Episode 32: Italophilia, A Way of Life with Ishita Sood
Welcome to Episode 32:
We are not the first and we will not be the last. The magnetic forces of Italy are powerful luring us from the comfort of our own homes and countries to dream, to ponder, to move, to see and to experience a culture that shows us a beautiful way to live.
It is a sensual life that is deeply layered. Many of us would like a taste of it, a few weeks, a few months, perhaps a lifetime. Italy is a beacon, a radiant beauty that has many of us within its grasp.
Recently I noted that Rick Steves said his Italy Travel Guides are his best sellers. ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ sensation and foodie Phil Rosenthal noted his favourite place to visit was indeed Italy. He said, “Italy Wins”. Both have traveled extensively possibly more than any of us can dream of so what us it about the Italian culture that makes us so happy and willing to dream a different life?
Photo Credit: Ishita @ ishitasood.com‘Italophilia: Is the admiration, appreciation or emulation of Italy, its people, ideals, civilisation, and culture’.
Last month I shared some time with travel blogger Ishita Sood from her home in India. We talked about everything that mattered in our lives right now in the middle of the pandemic and getting back to la grande bellezza was high on both of our lists. It was a generous and bountiful conversation and one that I will treasure. Ishita’s website on Italian Culture and Travel ishitasood.com shares the many layers of travel narratives, Italian Authors, books on Italy you should read and much more.
Certainly life in the past few years has thrown us a huge curve ball and we are all trying to pick up the pieces. We may continue to examine and navigate the events of 2020 and beyond for some time. In the meantime we will dream, we will share and we will remember the highlights and the beauty of what keeps us motivated and inspired.
We are committed and we are waiting, but in the short term enjoy this conversation from two Italophiles who could think of nothing better to do than take a deep dive into the beauty of Italy, travel and everything in between.
Enjoy,
Michelle & Ishita
Photo Credit: Ishita @ ishitasood.comShownotes:
Basilicata: Authentic Italy by Karen Haid
Elena Ferrante: My Brilliant Friend (books and film series)
Film: Midnight in Paris (2011 - Woody Allen)
A Year in Paris by John Baxter
Sicily: A Literary Guide for Travellers by Andrew & Suzanne Edwards
The Italians by John Hooper
Italian Authors: Italo Calvino, Andrea Camilleri, Berto Eco, Elena Ferrante
More Writers: Tim Parks, John Julies Norwich, Jan Morris, Donna Leon (Crime Novels)
Photo Credit: Ishita @ ishitasood.comRecommended Websites, Books, Authors & Literary Possibilities:
Visit Ishita: ishitasood.com
Ishita and Gautam
on their Honeymoon Trip in Italy.
Photo Credit: Ishita Sood @ ishitasood.comIntroduction Podcast Resource:
Podcast: PaulCast: The Food and Travel Podcast with Paul Feinstein
#32 Somebody Feed Phil - Conversation with Phil Rosenthal “Italy wins”….
#36 Travel For Your Soul with Rick Steves
**And guess what, after talking about Henri Beyle Stendhal (Stendhal Syndrome is a thing) and he was the ultimate Italophile, I have just downloaded The Charterhouse of Parma and then I guess I will start on the books about Sicily…..
See you all in Rome
Copyright 2021, Michelle Johnston
All Artwork and Podcast Material
“You may have the universe if I may have Italy”.
Giuseppe Verdi, Composer
Photo Credit: Ishita Sood @ ishitasood.com