There is more to Italy than just Rome! Find out ~ ~

Everyone loves Rome. The NY Times recently wrote this 36 hours itinerary and the timing couldn’t be better as people are looking to spring as the time to wander through Rome’s whimsical, windy and traipse romantic streets. What I love about it here, is that you can literally visit forty different times and get a completely different experience.

Everything has a story and you can see it sketched on famous monuments such as Trajan’s Column. We humans are masters at creating, but even better at destroying it, ‘La grande bellezza’ of human behavior perhaps.

Admittedly I myself went from ‘eh, Rome is ok but not really my thing’ to what I liken to being a ‘born again’ Rome lover ‘.  I’ve drunk the ‘juice’ and become more interested in a place I don’t get to visit enough though it is an easy one and a half hour train ride away.

The question is as always, how to tackle a city with a history dating back to 600-700 BC? Especially when you imagine it as the center of almost five hundred years as the world’s greatest superpower.

But there is more to Italy then just Rome especially if your family was born in Italy.

This is where a company called www.agrifeudi.com is not only changing lives but has created a new way to travel.

An actual testimonial:

I had a photo on my Nona's house in Naples with an address. We took a trip and walked the streets and low and behold we see the house. However it seemed to now be a business?

We talked to the owners and they would not let us go in nor really understood what we were trying to do.

That is when I contacted http://www.agrifeudi.com - https://www.facebook.com/rooting.agrifeudi.This company was amazing. The do not sell you a tour and you are not on a bus with 25 other people looking at beautiful surroundings but rather you provide them with the information you have and they do all the work for you.
They meet you and take you on the most amazing emotional and magical journey you will ever experience in your life.
I did get to see Nona's house and more. The deeds to land, the cemetery sites, the marriage licenses and more.
Oh what a journey. I even have relatives that I now keep in touch with
This trip not only connected me to my roots and past but also made me discover more of who I am and why.


Thank you..
Lynn Marrapodi 
NYC, NY

They take you as far back to the 18th century. Can you imagine walking through the town of your ancestors? What if you discovered that your Great, Great, Grandfather (Nonno) helped build the Trevi Fountain!

Then for a second you had that Ah-Ha moment.

When you were a child you were fascinated with bricks and rocks. Yet you never knew why you had this fascination.

Imagine not only seeing but touching documents and photos of ancestors that made you who you are today!

Some of us may have visited Italy and always end up in Rome  as I stated in the beginning of this blog,seeing the beautiful architecture, the Vatican and more.

I know you are thinking that you cannot afford to do this! However Agrifeudi is budget friendly and will custom tailor to suit your needs.

Agrifeudi does not sell tours but rather a unique emotional rooting experience that will help you discover more of who you are.

So contact them and start planning your journey.

Its called Personal rooting – as in a tree with out roots is a tree without life~

The Travel Rooting Philosophy

Agrifeudi introduces a completely new experiential travel experience: Travel Rooting...providing extraordinary and exclusive access to the best of Italy for the sophisticated traveler who appreciates true immer- sion into the heart and soul of the land and its people. No longer a tourist but a “Rootist”, gain entry to once-in-a-lifetime cultural, gourmet, traditional and folklore experiences. Private transfers, exclusive gourmet meals, elegant accommodations, customized “front row” exhibits, events & live entertainment.

Two Rooting Experiences to Choose From or Combine:

Some of the places you will visit...

The famous squares & monuments of Rome

The whimsical baroque elegance, feast of food, beauty of countryside, and wines of

Personal Rooting

For those of Italian ancestry

living abroad, Agrifeudi brings genealogical research to a

new level with its crown jewel offering...a completely customized exclusive journey to your personal family history.

Territory Rooting

For groups of 16-28 “rootists”, itineraries include key artistic

and cultural excursions, guided adventures, interactive cooking and artisan workshops, and active experiential participation in ethnic traditions.

- "TRACES" genealogical summary of one's family 10 generations back on the status of the family in history - "MEMORY ROOTING" group return travel for pople all coming from the same region and/or geographical area - "PERSONAL ROOTING" (minimum 2 people) family or private minigroup journey in the town of one's own ancestors (generally 3 nights/2 full days) with extensions to visit the area in the form of a genuine land performance (TERRITORY ROOTING) that can be on one or more themes.

Email them today

info@agrifeudi.it             info@agrifeudi.it

What is Personal Rooting? Italia. A tree with out roots is a Tree with out Life~

The Travel Rooting Philosophy
Agrifeudi introduces a completely new experiential travel experience: Travel Rooting...providing extraordinary and exclusive access to the best of Italy for the sophisticated traveler who appreciates true immer- sion into the heart and soul of the land and its people. No longer a tourist but a “Rootist”, gain entry to once-in-a-lifetime cultural, gourmet, traditional and folklore experiences. Private transfers, exclusive gourmet meals, elegant accommodations, customized “front row” exhibits, events & live entertainment.

Two Rooting Experiences to Choose From or Combine:
Some of the places you will visit...
The famous squares & monuments of Rome
The whimsical baroque elegance, feast of food, beauty of countryside, and wines of

Personal Rooting
For those of Italian ancestry
living abroad, Agrifeudi brings genealogical research to a
new level with its crown jewel offering...a completely customized exclusive journey to your personal family history.
Territory Rooting
For groups of 16-28 “rootists”, itineraries include key artistic
and cultural excursions, guided adventures, interactive cooking and artisan workshops, and active experiential participation in ethnic traditions.

- "TRACES" genealogical summary of one's family 10 generations back on the status of the family in history - "MEMORY ROOTING" group return travel for pople all coming from the same region and/or geographical area - "PERSONAL ROOTING" (minimum 2 people) family or private minigroup journey in the town of one's own ancestors (generally 3 nights/2 full days) with extensions to visit the area in the form of a genuine land performance (TERRITORY ROOTING) that can be on one or more themes.

Email us today at

info@agrifeudi.it

 

Let us take you home......

SIGNS YOU WERE RAISED BY AN ITALIAN MOTHER

·   

. Your mom chooses (in one way or another) your girlfriends.Italian mothers can become extremely jealous and possessive over their sons. After the first date, they’ll enquire into how good of a cook she was, how clean and tidy her house was, and if her clothes were nicely ironed. But never say that your new girlfriend’s pasta sauce is better than your mom’s or she’ll dislike her from the beginning.·   . You never stop suffering her public displays of affection.
It doesn’t matter if you are in your teens and hanging out with friends after school, or if you’re 40something and socializing with colleagues, your mum will always address you as Il mio bambino. She will hug and kiss you as if she hasn’t seen you in years, when in fact you just had lunch together.·   . You grew up eating the best food in town.
For an Italian mamma, food is more than just a basic human need; it’s religion, culture, identity and love. Every time you return home, the first thing she’ll ask you: “Have you eaten?” If your mamma offers to prepare you “a little something” to eat, you can be sure it is not a sandwich, but a freshly made seafood spaghetti, which is better than any other you can have in town.·   . You know how competitive Christmas can get.
Christmas is the most important celebration of the year for an Italian mother, and not only because of its religious values but as a culinary show-off opportunity among the various women in the family — grandmas, aunts, daughters in law. The competition is fierce, and you’ll have to prepare yourself physically and psychologically months in advance for the massive 30-course meal. They’ll start planning it in August.·   . You know the pressure never ends.
While a regular non-Italian mother will accept your decisions once you’ve become an adult, an Italian mother will make sure you are constantly under pressure about finding a good job, getting good marks at university. She’ll nag you constantly with questions like: “Have you done your homework?” (at age 21 at university) or “Why are you not at work?” (even if it’s your day off and you keep reminding her every single weekend). She cannot comprehend why you are not doing “something.” If you are relaxing one afternoon on the sofa, she’ll make sure to let you know how upset she is about seeing you idle.·   . She always takes your side…publicly anyway.
Your Italian mum may nag you, but she won’t expect you to be the best. She’ll compliment you and treat you like a hero only because you passed an exam, or because none of your marks are lower than the passing grade. In front of the other parents, she’ll publicly announce your ‘high grades’, even if it was only in Physical Education. At parent-teacher meetings, the teachers may tell your mom you don’t always finish your homework and she’ll complain that perhaps they are giving you too much homework. She’ll take your side, but once you’re home, she’ll keep nagging you about your homework.·   . Your fashion sense is taken as reflection on her failure / success as a mother.
Even if you wear mismatched colors or pants with square patterns and a shirt with stripes to go to the post office, she’ll rant for two hours about how you look like a hobo and how miserably she failed as a mother.·   . She is your constant clothing inspector.
You can try to move out and keep away from your mamma, but even if you go hundreds of miles away, she’ll always come to see you and, during each visit, she’ll wash and iron your clothes. Then she’ll complain about the way you folded your socks and boxers. Although some might find this a bit OCD, it’s not so bad, especially if you are a young, incompetent adult male.·   . You can only leave Italy to go to the beach.
The average Italian guy will make his mum worried every time he mentions his desire to visit a new foreign city or country, and she’ll try to discourage any trip abroad. Every single place is considered hostile or unworthy.•  Me: “Mum, my friends and I are planning to visit London next month.”
•  Mom: “Why, what’s there you cannot find in here? People get killed there; it’s too dangerous.”

This is the same attitude for pretty much any other destination outside Italy. However, if you mention a beach destination, preferably in Italy but not necessarily, then you are excused. If you are planning a trip to Sharm el-Sheikh, a popular beach destination in southern Egypt, she’ll approve and you’ll most likely have to take her along with your wife. That’s not necessarily a bad thing though — after sunbathing for 15 hours, she’ll massage your burnt lobster-colored skin with her trusted homemade fresh tomato sauce. La mamma always knows best

Discover your Family Roots / Personal rooting journey to Italy

Have you ever wondered what makes you who you are?

This may appear to be a very Zen question however knowing who you are, where you came from, whom your ancestors were could indeed let you understand more of who you are!

You may have heard stories about the old country - (Italy) from your family. For me hearing these stories was like listening to an Opera. It not only made me feel a sense of pride but more of wanderlust for the need to explore more.

You can go on any one of those “ find your ancestors site’s”, for a fee and receive some information, which may create excitement in the moment, but yet you are still hungry more.

There is a company in Rome, Italy called Agrifeudi - www.agrifeudi.com.

They provide something so unique called Personal Rooting.  Here is how it works.
http://www.agrifeudi.com/img/rootist.pdf = learn more

They take you as far back to the 18th century. Can you imagine walking through the town of your ancestors? What if you discovered that your Great, Great, Grandfather (Nono) helped build the Trevi Fountain!

Then for a second you had that Ah-Ha moment.

When you were a child you were fascinated with bricks and rocks. Yet you never knew why you had this fascination.

Imagine not only seeing but touching documents and photos of ancestors that made you who you are today!

Some of us may have visited Italy and always end up in Rome seeing the beautiful architecture, the Vatican and more.

I know you are thinking that you cannot afford to do this! However Agrifeudi is budget friendly and will custom tailor to suit your needs.

Agrifeudi does not sell tours but rather a unique emotional rooting experience that will help you discover more of who you are.

So contact them and start planning your journey.

MERRY EVERYTHING.... so this is Christmas

MERRY EVERYTHING.... so this is Christmas

Available ~ Unavailable - Taken not Stirred!!

Available ~ Unavailable - Taken not Stirred!!

In listening to some of my friend relationship issues it seems like we all balance the dance of the Unavailable or Available.

I am a person that believes in magic and passion and romance. The kind that you feel when a stranger walks into a crowed room and ya just know it :)

Yet we still have a lifetime of baggage that we carry around that is invisible to the naked eye. If we knew about this baggage perhaps we would be more cautious but that my friends is the delicate dance of love.

It’s called "Letting Go!"

When you let go and become available emotionally great things happen, that is unless of course you are dating an emotionally unavailable person. Then you better strap on the seatbelt cause you are in the roller coaster of love and you are not even sure you meet the height requirement.

For years you were able to hide behind this shroud, never really letting people in.

You were really good at one nightstands because you could leave !!!!!!!!

Once in a while you would even meet someone that would call you on your shit. Letting you know how much you are missing out on because of your need to self protect. You were merely a prophylactic with no penetration.

Premature imagination~

So you decided that it was important to you to find a way to let go and let love in. You did all the right things, went to a shrink, self-reflection, and meditation and even chanted once in a while. Then the day came! It happens without thought or intention. You just meet someone and you feel the rush of fear fall out of your body. You did it – YOU LET GO ~~

This is what it feels like to be available. You can actually feel it leave and guess what you are still ok!

But here is the dangerous part. If the person you let go for is slightly unavailable you feel all the things that scared the shit of of you in the first place. The things that made you want to be unavailable. So now you really know what it feels like to be open. You hurt, you cry, you get angry. You fight, you yell. The very things you ran from are now you’re day to day.

It’s then that you realize: “now I know why I held back!” Who wants to feel this shit!

Abort! Abort!

Nah, you really don’t want to go back to not felling, do you?

I would rather feel a thousand hurts then not feel anything at all.

That’s what it’s all about Alfie~

Never go back always move forward and never stop yourself from feeling.

So get taken by someone not stirred.

Time to take out the trash!

Being someone who knows a ting or two about Waste Management I feel that I have been able to manage most of my junk. In truth that is what you are really doing MANAGING it. As it basically stays with you but you need to stop feeding it.Think of how many times BAGGAGE has ruined relationships?Think of how many people you have met in your life and then realized you felt like you were at the luggage carousel at JFK airport still waiting for more to fall out.Well here's the bad news - you can't change it. Only they can.What ever their addiction is, it will always be with them until they do something about it.OK so now you might be thinking -ADDICTION?Yup baggage is an addiction.Addicted to bad behavior.Addicted to the past!Addicted to an old boyfriend, and EX and so on.

The funny thing with this is they never see it! Its so engrained in them that they think it's just fine. The sad thing is that they will never be able to have a giving and fulfilling life because they only focus on the addiction.

They are never present for anything else but that... Friends, Romans and Codependents let go of the people that will never love you or treat you the way you deserve to be treated.The narcissists that just want it to be all about them and have you scurry about making all good for them and their bad day or bad date and fucked up life. The ones that suck the life outta ya because all you can do is listen to them go on and on and you like a Mook sit there and say not a word. 

What's the worse that can happen if ya just said - ya know - I have been listening to your shit for years and its the same thing. Did you ever think it was you? Noooooooooo!!

Because you think you are the catch of the day. And that people are mean and hurtful ONLY to you.

Stop the insanity! Let go of these controlling blood suckers that keep you in a trance and never make you pass go or collect 200 bucks....Take a deep breath and just STOP feeding them and in doing so you will find a whole new world waiting for you. Where you're not being told how imperfect you are or you'll never be like me BS.

Its a hard thing to do but if you start thinking about it you are half way there...Just think if you leave your shit by the curb once a week like the rest of the trash you might just be on you way to letting go..