Kristen Suzanne

6 Reasons Why I Like Bansko, Bulgaria for Summer Travel

August 12, 2019 By Kristen Suzanne

We are spending July and August in a small and beautiful ski village town in Bulgaria. The name of the town is Bansko. Here’s my brain-dump on Bansko, and the 6 reasons why I like coming here for summer time.

Why Bansko, Bulgaria?

For most people, Bansko is a winter destination, with its popularity reigning as a nice ski destination.

However, it turns out that summer is a great time to enjoy Bansko, too. And although people do come here during the summer (there are a number of attractions noted below), it’s not crowded in the summer. It’s pretty darn perfect.

When we arrived in Bansko, I was cautiously optimistic. There are so many immediate notable things: the cleanliness, the splendor of the beautiful mountains all around, the walkability of the town, the friendliness of the people, the ski-village-like design of the buildings, the flowers… so many flowers, especially roses. I shouldn’t have been surprised by the plethora of roses, as I quickly recalled “Bulgarian rose” from my beauty product mental list. Turns out, I’d been using products featuring Bulgarian roses since I was a teenager.

So, this is where it comes from? Duh. :)

My immediate fascination aside, I waited a couple of weeks before making an opinion. You see, I have a knack for falling in love with a place, shouting its praises, and then seeing more warts than I want later.

Caffe Shakerato in Italy’s 100 Degree Heat – Italian Expat Life

July 24, 2019 By Kristen Suzanne

Back to Italy!

Kamea and I had to make an impromptu trip back to Italy, from our time in Bansko, Bulgaria, to work on our dual citizenship stuff.

However, it’s friggin’ hot in Italy right now.

Like 100 degrees F. And humid. And no air conditioning.

Most places and homes don’t have air conditioning because I don’t think this intense heat is normal.

Basically, we’re hot as f-ck 🥵 here.

But, I’m in Italy, and somehow that makes it seem less hot? It’s still La Dolce Vita.

You know something else that makes the heat more tolerable though?

Caffe Shakerato! Classic italian iced espresso.

This refreshing drink of espresso is the ticket to cooling off in this blistering heat. As my new Italian friend says about the heat, è bruttissimo (it’s very ugly). But with a caffe shakerato in hand, it’s not too bad.

So, Kamea and I have been popping into the few cafes with air conditioning, and cooling ourselves down, each with a caffe shakerato.

The classic recipe calls for a liquid cane sugar which beautifully offsets the bitter espresso. That’s how Kamea likes her caffe shakerato – decaf, too. I typically get mine senza zucchero (without sugar). The espresso is freshly brewed and then shaken with ice (and sugar, if that’s your jam). Strained into a glass. Enjoyed.

Or, Kamea gets a caffe shakerato and Mama gets a spritz!

Going Blonde in Italy – Italian Expat Life

July 22, 2019 By Kristen Suzanne

Time for blonde.

I’ve been going back and forth for a long time trying to decide whether or not to put blonde highlights back into my hair. Having been blonde most of my young adult years I feel a longing for that youth I guess.

My first highlights were at age 11. It was a very exciting moment to get my hair done at the same salon as my mom.

I stayed blonde for many years, testing out some other colors here and there, always going back blonde.

I met my husband, Greg, as a blonde. Then, I got into the natural non-toxic thing and decided to go brunette. A phase, like torn Levis.

I did that for a couple of years, before I wanted to experiment with blonde again. I was feeling too blah with brown hair. I slowly added highlights until I mostly blonde after a few years.

Going frugal.

Then to save money, I went natural. Again. Even so far as to cut my own hair, which I didn’t realize was a mistake until I wore it down one day, eschewing my normal bun.

Now though, again, I’m missing the light color.

So, I decided to get highlights in Italy. But I wanted specific highlights. I don’t see a lot of women walking around with highlights here so I don’t even know if the people in the salon have a lot of experience with it. I like platinum blonde highlights. I like them to be very light. I’m not a fan of highlights that are too golden or yellow with my skin tone. And I definitely don’t want brassy highlights.

Google Translate at the salon.

So I typed into Google translate something to the effect of how I’d like to get my hair highlighted. I said in Italian, reading from Google translate, basically that I want them very light blonde. I do not want gold. I do not want brassy. I do not want orange. I like them very light.

They looked at Google Translate on my phone, and then they looked at me. The look on their faces made me question whether my translation was clear. I wondered whether the word “highlight” came through Google translate appropriately.

I’m Homesick for Italy – Italian Expat Life

July 16, 2019 By Kristen Suzanne

It didn’t take long… I’m homesick for Italy.

Within the first few days of our trip to Ireland I was missing Italy with all of my heart.

This is a very different experience than I had after leaving the US. I was gone from the United States for 5 months when my brother-in-law asked me what I missed about the states. I didn’t hesitate before sincerely replying, “nothing” (save for family, of course).

Here I’m gone from Italy less than a week, and I’m craving all things Italian – cappuccino, spritz, our community at the local bar, proper pizza, loud neighbors, and more. That feeling of belonging.

So, there are a few things I’m doing to ease the heartache.

A Month in Ireland – Our Expat Life

July 14, 2019 By Kristen Suzanne

We are in Ireland for the month of June. We kind of had to. Well, specifically, we had to leave Italy because Greg doesn’t yet have a permesso to stay there. Therefore we have to abide by the Schengen Area rule that basically states you can be in Italy (and much of western Europe) three out of every six months.

Ireland is not included in that Schengen Area so we took a trip there. Unfortunately, I’m not a master at planning trips and seem to find myself booking things making too many assumptions. Things like, oh it will be easy to get to.

Boy was I wrong for the Ireland trip.

When looking for places outside of the Schengen Area I looked at Ireland. Searching AirBnB brought me to a groovy-as-hell, super old schoolhouse for rent. For cheap! (I know why it was cheap now – the remote location.) But the reviews promised a really neat experience.

I never considered the travel to and from. I wrongly assumed that Ireland would be as easily connected by trains as I found the UK.

Well, long story short, our travel day from Italy to Ireland included the following…

Taxi to the train station in Rovigo
Train from Rovigo to Bologna
Bus from Bologna train station to the Bologna airport
Flight from Italy to Ireland
Bus from from Dublin to Wexford.
Bus from Wexford to Ballinaboola.
Car ride from Ballinaboola to Ballyhack – the super itty bitty fishing village in southeast Ireland.

Not a cheap travel day, nor very fun. So many timelines to keep straight. What was I thinking? Well, I know… I didn’t realize all that would be involved in getting from Rovigo to Ballyhack. Plus… two huge suitcases, backpacks, purses and my husband who can’t carry the suitcases because of his foot and hip, leaving me to move them up and down the stairs when the elevators aren’t working. At least I got my workout in that day.

Cappuccino and Espresso – Two of My Favorite Things About Living in Italy (Italian Expat Life)

June 24, 2019 By Kristen Suzanne

Cappuccino… in Italy. I Love It.

One of my favorite things about living in Italy is drinking cappuccino. They do it right, which of course I didn’t know until I was in Italy.

What is doing it right? Well, aside from the most delicious coffee being used, the cappuccino is served in a small cup.

I finish it in only a handful of sips.

It actually takes a bit of time to get used to this smaller-size cappuccino, but it’s the perfect size and ratio of milk to coffee. Like I said, they just do it right! The days of a huge mug of coffee are over (or at least hidden in my apartment where the Italians don’t see me).

My daughter gets a decaf cappuccino, and together we sip and sit. I use this as a time to sit down and relax.

Cappuccino in Italy is not like going to Starbucks and getting a paper cup, usually with too much milk, with the drink to-go. To be honest, I’m not sure I could stomach that stuff anymore. And, I’m not only comparing to Starbucks. In a trip to Ireland, I almost couldn’t finish the cappuccino I ordered. Ack. It was more of a latte, with way too much milk to coffee, no froth, and no coffee taste. In my desperation though, I finished it.

Community, Coffee, and Longevity

What you do in coffee bars, in Italy, is also distinct from America. Usually, you drink your coffee at the bar – standing. Especially if it’s espresso. Going out for a coffee in the morning is usually a quick shot of espresso. Pop into the bar, get the teeny-tiny amount of coffee that is an espresso, drink it back. Take a minute to properly start the day. If I’m seen walking with my travel mug, it screams to everyone Americana. In fact, you can’t even get drinks “to go” here.

It can also be a very social experience… standing at the bar with other Italians, chatting about the neighborhood happenings. I’m not quite there, yet, because I don’t speak much Italian. One of these days though.

One of my favorite bars in Rovigo, Italy.

And, sometimes, people sit and chat, so animated with gestures, as only Italians can do. I love it. What you won’t see is people with their heads down in laptops. In Italy, people are at tables or standing at the bar with other people. It’s community. It’s longevity.

Coffee History

I’m in good hands because Italians know a thing or two about coffee. After all, Angelo Moriondo invented the espresso machine, receiving a patent for it in 1884, in Turin, Italy.

How Many Per Day?

I’ve heard mixed stories on the amount of coffee Italians drink on a daily basis.

Some people report that Italians will have coffee four or five times a day – in the form of espresso. But I’ve also read claims that if you drink more than 1 or 2 espresso a day, an Italian might gesture the sign of the cross and pray for you. Not really, but they might look at you with a concerned expression.

So, I don’t really know yet. I’m still figuring it out. For me, though, I enjoy a cup of regular coffee (or two) at home with my popular Aeropress, and then I usually find myself at a bar later in the day for a quality Italian espresso. Or two.

Different Prices for the Same Coffee Drink in the Same Bar?

Did you know that in the same bar you could see two different prices for your coffee? Especially in tourist areas. You can be charged a different price for sitting down at a table with your coffee versus standing and drinking it at the bar.

“banco” is bar and “tavolo” is table – a bar in Venice

In Rovigo, Italy, where we’re currently living while getting dual Italian citizenship, the price is the same whether you stand at the bar or relax at a table. But, of course, it’s not a tourist city.

Cafe or Bar?

While I’m talking about coffee in Italy, there aren’t cafes here. Not really, anyway. They are bars. When I say I’m going to a cafe for a cappuccino, I really say I’m going to the bar. That’s another thing I’m still getting used to. :)

In said bar, the beautiful espresso / cappuccino machine warrants devotion and adoration. It’s like a piece of art. The same can be said for the drinks coming out of it. This machine will also be surrounded by liquor – it’s a bar after all.

In fact, in Italy drink you can drink espresso as caffè corretto (espresso “corrected” with a splash of liquor). I’ve yet to try one of those, but I aim to. And, one can also partake in a spritz or wine instead of coffee (that’s another post though).

Work in Progress

I’m a work in progress regarding how I enjoy coffee at the bar.

While my family enjoys cappuccini (plural for cappuccino) together, I also love going to a cafe/bar to write or read. I know, a bit antisocial. I’m sure it let’s everyone know I’m an Americana when I do that. I’d like to try living more like Italians though – being more social while I’m there.

Espresso is a Love of Mine, Too.

I know espresso is thought to be really strong by many, and maybe even too bitter for some. But, that also seems different in Italy. It could take some getting used to for some, but not much – I promise. Many Italians stir sugar into theirs, but I drink it senza zucchero (without sugar). The espresso is usually downright delicious all on its own, often tasting different from bar to bar. Sometimes my palate is hit with notes of chocolate and other times I detect nuttiness. All the time, however, bliss, when drinking it in Italy.

Water with your espresso? Yes, and there is a reason. Espresso is usually served with a small glass of water for cleansing the palette before enjoying your espresso.

I get so excited every time I go into a bar for a coffee.

Excitement for the buzz I’ll get from both the caffeine and the authentic experience.

One of my favorite things about going to a bar, on a regular basis, is getting to know the owners (and employees), and being a part of the local area. I like walking into a place and seeing familiar faces. Chatting with the baristas, even in my limited Italian to simply ask how they’re doing and vice versa is something I look forward to each time. There is such a true community feel when you do this, and it feels so damn good.

Italy, you have my heart.

6 Reasons Why I Like Bansko, Bulgaria for Summer Travel

Why Bansko, Bulgaria?

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