2:They have these eco, survival things where you need so many of those animals, so many predator animals, to keep down populations so you don't have to kill off populations. Blah, blah, blah, blah blah yes yeah, I understand that. You know and I I used to own a Siberian wolf cross.
Speaker 3:A what A?
Speaker 2:Siberian wolf cross. So it was a Siberian husky with a wolf cross. It was a timber wolf out in California because they were doing that they were crossbreeding them at the time, oh my goodness. Yeah, and she was definitely a family animal. They love to be packed, they're packed, they love their family. So, yeah, they do a lot of these things. Now, what is there to see in Abruzzo other than you got the beautiful coastline and the mountains and the parks. What else can you do?
Speaker 4:here. Well, if you like medieval cities, medieval towns you know just about every hilltop you will see a a a beautiful little town. So you know, if you're not just in the nature, then you can go to the little towns, hang out, eat some of the wonderful food there.
Speaker 2:Well, you know, that's Jay's big thing, enjoy the local flair, yeah, so each hilltop has a town.
Speaker 4:You know it it. It just about seems that way as you're driving along, if there's a hill, there's a town on top of it. And then somebody said, well, why are they all built on the hilltops? Well, for defense. And now we kid around and we say, well, if you see an enemy coming, you can throw rocks at them.
Speaker 2:Right, that's what they did. Yeah, yeah, that's what they did. Can throw rocks at them, right, that's what they did. Yeah, yeah, that's what they did. But it's kind of funny now. Yeah, yeah now. Have you been here? Have you been to these? This area, I have you have I've yes and what's your favorite part of it.
Speaker 4:Uh well, one of my favorite part is sulmona. It's a medieval town and they are known for, uh, jordan almonds. It's like medieval town and they are known for Jordan almonds. It's like a hard sugar candy on the outside and they've got the almond in the middle.
Speaker 2:Now, I've been to many Italian weddings and that was like one of the parting gifts was those Jordan almonds. Right, they're yummy.
Speaker 4:Yes, but what's neat? In Solmona they make beautiful flower arrangements and nosegays out of these candies. Really, I even saw Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse arrangements in Sulmona, italy. Oh wow, yes, that's pretty cool, so yeah, and you know you can bring those back as souvenirs and you know display them until they get too dusty.
Speaker 2:Right, or eat them, or eat them, or get too dusty, and then you or eat them, or eat them, and then you eat them.
Speaker 3:She knows, if it's sitting around the kitchen too long, I'm going to eat it.
Speaker 2:My daughter was funny. We had gone to my niece's wedding and her Well, now it's her mother-in-law as well, because they married brothers. But the mother-in-law made the Jordan Almond gift bags. You know the little, I don't know, the little bag of nuts. And my daughter says what are these? And I said well, those are Jordan Almonds. And she says can I eat them? And I said, yes, you can. I said, but you might want to suck on them for a little while before you bite down. Yes, you might want to suck on them, for a little while before you bite down.
Speaker 2:Yes, you'll lose a filling, but they are very tasty. So, what else did you do over there?
Speaker 4:Well, the other thing that they have along the coastline are trabakis. And they are fishing piers.
Speaker 1:So at the end of, that fishing pier.
Speaker 4:this goes back hundreds of years when it was too dangerous to go out and fish because of weather. They would fish using and I can't really describe it, but it's just an ancient way of fishing and they have taken some of these trebakis and turned them into restaurants.
Speaker 2:Now, oh, with fresh fish.
Speaker 4:You know, yes, but it's something that you don't see anywhere else. So you'll see those in Abruzzo and Molise, but those are the two regions that have the Trabacchi fishing, old-fashioned fishing.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so we got all that. Now I know I am a big cheese lover and my grandmother used to love Limburger, and boy does that stink. And I know you're always talking about cheese in Italy. When you come in, you say you know, you went over there and you bought a cheese. Now I have a question. Here's a trivia question for you guys what country consumes the most cheese per person? What country? What country consumes the most cheese per person?
Speaker 4:Well, I don't know, is this a trick question?
Speaker 2:It's a trivia question.
Speaker 4:You know, I would say two countries would be at the top of my list.
Speaker 3:You can only pick one. You can only pick one. Let's go with A and B. Okay, let's hear this.
Speaker 4:Well, first I would say either Italy or France.
Speaker 2:Okay, so she has two. Jay, you have to narrow it down. Well, knowing my wife, and knowing the cheese that her family actually manufactured when she was, and she brings cheese home and she hides it from you absolutely yes, I may go with just italy, but I could be totally wrong well, again we're talking about consuming, so it is France.
Speaker 4:Okay, yeah, yeah, I have a feeling Do they make cheese? Yeah, In France yes.
Speaker 2:A lot of places in Europe make their own cheese, and again, because a lot of places in Europe do everything fresh, right Gee, what a comment, what a concept, concept Fresh food.
Speaker 4:But I would have to say the the italian cheese were more superior well, that's, that's what I'm going with.
Speaker 2:I'm going with I'm going more superior I wouldn't want to say. My wife says well, we're going to have to go when we go over to europe. We're going to have to go around from town to town and taste the cheeses great idea, yeah wow, great idea. Yeah, wow. So there you go.
Speaker 3:That was the traveling trivia question for today.
Speaker 2:Wow that was okay I'm gonna look forward to that things that go really well with cheese is wine and I understand, wine is pretty popular over in italy. Yes, yes, so there's wine tasting. You, you have outlined there's a wine tasting area, and I'm not going to even attempt to say this word. So what town is that?
Speaker 4:Well, the wine from Abruzzo is called Monte Pulciano, and you can find that at Costco.
Speaker 2:Really yes.
Speaker 4:You can find it at ABC Wines. I think maybe even Publix might have Montel. Puccino Is this a red wine. It's a red wine, it's a hearty wine, it's a dry wine and it goes great with cheese and pastas.
Speaker 2:Oh, and beefs. I'm assuming beef.
Speaker 3:It's making me hungry for a little cheese when we get done with this.
Speaker 2:So we're going to have to have a little cheese and a little wine. Maybe that's going to happen next time your wife comes into the studio. She has to bring cheese and wine with her. Get us in the mood.
Speaker 3:She plays Marjan. You know what the game Marjan is. I know what it is. Okay, she does that at her home every week and she does wine and cheese. Well, she's got a rule now, seth. What's the deal?
Speaker 4:So whoever wins the most mahjongs has to bring wine the following week, and do you have to approve it? They usually bring very good wine. Oh, that's good yeah. Not that box stuff.
Speaker 2:So it's like yeah.
Speaker 4:So if they are lucky enough, then they are lucky enough to bring a good wine.
Speaker 2:Good wine, right? Yeah, there are a lot of wines. Like I said, I'm still kicking myself when I went on that Oceana tour and they served the most delicious red wine I ever tasted and it's like, oh my God, it's so good. But then I forgot to ask what was it? Oh no, it's like dang yeah. So now you know, because this area is along the sea coast, you have this other town that you're going to talk about.
Speaker 4:The other town is Vasto. It's another lovely town. You can enjoy the beach areas and you know the medieval, old-fashioned, typical town when you think of Italy.
Speaker 2:I love medieval towns, you know, and it's you know. We say medieval like you know, like we're going to the Renaissance Festival, but actually the United States is a baby in comparison to most of Europe. So all these towns that are in Italy, they're years and years and years and centuries and centuries old and it's great to explore.
Speaker 3:Well, I better turn my microphone on. What era was your hometown built in? Because you didn't grow up in a modern city.
Speaker 4:Oh no, what era? I couldn't even tell you. I mean, it goes back to BC.
Speaker 2:You know, it isn't just like 15 rangers, yeah, you've got to remember Italy, rome, you know, they took over half the world.
Speaker 3:I was going to say it was probably built by the Romans.
Speaker 4:Wait a minute.
Speaker 3:They're in Rome.
Speaker 4:And what they're saying. Some of these towns in Abruzzo and Molise are well, and the one that I was talking about before, matera, that's in Basilicata, which is a neighbor of these two regions. It goes back to prehistoric times, right, you know? These have been there forever.
Speaker 2:Right, if you want to do history, you actually have to go and see history. And that's amazing when you know, particularly considering all the world wars that have been going on overseas years and years, and half the towns that were destroyed, you know, to see some of these places that are still standing At least they're still standing, and it's just amazing. And you know, I just opened up my computer and I looked at Vasto. How do you pronounce it?
Speaker 1:Yes, okay.
Speaker 2:And I'm looking at this beach and the water looks calm and it's amazing.
Speaker 4:It's beautiful.
Speaker 2:Yes, and they're showing me food. They're showing me food here, dominica, yes, but yeah, I mean, it seems like and it doesn't seem that crowded either.
Speaker 4:Well, that's the thing they were just talking about. Uh, um, some of the cities where the cruise ships are going to, like venice, when those cruise ships let out all their people, there, you, you can't even walk, you're, you're in a crowd. What do you see? You, right, you can't get into a, a nice little restaurant, they're all full right. So if you go to these places that haven't, right they're off the beaten path.
Speaker 4:Yes, haven't been discovered yet, and I actually think that especially Puglia is going to be inundated as well pretty soon, especially when they listen to our podcast.
Speaker 2:Right, they're listening to us here. Okay, we need to go here. Yes, maybe we should keep it a secret. No, shh, no.
Speaker 4:Don't tell anyone, yeah no one's listening secret amongst our travelers?
Speaker 2:yeah, and like I said, I'm looking at the beaches.
Speaker 4:It's amazing and it looks like it's like a little town you know, yes, yes and it is it on the mountain, you see how it's on a hilltop going down into the sea.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I mean, you've got everything yeah, and I wonder if you can stay. You must be able to stay there if there's a beach there. Yes, yes, yeah, fabulous, fabulous. And I'm assuming that they have restaurants with great fish. Yes, I love seafood. I'm a big seafood lover seafood pasta cheese wine, what else?
Speaker 4:do you need? If you want to eat, it's a place to go to eat.
Speaker 2:Yes, and then with all the hiking and walking that you are doing, you don't gain the weight right, you walk. What else do you need? If you want to eat, it's a place to go to eat?
Speaker 4:Yes, and then, with all the hiking and walking that you are doing, you don't gain the weight Right, you walk it off, you walk it off.
Speaker 2:Yes, I'm looking at these people. I mean, there's a lot of people that are on the beach, but I'm looking at the water and it looks very calm. You know, the people are just floating around enjoying themselves. And is this cold in?
Speaker 4:the wintertime we do get snow, okay, but most of the time it melts the next day or within a week.
Speaker 3:Kind of like Colorado.
Speaker 4:Yeah, maybe I haven't been to Colorado much. On the western slope of Colorado On the eastern slope, I get my east and west mixed up. And that's okay.
Speaker 2:Now you know it's time for a travel tip.
Speaker 3:Oh, really Mm-hmm.
Speaker 2:Yep, so I know when Dominica's here, she's always talking about all the places she walks around. Yes, so this tip comes from my feet. Good idea. So Italy is a wonderful country to explore on foot, from what I'm hearing. So you have to be sure to pack comfortable walking shoes. That's a big thing. People don't realize, you know they pack their heels or they pack this stuff, but you're going to be doing a lot of walking. I'm not packing my heels. No, don't pack your heels, jay. Pack comfortable shoes, because I'm assuming there's a lot of cobblestones, yes, and there's a lot of hilly type of terrain that you'll be walking up and down. So some of your shoes, you have to make sure they are comfortable for walking because you're going to be in them all day.
Speaker 4:And good tread.
Speaker 2:Right, good treads on your feet. Yes, just like a tire.
Speaker 4:Yes, Because the towns are hilly.
Speaker 1:Right.
Speaker 4:And if it's wet, you've got to really be careful.
Speaker 2:You don't want to slip. Yeah, you want to be very careful, so pack comfortable walking shoes.
Speaker 3:Now I understand. The area is one of the greenest regions. Did we talk about that? The fact that it's the greenest region?
Speaker 1:in Italy.
Speaker 3:No, due to the number of national parks.
Speaker 2:Well, we talked about the national parks, yeah, but we didn't say it was the greenest area, greenest area Because of the natural parks. How many parks are there?
Speaker 4:There's at least three between Abruzzo and Molise, and at one point Abruzzo and Molise were one region, and then, for some reason I think it was around 1963, Molise decided to be separated, but so they share. I mean, you know, the mountain range goes between the two.
Speaker 2:So the national parks are? There's a lot National parks in Abruzzo, yes, they say there's 10.
Speaker 3:10 of them, yes, 10.
Speaker 2:Yeah, 10 of them. I know I'm going to destroy half these names. La Camo Sacara oh, I couldn't even. Parco Nacional de Gran Sasso.
Speaker 4:Yes, the Gran Sasso. That would be one of the biggest ones. Right there's like a mountain there, like cliffs.
Speaker 2:Parco Nacional de Abruzzo, oh, and there's a little animal there. They have Della Mahea, magella Magella. I was doing the J in Spanish instead of in. Italian yes, magella, oh, and that looks pretty. Reserva Natural Zompo.
Speaker 4:Scioppo. Yeah, I can't see what you're.
Speaker 3:Hearing you two talk reminds me that I should have passed Latin when I went to high school.
Speaker 2:Oh, I had a choice to take Latin and I wasn't about to become a nun, so no, so, yeah, so it has like a little waterfall and everything, yeah, yeah. And then they have oh, look at that, what is that? That has like?
Speaker 4:a lake. Well, they do have beautiful lakes in those, yeah. Yeah that looks like a little lake sitting there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 4:So there's a lot I wouldn't compare these lakes to the lakey region in northern Italy. But yes, we have beautiful lakes.
Speaker 2:Right. And then in Italy, but yes, we have beautiful lakes Right. And then you have this one that says it has hiking trails Di Val.
Speaker 4:Fondilo. Oh, let's see, I can't.
Speaker 2:She has to put her glasses on.
Speaker 3:Wait have to put her glasses on. We're not even on video here.
Speaker 4:Sentiero di Samp, I couldn't see it, yeah, so there's 10.
Speaker 2:Wow, so there's 10 there. So if you're into natural parks, if you're looking into hiking and you're looking into some of these things, oh, there's the wildlife preserve. I see it looks like coyotes, not wolves, but yes, there's a lot going on in this region of Italy and people can go and just enjoy it. Oh, I love that. I love that lake. That lake looks gorgeous I Italy and people can go and just enjoy it.
Speaker 4:Oh, I love that. I love that lake. That lake looks gorgeous. I don't wonder if it's in the mountains, if it's chilly, if it's a bit nippy Chilly, it's not what you.
Speaker 2:This is Southern Italy, right, so the lake shouldn't be that cold.
Speaker 4:It's not that chilly, no, but you know you need your jeans and you pack a lightweight jacket, a windbreaker. Right, something that can go with the flow, with any kind of weather and a backpack, you know, maybe some kind of a hat or something for your head, and the other thing I recommend is getting a guide to take you on these hikes.
Speaker 2:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 4:You don't want to get lost in mountains like this.
Speaker 2:I mean because there's mountains and flatlands and then they do have wild animals. So you do want to make sure that you are safe.
Speaker 3:And you have wine tasting, and then you become a wild animal.
Speaker 4:I wouldn't do a wine tasting and a hike on the same day, oh, okay.
Speaker 2:Unless, of course, you hike and then come home and do the wine tasting Exactly yes and you sit back with a glass of wine and some cheese.
Speaker 4:And some guys will even provide you with a glass of wine and cheese and, you know, like a snack, depending on the tour guide that you get Right, depending on the tour and the hike that you're going on. So you know you can have a picnic-style thing in the middle of the parks.
Speaker 2:So there's a lot of beautiful parks here to visit while you're over in that neck of the woods.
Speaker 4:So when I'm enjoying a glass of wine and some cheese in one of these parks, I always say, oh, this is so civilized.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 4:And one of my friends, julie McRae. She would say we were in the middle of Yellowstone and she goes this is so civilized. So civilized.
Speaker 2:You know I love Rick Steves and you know he goes all over and I always, you know, see what he does and he does like that. He sometimes just gets the cheese and the bread and a bottle of wine and sits and enjoys the scenery. So these are things that you can do. So I can't believe our little half hour has come and gone so fast. So again, dominica, thank you for coming in today and sharing more Italy experiences with our listeners.
Speaker 3:I was just going to say once again she's talking about. There are 20 regions in Italy. And so this was just one of the regions, one of the many, and so we will be having her back Every month, every month, to talk about another region. More Italy and more off the beaten path stuff so people can really explore these areas Because, as she says, you don't have to go to Rome, you don't have to go to the big cities. There's so much more to see, just like here in Florida.
Speaker 2:You don't always necessarily have to go to Disney, yeah, so I can hardly wait to hear what else you have coming your way, and don't forget to bring the wine and cheese next time you come.
Speaker 4:Oh, you know, I'm an only child, I don't share very well.
Speaker 2:Well, thanks again for joining us today. And, as we are always saying, there is so much traveling to do, so little time to do it in Tune in every week for more travel info, insights and just plain old fun. Please follow me, like me on Facebook. Do you have a favorite location or maybe an interesting travel tip? Let me know at ZMichelson, at gmailcom. And, of course, z is spelt Z-E-E.
Speaker 2:I'm very excited to let everybody know my podcast can be heard on your favorite podcast players, and feel free to give me a review. It won't hurt my feelings. Please give me a review. I'd love to hear what you have to say. Thanks for listening today. Traveling truly opens up the world to you. You learn all about the different cultures, the lifestyles and, of course, food and now wine. Then you realize we really are truly the same Dream dream big reach for those stars and if you only get to the moon, at least you made the trip. If you're looking for great places to travel to, feel free to visit my website. It's absolutely free zmichelsontravelcom. Z is spelt Z-E-E. This is Z Michelson, making your travel dreams come true.