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New episode every Wednesday! Since 2016 Nathaniel and Darcy have been bouncing in and out of Italy sporadically, and since 2019, they've been in Italy full-time. In the past few years, they've learned the ins-and-outs about traveling and living in Italy, and they hope to share that information with you. Even though this podcast focuses on Italy, the most of the general information can be used anywhere in the world. We hope you enjoy!
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Ultimately, I want to help people become better writers. Sometimes it's as simple as learning how to effectively use a semi-colon but other times we have to learn how to break down our own ideas of how the world works to better re-create it. Only a Notebook is my attempt to break down my own ideas to learn and understand why I and others write the way we do. Most of these podcasts pertain to short stories and novels, but they're for anyone who wants to learn how to write. By Nathaniel Mellor
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Darcy is still under the weather so it's just Nathaniel in today's episode! If you'll forgive the random tangents and the "um"s scattered throughout, I will try to help you understand the difference between travel insurance, travel health insurance, and at the end, I'll quickly discuss how to bring prescriptions with you on the plane. (Spoiler: you…
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Hello everyone! Darcy caught a bit of a cold/flu situation so she's been in bed recovering for the past few days. Instead of listening to an hour long monologue by yours truly, we thought it would be better to push the episode to next week, where we'll either double-publish on Wednesday or publish Monday and Wednesday. As always, thank you all so m…
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Don't wear a weeding ring, don't take out your phone, cover up any expensive labels. There are countless tips out there to avoid looking like a target, so is getting pickpocketed a real fear? Likewise, what are some scams you might run into while traveling in Italy? And is it safe to walk around at night? In this episode, we talk about crime, safet…
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Did you know? The Rome Jubilee is based on Jewish tradition. The Holy Door is walled up and must be broken down so that the Pope can unlock it with a hidden key. Your sins can be absolved (according to the Catholic church)! In this episode we get into the history and details of the Rome Jubilee. Plus, go check out our previous episode for all of th…
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The cost of the transportation system is rising, and they're thinking about instituting a small charge to see the Trevi Fountain. But it's not all bad! If you want to walk to Rome, they're also pouring money into the Via Francigena to make it easier for pilgrims to make their way along the Canterbury-Rome road. And if you want to take part in the f…
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While it's taken a long time to come to fruition, it looks like the EU is set to rollout their new visa scheme in the first half of 2025. So, what does this mean as a non-European? Do Americans (if you are American) now need a visa to go to Italy? And what about this raised tourist tax we keep hearing so much about? Do you actually have to pay 25 e…
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Or, as Darcy likes to call it, Creepy Crawly Cuties! Are there mosquitos in Italy? What are those tiny little bugs that bite me so painfully? Do I have to worry about scorpions? Most importantly, do I have to worry about rabies? In this episode, we delve into the biting, stinging, flying, and slithering side of Italy! As always, we truly appreciate…
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Do you love trains? Travel back in time on trains from the 1930s and 50s for family friendly day-trips at around 7-12 euros with Fondazione FS. Or travel in style (there is a dress code), in all out luxuriousness with La Dolce Vita by Orient Express or Venice Simplon Orient Express by Belmond with trips stating around 4,000 euros. In this episode w…
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Let's be honest, catching a train can be confusing, especially for those of us who aren't accustomed to public transportation. In this episode we explain the difference between Italy's two major train operators and what they offer. Plus, we answer common questions like "Do I need to validate my ticket?" and "What is validating a ticket?" Want to su…
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Picking up where we left off, this episode gets into the meat of the matter—the flight itself. Boiled down, it can be summed up as: moisturize, bring noise-cancelling headphones, moisturize, bring a change of clothes, and make sure your skin stays hydrated and moisturized. We also talk about finding the perfect seat on any airplane. To do this, we …
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In recent years, the flight has somehow become the worst part of any trip. It's not just the delays and cancellations, but the baggage fees, the seat selection fees if you'd like to do something crazy like sit next to the people you're traveling with, and even the tiny, narrow seats. In this episode (and the next one) we delve into how to prepare f…
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What to do if you miss your train? When should you book your train trip? Where do you get bus tickets? In this episode we will answer all of those questions, talk about best practices for booking train and bus journeys, and give you to scoop on where to find help at the station; it’s not always where you think. *Links with an asterisk are affiliate…
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Should you really book a flight 6 months out? And when's the best time to book a hotel room? In this rambling episode, we talk about the best practices for booking a flights and hotels while also taking you on a number of [hopefully] engaging tangents. *Links with an asterisk are affiliate links. By using our affiliate link to book hotels you help …
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In this episode, we address some of the issues that Italians (and everyone who lives in a tourist-friendly town) have with AirBnb and why they've become the poster child for negative tourism. However, hope is not lost! We also discuss a list of alternative types of stays in Italy that might not be available in other countries, such as convents, or …
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Welcome back to a Special Episode where we revisit the Venice tourist tax (a 5 euro tax for almost anyone entering Venice) that we first covered in a previous episode titled "Italy isn't breaking up with you, she's just setting boundaries". While the fee may have ended for 2024, this episode covers what Venice learned from the experiment, how it af…
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Almost every hotel in Italy has some amount of stars, 1-5. On first glance, this can look straightforward, however, dig a little deeper, and you might find that the hotel you want isn't necessarily the one with the most stars. More than that, we also dig a little deeper into what to expect from a hotel in Italy, whether it's the elevator, the quali…
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Since ancient Roman times people have celebrated a holiday called Ferragosto. What does that mean for modern Italians and tourists? Empty cities, closed shops, and crowded beaches. We'll tell you all you need to know for your August vacation in Italy. As always, thank you for listening! If you have any questions, send us a message on Instagram (@on…
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In this episode Darcy guides us (mainly Nathaniel) on the brief history of some of Italy's more famous cocktails like the Aperol spritz, the Campari and soda, and the Negroni. We also discuss the lack of beer culture, and the blooming cocktail culture that expands beyond the use of Campari and Aperol. As always, thank you for listening! If you have…
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Do you sit at a table and then order, or order first and then sit at a table? What about that age-old rule of no cappuccinos after 11am? And have you ever been curious as to why Italians eat their meals in a specific order, or why they often use the excuse of "I just took a coffee" to decline eating anything else? This episode has you covered! We c…
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Do you want to know how to "act Italian" at restaurants? What to avoid (such as eating and walking around)? How about the dos and don'ts of pizza? Well, this episode has you covered with all of that and so much more! If you enjoyed the episode, we'd love it if you were to rate us, follow, subscribe, comment, etc. It means the world to us and keeps …
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Do you need to order a primi and secondi? Why can't you order pizza for lunch? What's the coperta? Navigating the way an Italian menu is set up can complicated—we're here to help! Thank you all so much for listening, we really appreciate it! If there's anything you'd like us to cover, please reach out on www.onlyabag.com. And if you'd like to compl…
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Thanks for listening to this mini-sode! A full-length episode will be out on Friday, and next week we will return to our normally-scheduled Wednesday episodes. We had intended to be back in full-force today, but we returned from the States an unintentional day late due to canceled flights, so the jet lag is still hitting hard. This month will focus…
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Headed to the Amalfi Coast? How do you even get there? What is the Amalfi Coast? How many towns are there, and what is the difference between the Sorrentinian Coast and the Amalfi Coast? This, and so much more is covered in today's episode! As always, thank you all so much for listening! If you liked the episode, we would love it if you followed us…
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While visiting Naples could easily take a week by itself, there's so much more to the area than the city. Just off the coast you can find the resort island of Capri, the thermal springs island of Ischia, and the "blue collar" island of Procida. How to get there? What to see? And when did these islands first host people? These questions and more are…
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Palazzi under the sea, a cursed island, and the queen's bath, you can swim there and we'll tell you how. While the Roman Empire once spanned countries and coastlines, very few ruins are near the shoreline in Italy. In this episode, we delve into three locations where you can actually swim among Roman ruins (or places to have a chill beach day), whi…
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Does Italy really hate tourists? Does the new €5 fee at Venice affect you? Why are people protesting against it? What about all these new rules like no flip-flops in Cinque Terre, or no swimsuit in Sorrento? In this special episode, we dive into all the things that people are saying (and writing) about Italy, in order to help put those fears at eas…
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While many people go to Pompeii while visiting Naples (and for good reason) there's so much more! In this episode we briefly look at Pompeii, Herculaneum, Pozzuoli (the Campi Flegrei), and lead into our next episode where we will talk about the islands around Naples and where to swim among Roman ruins. Thank you all so much for listening! If you ha…
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Welcome back for Part 3 of 3! I hope we don't sound too tired—what began as a quick 45-minute episode ended up as a two-hour megalith! In this episode, we discuss the culture of Naples, what those hand gestures might mean, and why Italians often say "I can't understand anyone from Naples." If you have any questions, or anything you'd like us to mak…
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Welcome back to Part 2 of 3! In this episode, we take a look at some classic Napolitano dishes—some of them might sound very familiar to you, such as pizza! Or, the ever popular, spaghetti with olive oil and garlic. If there's anything you'd like us to cover, or any other questions you might have, please let us know! You can find us at onlyabag.com…
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Welcome back! We're sorry we were gone for so long. Life jumped out at us in so many ways, and while we were in the States visiting, we just couldn't seem to find the [quiet] time to sit down and record a few episodes. However, now that we're back, we're planning on releasing a new episode every week on Wednesday. In this episode, Part 1 of 3, we s…
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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. If you'd like to support the podcast, one great way to do so is to sign up for Trusted Housesitters through our affiliate link ⁠⁠here⁠⁠. Not sure what house sitting is? Well, we'd love to be the ones to introd…
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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. If you'd like to support the podcast, one great way to do so is to sign up for Trusted Housesitters …
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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. If you'd like to support the podcast, one great way to do so is to sign up for Trusted Housesitters through our affiliate link ⁠here⁠. Not sure what house sitting is…
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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 li…
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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, y…
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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 f…
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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…
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Perugia is a city of great food, and an abundance of it. It's almost impossible to find a bad restaurant, but just in case, we offer some of our favorite restaurant—especially for those of you who are getting tired of Italian food.If you'd like to support the podcast, one great way to do so is to sign up for Trusted Housesitters through our affilia…
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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.) As always, if you'd like to support us, you can do so by using this link to sign up for …
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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. To support us, consider signing up for Trusted Housesitters thr…
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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! To support us, you can use this Trainline lin…
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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. If you'd like to support us, you can do so by purchasing your next train or bus tri…
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Sandwiches, pastries, gelato, wine to-go, and what is lampredotto? We've got you covered with a list of our favorite food in Florence. If you prefer reading, you can find our review of La Strega Nocciola, our current favorite gelateria in Florence, here! As always, thank you for listening! If you'd like to support us, you can do with by purchasing …
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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. …
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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…
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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 a…
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Hello and welcome back! We apologize for having been gone for so long. While Only A Bag has always been on our minds, we couldn't figure out the time to sit down and finally record another episode. And then we found the time! Here's episode one of Season 2. We lightly delve into "northern" Italy vs "southern" Italy, and how it might affect your tri…
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