Buongiorno from Italy! I took the week off last weekend (skipped This Week in the World for the first time this year!) so that I could take a proper holiday and enjoy time with some friends I haven’t seen since before COVID. This trip is almost 3 weeks long and we are covering a lot of the main region my clients request: Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Rome, the Dolomites and the lakes (still deciding if we are doing Como, Garda or another one!) We are keeping very busy but it feels so incredible to be back in one of my favorite places in the world. I will have more resources to share soon, but in the meantime you can either watch my online courses (like Rome or Amalfi Coast) or you can email me to schedule a travel planning consult for when I’m back (currently booking the last week of July/ first week of August).
If you’re new here, ‘This Week in the World’ is a weekly recap of content ranging from around the globe. My hope is that each week, no matter where you are in the world, you’ll be able to feel more connected to it: through news, travel, food & wine… really, anything that appeals to the culturally curious. Let’s dive into the content I sourced for week 29.
TRAVEL NEWS, UPDATES + INSPIRATION
First, I’m excited to share an exciting change to my travel planning services: I recently joined the Embark Beyond team, which means I’ll now have access to a wide range of benefits for my clients (things like spa credits, complimentary upgrades upon availability, breakfast inclusions, welcome amenities, etc.) I’ve been an independent travel planner as long as I’ve been in the industry, but as I’ve seen my clients needs evolve over time, I’m so excited to be joining a team that I know will help me to better serve them and be stronger at my job. So if you’re thinking of booking a trip soon, be sure to contact me for travel planning assistance so I can help you get the most out of your trip!
Venice is at risk of being added to UNESCO’s list of World Heritage in Danger sites because of how cruise ships threaten the delicate marine environment and overwhelm the city with thousands of day-trippers. Finally, something is finally happening to protect it. Starting August 1st, Italy is banning mammoth cruise ships from Venice.
Many people are still unclear about where they can and can’t travel right now. I found this comprehensive guide to where Americans can travel in Europe to be helpful.
FAVORITE LISTENS
I’ve spent a lot of time with headphones in over the last couple of weeks (especially on planes, trains and while beachside) so I thought I’d dedicate a section this week to some of what I’ve really enjoyed:
Life Kit: This is one of my favorite podcasts because it’s quick and easily-digestible tips for life in general. Some episodes I’ve loved lately include: “How to Host”, “How to Use Less Plastic”, “How to Find Art You Love for Your Space” and “Retirement 101: How to Save What You Need.”
Worldly: I have always loved listening to Vox’s “Worldly” podcast for a deep dive and easy-to-understand explanation of complex issues. This last week, I enjoyed listening to their “Cuba Libre” episode (a lot of you have sent me links to what is happening in Cuba, and this episode helped me wrap my head around it a bit more). Keeping up with global issues can be difficult when traveling (striking a healthy balance between staying informed and also giving yourself some time to unplug) so I appreciated how easy it was to listen to this episode on a train ride and feel a bit more in-the-know.
Women Who Travel: I really enjoyed this interview with Cristina Mittermeier: a marine biologist, conservationist, photographer and co-founder of SeaLegacy (a nonprofit dedicated to protecting the ocean). If you are wanting to educate yourself about the ocean, while also overcoming feeling hopeless about the current climate crisis, this is a great listen.
Less informative than the episodes above, but I was SO excited to find out that Franco’s Bar (my favorite spot for drinks in Positano) has their own playlist! If you’ve been to Franco’s you know what a vibe it is, and I’ve previously commented on how much I love their music. So if you’re wanting to pretend like you’re sipping cocktails in Positano to tie you over until you can actually visit, set this playlist as your soundtrack… it’s so good!
AROUND THE WORLD:
You’ve likely read about the catastrophic floods in Germany. The intensity and scale of these floods have shocked climate scientists, who didn’t expect records to be broken this much, over such a wide area or this soon. It’s deeply concerning, and should be a wake up call for all of us to prioritize our commitment to deescalating climate change. I enjoyed (surprise! another podcast!) re-listening to THIS EPISODE from years ago called “Pale Blue Dot” that I think helps you wrap your head around the urgency (and also provides counter-arguments to those who may not take it as seriously as they should).
The Tokyo Olympics are about to begin. The games taking place have been controversial (more here) but nevertheless, if you’re looking for some athletes to support I enjoyed reading this article of who to watch.
Ready or not, tomorrow is Freedom Day in the UK (meaning all restrictions are lifting). While cases are rising, it’s still to be determined what impact this will have on hospitalizations. Everyone is hoping that the vaccination program will overpower any surge in overwhelming the NHS or a surge in deaths… only time will tell.
Finally, I’m ending with a few favorites (all but the second hat are sustainable!) I’ve been wearing non-stop while here in Italy:
This hat and this hat have been in constant rotation for sun protection on my face.
This small half-moon cross body bag in orange is the perfect pop of color for summer and I’ve worn it to dinner most nights on this trip.
These shoes (which I’ve shared before!) are my absolute favorites for summer or warm-weather destinations. I walk miles in these (but you do need to break them in first!)
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That’s all for today. Happy reading and hope to see you back again next week!
xx
Whitney
