{"id":1214,"date":"2013-05-22T12:54:36","date_gmt":"2013-05-22T10:54:36","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rickzullo.com\/?p=1214"},"modified":"2021-11-12T21:53:27","modified_gmt":"2021-11-12T20:53:27","slug":"expats-living-in-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/expats-living-in-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"Expats Living in Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fellow Expats Living in Rome, blogs and websites<\/h2>\n

Boy, this blogging thing is a lot of fun!\u00a0 How else could a wisenheimer like me spread his useless and inappropriate opinions around the world with such speed and ease\u2014and<\/i> with such a disregard for accountability? \u00a0Of course, that\u2019s not so hard when you have a loyal readership of 12 (yes, that number includes you, Mom).\u00a0 But in the words of Cyril Connolly, \u201cBetter to write for yourself and have no public, than to write for the public and have no self<\/i>.\u201d \u00a0Alas, I keep myself quite entertained with this futile enterprise.<\/p>\n

\"expats
I LOVE ITALY!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Despite my affinity for sarcasm, however, I hope that the sincere affection I have for Italy, its culture, and its people comes through loud and clear.\u00a0 (Stop laughing, I\u2019m being serious for once!)\u00a0 In my blog, I strive to discuss topics which are common enough to be interesting to a lot of\u00a0 people (all 12 of you), yet at the same time I try not to rehash the same old clich\u00e9s\u2014or if I occasionally do, I at least attempt to put my own personal spin on them.<\/p>\n

However there are others out there, both in the real world and cyberspace, who actually contribute something valuable to all the tourists and expats infesting Italy\u2019s beautiful capital.\u00a0 In an effort to spread the love a bit, I\u2019d like to introduce some of them to you.\u00a0 Eccoli<\/i>!<\/p>\n

Social networking \u00a0and general information<\/h2>\n

Expats living in Rome<\/strong>: This is where it all started for me.\u00a0 While whisking around the Italian peninsula during a three month spree in 2010, I came to a screeching halt at an aperitivo<\/em> on the Isola Tiberina one night.\u00a0 The Expats were offering Italian lessons, and when I met my teacher I quickly decided to cancel the rest of my itinerary and stay in Rome for a while. \u00a0Almost three years later, I’m still pazzo<\/em> for my Sicilianuzza<\/i>. \u00a0My Italian hasn’t improved very much, but we\u2019re married now, so she\u2019s not getting rid of me no matter what. \u00a0(Do I hear a collective, \u201cAwww\u2026\u201d out there?)<\/p>\n

\"rick<\/p>\n

Anyway, besides the occasional matching-making, the Expats are a great place to start for both tourists and new residents to Rome.\u00a0 It\u2019s the ideal way to ease into the shallow end instead of drowning in the chaos alone.\u00a0 They provide a social network, language classes, and potential business contacts for anyone friendly enough to join them.\u00a0 But then again, I\u2019m biased. http:\/\/www.expatslivinginrome.com\/default.html<\/a><\/p>\n

Romeing<\/strong>: dubbed as \u201cyour ultimate guide to Rome\u2019s cultural scene, events, and lifestyle.” \u00a0This site is PACKED with useful information for both tourists and expats, including a calendar of events and spot-on suggestions for enjoying the best of Rome.\u00a0 Trust their advice; it will save you from making poor, uninformed choices.\u00a0 They also have a print version which can be found at various locales around town. \u00a0http:\/\/www.romeing.it\/<\/a><\/p>\n

BuzzInRome<\/strong>: Here you can find all the essential information to enjoy a true Roman holiday to the fullest, the kind you just won\u2019t find in travel books. \u00a0In any case, your guide book was probably printed around the time of Julius Caesar. \u00a0Do you think nothing new has happened in Rome since then? \u00a0http:\/\/www.buzzinrome.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Rome Food bloggers<\/h2>\n

If you read my blog, then you know that I love to occasionally pontificate on the transcendent pleasures of Italy\u2019s regional cuisines<\/a> and the \u201crules\u201d that accompany them.\u00a0 I don\u2019t claim to have any real knowledge on the topic other than what my taste buds (and my Sicilian wife) tell me.\u00a0 But that\u2019s half the fun, really; exploration and discovery.\u00a0 Who knew that \u201cItalian Food\u201d is something beyond checkered tables cloths, Dean Martin songs, and Chicken Parmesan?\u00a0 There\u2019s a big, tasty world<\/del> city out there waiting to be savored.\u00a0 But ultimately you will need some real guidance beyond what I can offer.<\/p>\n

\"food<\/a>
It’s not that hard, just start with great ingredients and try not to screw them up!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unlike me, the following people are extremely qualified gourmets\/sommeliers and are excellent resources to help you swear off the Fettuccine Alfredo once and for all and learn about the authentic food culture in Rome and beyond.\u00a0 Their advice can be dangerous, however.\u00a0 You\u2019ve been warned.<\/p>\n

Elizbeth Minchilli<\/strong>: She a busy woman: writer, blogger, app creator, and food tour operator.\u00a0 (Ironically, I wonder when she has time to eat!)\u00a0 She is the English-speaking source for Roman food knowledge.\u00a0 Her tours consistently get rave reviews on sites like Trip Advisor.\u00a0 I\u2019ve personally used her app and found it to be a great tool when you find yourself in any given neighborhood and don\u2019t know where to find a great meal.\u00a0 http:\/\/www.elizabethminchilliinrome.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Katie Parla<\/strong>: Talk about qualifications\u2014she has a BA in Art History from Yale, a sommelier certificate, and a Masters in the Cultura Gastronomica Italiana<\/i> (Universit\u00e1 degli Studi di Roma \u201cTor Vergata\u201d).\u00a0 She also writes, gives culinary tours, and has a recently updated app featuring 175 top foodie venues in Rome.\u00a0 Her articles have appeared in the New York Times.\u00a0 I\u2019ve noticed that she\u2019s recently been blogging about the food scene in Istanbul and has an app to go along with that, as well.\u00a0 http:\/\/www.parlafood.com\/<\/p>\n

Elenora Baldwin<\/strong>: an American born and Italian raised, global citizen.\u00a0 As a food and lifestyle writer, journalist, blogger, and wanderlust addict based in Rome, she divides her time between writing food and lifestyle stories, guiding foodie adventures, and designing culinary vacations in Italy.\u00a0 She\u2019s written, edited and contributed to numerous travel and lifestyle publications including the 3rd edition of Frommer’s Day by Day Guide to Rome. http:\/\/www.aglioolioepeperoncino.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Touring Rome<\/h2>\n

Rome Personal Tours<\/strong>: Stuart Harvey is an Englishman in Rome, enjoying life in the Eternal City since 2001. Having already qualified as a licensed “Blue Badge” Tourist Guide in London in 1998, Stuart is proud to have also passed the Provincia di Roma<\/i> exams to become a licensed Tour Guide of Rome, becoming one of very few people to hold both qualifications. http:\/\/www.romepersonaltours.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Rome by Vespa<\/strong>: take a spin around the Seven Hills with Annie Ojile Nerone, a native Minnesotan born into an Italian-American family. \u00a0She first experienced Italy studying abroad as a college student. \u00a0She instantly knew that someday this country would be her permanent home. \u00a0And now it is. \u00a0\u00a0http:\/\/scooteroma.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

When in Rome<\/strong>: offers a wide selection of Rome tours, Vatican tours, and excursions elsewhere in Italy for all tastes.\u00a0 Their Vatican City and Rome sightseeing tours run every day so you won’t miss anything in the company of our expert, licensed guides.\u00a0 When in Rome, do as the Romans do!\u00a0 http:\/\/www.wheninrometours.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Fritto Misto: Assorted Expats, Facebook friends, and Tweeters<\/h2>\n

Gillian McGuire<\/strong>: Rome based blogger, app writer, information curator, and self-professed coffee drinker.\u00a0 Gillian (aka \u201cthe Source\u201d) is your go-to girl for the best information on just about anything in the eternal city.\u00a0 \u00a0http:\/\/www.gillianslists.com\/<\/a>\u00a0 \u00a0Also check out her wonderful app at: \u00a0http:\/\/www.romeforexpats.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Liz Knight<\/strong>: \u00a0an American attorney who quit her job in the States, sold her house, and moved back to the Caput Mundi<\/i> for the second time in her life.\u00a0 She has started her own legal practice as a contract attorney for American attorneys and legal organizations. \u00a0If she sounds like a serious person, well then you should read her blog.\u00a0 She clearly loves Rome, but enjoys sharing the funny side of the expat experience. http:\/\/romeifyouwantto.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Shelly Ruelle<\/strong>: \u00a0an American expat who has lived in Rome since 2001. \u00a0A professional in the field of study abroad, a freelance travel writer, a former teacher of English as a second language (like me), and basically all-around curious person with a passion for anything that isn\u2019t routine. She knows a lot about living in Italy, Roman culture, and\u00a0gelato (not necessarily in that order). http:\/\/unamericanaaroma.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Tiffany Parks:<\/strong> \u00a0She hails from the glorious Pacific Northwest,\u00a0and has also lived in Boston and Montreal where she studied classical singing and opera. \u00a0Her days are spent\u00a0showing travelers\u00a0the many wonders of\u00a0our adopted city\u00a0and, of course,\u00a0writing about them. \u00a0With Rome as her muse, she is working on her first book, an art mystery for young readers.\u00a0 And she\u2019s a big Caravaggio fan like me!\u00a0http:\/\/www.thepinesofrome.blogspot.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Let’s hear it for the boys<\/h2>\n

Maybe it\u2019s just my perception, but as far as Rome bloggers go, the women seem to outnumber the men by about 4 to 1.\u00a0 In a gesture of solidarity, I\u2019d like to give a shout out to a couple of fellow blogger maschili <\/i>that I follow in Rome.<\/p>\n

Keith Preble<\/strong>: studies politics, teaches English privately, and maintains a few quality websites including one about tourism http:\/\/www.knowingrome.com\/<\/a> and one about the Italian language http:\/\/paroladelgiorno.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Pete, the Lazio Explorer<\/strong>:\u00a0 In 2004 he met an Italian and his life changed forever. \u00a0(Sound familiar? It does to me.) \u00a0He explores the Lazio area just north of Rome, one weekend \u00a0at a time. His blog details his journey, along with hints and tips on how to survive off the tourist trail in ‘real’ Italy. \u00a0http:\/\/www.lazioexplorer.com\/<\/p>\n

Friends, Romans, Expats, lend me your web blogs<\/h2>\n

So there you have it, a list of blogs and websites to check out that, unlike my random synaptic misfires, might contain some real authoritative\u00a0value. \u00a0I couldn’t include everybody, of course, even if I limited my list to only English-speaking expats living in Rome. \u00a0Check out their pages and let them know that Rick sent you. \u00a0 And if you follow any great Rome bloggers that I should know about, please leave a link in the comments section.\u00a0 I always like to read another perspective on the beautiful\/crazy life in the Caput Mundi.<\/p>\n

Ciao, amici!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Fellow Expats Living in Rome, blogs and websites Boy, this blogging thing is a lot of fun!\u00a0 How else could a wisenheimer like me spread his useless and inappropriate opinions around the world with such speed and ease\u2014and with such a disregard for accountability? \u00a0Of course, that\u2019s not so hard when you have a loyal […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4977,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,4,11],"tags":[16,52,15,14,70,25],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1214"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1214"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1214\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4977"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1214"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1214"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rickzullo.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1214"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}