Nancy J. DiDio

Nancy DiDio

Bio:

I am an avid traveler and love to write. I have kept journals of my travel experiences and have compiled anecdotal accounts of my travels, some of which have appeared here.

My husband Fred and I have visited Europe many times, particularly Italy, which we have toured extensively. We have traveled independently, by car as well as by train, and have stayed in nearly every type of accommodation from luxurious hotels to rustic farmhouses. We prefer spending our time in destinations that are not on the average tourists’ itineraries.

With each trip, we have returned home with many memories. I'm glad to say they are mostly fond ones, but the truth is that it hasn’t always been smooth sailing. Many situations were extremely confusing and frustrating while they were occurring. But somewhere along the way I realized that when we returned home, these were the amusing stories we told about our trip, and so we have adopted the philosophy that whenever we get into a difficult situation, just grin and bear it, because someday we will look back on it and laugh.

I particularly enjoy sharing my travel stories with friends who are toying with the notion of touring abroad on their own. I whole-heartedly encourage anyone to do so, since it is a wonderfully memorable experience as long as one remembers to take along a sense of humor.

Stories:

Easter in Umbria  - When my husband and I planned a month-long trip to Italy last Spring, we realized that Easter would fall during our stay. Although we had visited Italy numerous times before, we had never been there for a major holiday. The prospect of spending the Easter holidays in a country that is so steeped in religious tradition was both exciting and a little intimidating... [Visit this Feature]

Bavaria and Beyond - We happily anticipated a few weeks wandering through the Umbrian hill towns. But, to my chagrin, we were unable to find a flight to Italy for which we could exchange our frequent flier points. Sensing my frustration, one helpful airline employee suggested we go to Munich. I made a snap decision, and soon had reservations to Germany... [Visit this Feature]

Timeless Tuscany - Ever since my first visit to Italy many years ago, I’ve been fascinated by the Italian lifestyle. In comparison to our frenetic lives, they take things at a slower pace, and it seems to me that theirs is a simpler and happier existence. Our occasional vacation excursions there left me longing to experience their way of life, to see if it is really as it appears. I decided, and my husband Fred agreed, that renting a place to stay during part of a vacation would give us a glimpse into everyday Italian life... [Visit this Feature]

Discovering Italy's Wine Towns - After our first trip to Italy many years ago, my husband Fred and I fell in love with the country, and it has become our favorite vacation destination. In our earliest trips, we saw the many famous cities and sights that are on every tourist’s itinerary, but with each visit we ventured further off the beaten track. We soon discovered that meandering along country roads and stopping when we saw something that caught our interest offered unexpected rewards. With each trip, we planned less of our journey, choosing instead to visit within a particular region or two, and let our instincts guide us... [Visit this Feature]

Exploring Italy by Train - During our first visit to Italy several years ago, my husband Fred and I became infatuated with everything about this charming country of Fred’s ancestry. We have revisited there numerous times since to experience the customs, marvel in the architecture and history, and best of all, to enjoy the food. We have returned from each trip with many fond memories, but one trip which stands out is a train trip we made through Northern Italy... [Visit this Feature]