I've been a bad blogger lately, truth is I have been planning my coming trip to Asia. Since we won't have much time there we want to make the most out of it so I've been filling my head (and smartphone) with all kinds of information: maps, sights, restaurants, transportation, guides, weather, etc. Thankfully, there are many websites and apps available for us traveling control freaks, some of which I have already written about here, but since they keep them coming, here are the ones I've been using lately when traveling and travel planning:
a blog about my passions: travels, good food, good wine, fashion, books, etc.
11.4.14
My interview for ExpatsBlog
Last week my interview for ExpatsBlog was published on their website and I'm reposting it here:
Mar was a Mexican student traveling around Europe when she fell in love with Italy. She's been having a love-hate relationship with Italy for 13 years. And in the meantime, she's been traveling around the world enjoying good food, good wine and shopping. Mar's expat blog is called The traveling foodie
Mexico
In which country and city are you living now?
Milan, Italy
How long have you lived in Italy and how long are you planning to stay?
13 years in Italy, 6 of those in Milan. Planning to stay in Milan indefinitely but you never know...
Italian life
Why did you move to Italy and what do you do?
Moved to Italy to study because I fell in love with the country, the food, the people, I loved the change from chaotic Mexico City to peaceful Marche region; moved to Milan for love but also the need of living in a big city again. I work in Milan as an assistant for an advisory firm.
Did you bring family with you?
No, but I have family in other parts of Europe.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
At first everything was fun and different, learning the language wasn't hard and I must say living in a small town made it all simpler, it was easy making friends, learning and integrating in their culture, etc.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Yes, being one of the few foreigners in town I had to make friends with locals and it was fairly easy because they were all curious to know about my "exotic" country. Now in Milan there are more foreigners and we (my husband and I) take part in many international groups' activities.
my hobbies
What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
Best thing to do in Milan is have an 'aperitivo' with your friends: a drink in a bar accompanied by a buffet, it's very Milanese. Also, stroll around the parks and the different quarters (Navigli, Chinatown, Isola) it's fun to discover such particular places so different from each other. And, since you're in Italy: eat and drink as much Italian food and wine as you can!
What do you enjoy most about living in Italy?
The food, the wine, the happenings in town, there's always something fun to do, some new art exhibit, a play, a new restaurant, shop, etc
How does the cost of living in Italy compare to home?
It is obviously more expensive than Mexico, being the most expensive city in Italy and the fashion capital, you pay for the appearance more than the quality of what you're getting. But you start finding places that are not that expensive and good and you hang on to them.
my travels
What negatives, if any, are there to living in Italy?
The drama of Italian queues! They have developed an art of queueing that is so frustrating to us fans of straight lines and taking turns.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Italy, what would it be?
Be patient. You might have trouble with the language, the people, the bureaucracy, but if you're patient enough, everything will come through and you'll be enjoying the Italian life
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Probably the challenge of starting everything from scratch, the language, studying, making friends again. But also being apart from the family at home hasn't been easy.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I have no plans to move back home now, but you never know. I guess if I came back it would take some time to get used to everything again after so long time abroad.
my recipes
What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
It is a space where I share my experiences in Italy but also in my travels, some recipes I like, wines and places I prefer and random thoughts.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
There's contact info on my blog: www.tfoodie.com - See more at: http://www.expatsblog.com/articles/1719/mexican-expat-living-in-italy-interview-with-mar#sthash.JCiVLe3f.dpuf
Mar was a Mexican student traveling around Europe when she fell in love with Italy. She's been having a love-hate relationship with Italy for 13 years. And in the meantime, she's been traveling around the world enjoying good food, good wine and shopping. Mar's expat blog is called The traveling foodie
Here's the interview with Mar...
Where are you originally from?Mexico
In which country and city are you living now?
Milan, Italy
How long have you lived in Italy and how long are you planning to stay?
13 years in Italy, 6 of those in Milan. Planning to stay in Milan indefinitely but you never know...
Italian life
Moved to Italy to study because I fell in love with the country, the food, the people, I loved the change from chaotic Mexico City to peaceful Marche region; moved to Milan for love but also the need of living in a big city again. I work in Milan as an assistant for an advisory firm.
Did you bring family with you?
No, but I have family in other parts of Europe.
How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
At first everything was fun and different, learning the language wasn't hard and I must say living in a small town made it all simpler, it was easy making friends, learning and integrating in their culture, etc.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Yes, being one of the few foreigners in town I had to make friends with locals and it was fairly easy because they were all curious to know about my "exotic" country. Now in Milan there are more foreigners and we (my husband and I) take part in many international groups' activities.
my hobbies
Best thing to do in Milan is have an 'aperitivo' with your friends: a drink in a bar accompanied by a buffet, it's very Milanese. Also, stroll around the parks and the different quarters (Navigli, Chinatown, Isola) it's fun to discover such particular places so different from each other. And, since you're in Italy: eat and drink as much Italian food and wine as you can!
What do you enjoy most about living in Italy?
The food, the wine, the happenings in town, there's always something fun to do, some new art exhibit, a play, a new restaurant, shop, etc
How does the cost of living in Italy compare to home?
It is obviously more expensive than Mexico, being the most expensive city in Italy and the fashion capital, you pay for the appearance more than the quality of what you're getting. But you start finding places that are not that expensive and good and you hang on to them.
my travels
The drama of Italian queues! They have developed an art of queueing that is so frustrating to us fans of straight lines and taking turns.
If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving to Italy, what would it be?
Be patient. You might have trouble with the language, the people, the bureaucracy, but if you're patient enough, everything will come through and you'll be enjoying the Italian life
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Probably the challenge of starting everything from scratch, the language, studying, making friends again. But also being apart from the family at home hasn't been easy.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I have no plans to move back home now, but you never know. I guess if I came back it would take some time to get used to everything again after so long time abroad.
my recipes
- Be patient
- Enjoy the chaos
- Enjoy the different cultures, foods, drinks, etc.
- Be open to new friendships, experiences, activities
- Give everything a second chance, first impressions are not always right
It is a space where I share my experiences in Italy but also in my travels, some recipes I like, wines and places I prefer and random thoughts.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
There's contact info on my blog: www.tfoodie.com - See more at: http://www.expatsblog.com/articles/1719/mexican-expat-living-in-italy-interview-with-mar#sthash.JCiVLe3f.dpuf
2.4.14
Espadrilles
Because nothing says "it's almost summer" better than a pair (or several) of espadrilles!
28.3.14
Alice, Milan
Our first (and hopefully not last) visit to the new location of the once Michelin-starred Milanese restaurant.
24.3.14
Dear Oscar... (Eataly Smeraldo)
Since Eataly Smeraldo, the long-waited new Milanese branch of Eataly, just opened last week (in the place that once was the famous Smeraldo theater), I decided to write a letter to the owner, Oscar Farinetti,whom I saw on my visit to Eataly:
Dear Oscar,
thanks for finally opening a decent Eataly in Milan, I've never liked the tiny one in the basement of Coin. However, I was expecting something a bit bigger, after having been to the one in Rome, but I guess you used all the space you had available as best as you could.
thanks for finally opening a decent Eataly in Milan, I've never liked the tiny one in the basement of Coin. However, I was expecting something a bit bigger, after having been to the one in Rome, but I guess you used all the space you had available as best as you could.
I will be coming back to Eataly Smeraldo once in a while because:
- the carne cruda (meat tartar) is amazing, so soft and tender it doesn't feel like raw meat;
- I think it's a good idea to put together the Meat and Seafood restaurants;
- I could stare at the people making the mozzarella for hours;
- I like the green Superga sneakers you gave your employees;
-I love that you kept the stage of the theater and that there's live music playing while I dine;
- you seem so nice and smiley (of course I would be as smiley as you are with all the money you're making :) )
- you seem so nice and smiley (of course I would be as smiley as you are with all the money you're making :) )
-UPDATE 25/3/2014: WE LOVED EVERYTHING ABOUT ALICE RESTAURANT!
However, I won't be coming as often as I thought because:
- you didn't invite me to the press opening;
- the market spaces are reduced, I was hoping for something bigger;
- the wine selection is not as wide as the ones in Rome and Turin, and you prefered to keep the mediocre wines of J.Bastianich instead of other, better and less expensive, wines;
- the market spaces are reduced, I was hoping for something bigger;
- the wine selection is not as wide as the ones in Rome and Turin, and you prefered to keep the mediocre wines of J.Bastianich instead of other, better and less expensive, wines;
- Fruit and vegetables are too expensive;
- There's no tuna in the menu (I love Eataly's tuna);
- but mostly because you have all the varieties of pasta Cavalieri but not my favorite Spaghettoni!!! Unforgivable! -UPDATE 25/3/2014: WENT BACK TODAY AND FOUND MY SPAGHETTONI!!! OSCAR, YOU'RE SO FORGIVEN!
Anyhow, good luck with the coming openings.
Sincerely,
M.
If you're in Milan and you haven't done so, you can visit Eataly Smeraldo:
EATALY MILANO SMERALDO
Open daily from 10.00 to 24.00 (restaurants normally open at lunch and dinner time only, check their website for special closing days)
Piazza XXV Aprile, 10 - 20121 Milan
Tel. +39 02 49497301
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