Letters/43

Dear Hiking, although you're not my favorite thing to do in Korea (hiking in Korea is like a buns of steel workout, straight up stairs to the top) I'm glad we've started exploring more of the mountains and gorgeous views on our island. And maybe I'll even get a little booty out of it instead of the flat backside excuse that I have now. Dear Inner Martha Stewart, pinterest has brought you out once again but I just can't justify doing any more DIY projects when this is not our permanent home. I need to stop! Dear Students, this is how your latest speaking test went. Me: what did you have for breakfast? Student: yes...7 o'clock...breakfast. Me: close enough. Dear Apartment Hunting, this is the 8th move in 6 1/2 years. You would think I would be used to it by now but when you're moving from a place you love and trying to choose between a huge place that dark, dirty and old or a brand new place that just barely fits a bed...it's not so fun anymore. Praying that we'll find a place that fits us soon!

UPDATE: for those of you who are just dying to know. I recently finished my academies that I was working at this previous year and will not be resigning. I had an interview a week ago with hub's company where he teaches engineers and shipbuilders business English and got the job! (hence the apartment hunt since we live further away from work than we would like) This will be an exciting change from what I have been doing in Korea the first two years and we're very excited to be on a similar work/vacation schedule again. I'm both nervous and excited for this new venture since I have, after all, been teaching kids for two years and I'm not sure adults would appreciate English lessons with songs, play-dough and coloring sheets. Maybe they would, we'll see.

Also check out my guest post all about love and living abroad over on the lovely Laurie's blog!

Linking up with Ashley

Perspective Series-In Korea

This week I'm happy to introduce Jess from the blog More Adventurous, for the next installment of the Perspective Series. This is a series about expats sharing their experience of living and traveling abroad and how it inevitably changed their outlook and perspective on life. This lovely lady was a fellow foreign English teacher in Korea so it automatically makes me feel like we have a deep bond. She writes hilarious stories about her travels in Korea which I can so relate to! Check out this post or this for some good laughs from an expat living in the land of kimchi.

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I’ve always loved traveling. I was lucky enough to visit both Korea and Australia by the time I was in Middle School. That’s when it became real: I needed to experience other places and other cultures. It was this weird feeling of being simultaneously entirely out of my element but so incredibly comfortable. While I knew that I loved traveling, I wasn’t ever sure that I’d want to live abroad. Part of my favorite thing about traveling was coming home, and if I lived abroad, it meant those two things would collide.

I sort of had a breakdown my senior year in college. It seemed like all my friends knew exactly what they were doing with their lives and all I knew is that I’d work for my father for the summer and then I had no plans. I applied for a teaching job in Korea because it sounded exciting and I already had some familiarity with the country since I had visited before as a child. I sort of self sabotaged by applying late, knowing that the program would probably be filled, but I thought, “What have I got to lose?” I heard back from the program. They were full. Two weeks before graduation, at the height of my “WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WITH MY LIFE?” crisis, I got a call from the hiring lady with the program in Korea. “Someone backed out last minute. Can you be in Korea in July?” It was one of those moments that completely caught me off guard but after several quick conversations with family members, I saw that this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. Things ran a little behind schedule and I ended up getting there in early September, but I knew that I was going exactly where I was meant to go. 

Arriving in Korea was wild. That’s seriously the only way I can describe it. I looked around and couldn’t begin to grasp the concept that this was my new home. It was so strange. I remember trying to get my bearings on the city but I realized that if I was abandoned on a street corner, I probably would have died there.

It didn’t take me too long to get a feel of the city and pretty soon I was navigating it like a local. It doesn’t hurt that Korea has the greatest public transportation ever. I’ve never, ever lived in a place like that before. I grew up in Southern California where you drive everywhere and then went to college in Idaho where you also drive everywhere you need to go. Korea was a dream. I could hop in a cab, bus, or train and get virtually anywhere within the country in a matter of hours and for chump change! The only downside to taking a bus or a cab was you basically risked your life any time you got in one. I swear there were multiple times when I was convinced that the bus I was on would tip over or the taxi would get in a head on collision. I tip my hat to those foreigners living in Korea who drive. You are all infinitely braver than I am!

One of my other favorite aspects of living in Korea was the fact that I was an anomaly. I taught at a relatively poor school so my students weren’t familiar with too much outside of their culture. My first graders would ask my for my autograph every time I taught their class. If kids saw me outside of the school, they would literally squeal with joy! When I arrived at the school in the morning I heard shouts of, “Songsaengnim (teacher)! Jessica Songsaengnim!” I was basically Taylor Swift. That whole “stick out like a sore thumb” thing did have it’s downsides. Sometimes I just wanted to blend in, be a part of the crowd, but even things like shopping would become a little bit stressful because everyone would want to talk to you or look at you.

One of the strangest things about living abroad was how quickly that foreign culture and environment became home. When I first arrived, I thought I was destined to feel like an outsider for the duration of my time there. That wasn’t the case. I got so settled in my routine, I made an incredible group of friends, and I really allowed myself to grow roots in Korea. It’s strange having this huge part of my heart that still belongs to that place. I didn’t think it would be like that. I thought when my year contract was up, I’d pack up and be entirely fine with coming “home.”

I realized that leaving Korea meant leaving a big part of who I had become. It meant leaving children who had touched my life. It meant leaving a place that helped raise me in a sense. I know that sounds pretty heavy, but it was. When you fully immerse yourself into a foreign environment and culture, there’s so much growth that happens in a short period of time. I love Korea for that. I love Korea for helping cultivate me into an “adult.” I wish that a member of my family had been able to visit me while I was there. It is hard having something so meaningful that the people closest to you don’t fully understand. I can show them pictures, share videos with them, and tell them stories, but they’ll only ever be outsiders looking into my experience. I am definitely grateful to be home in America though, I have a great job where I am basically paid to be a friend to college students, I can eat delicious Mexican food whenever I want, and I can drive without fear of dying. It’s just funny how life takes you places you never thought you end up  and you fall absolutely in love with your surroundings. How is it possible that my heart calls three very different places (California, Idaho, & South Korea) home? Maybe after graduate school there will be another opportunity to live abroad. I am not exactly sure what life holds for me, but after Korea (and with a little help from Justin Bieber), I’ve learned to never say never.  

Thanks so much for writing Jess! Be sure to stop by her blog and show her some love! 

If you have lived abroad and would like to be featured please email me at lostintravelsblog@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
You can read more of the Perspective Series here.
Linking up with Rolled Up Pretty and Shanna

Travel Tuesdays-Thailand

Just a little something to cure your wanderlust for the week.

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Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. – Mark Twain

48 Hours in Bangkok

I didn't know what to expect before going to Bangkok. I heard mixed reviews of people either loving it or hating it. Wanting to move there or find the first flight out. We arrived late on Saturday night and were greeted with much welcomed humid air, smiling faces and a friendly cab driver who, though his stifled laughter, still couldn't seem to get us to pronounce 'hello' and 'thank you' in Thai properly. We eventually got better with the 'sa wat dee ka' and 'khaawp khoon ka' with time. It was a warm welcome from the city I was so unsure of.
In this site seeing mecca, we hit the ground running the next morning and saw as much as we could in the short 48 hours we had there. Here are my top picks of how to spend even a short time in this bustling concrete jungle.

.Markets, markets, markets. One thing I love about visiting other countries is looking through the local markets. Buying or just looking are equally enjoyable as you peruse stall upon stall that would intimidate even the most experienced of shoppers. Filled with textiles, jewelry, bags, sculptures, knockoffs and more, you can find everything your traveling heart was hoping for. In Bangkok alone there are several to choose from, the most popular being the Floating Market and Chatuchak Weekend Market (known to the locals as 'Che Che' Market). 

TIP: double check the times and days of the markets you are wanting to see. Every market has different operating hours and days. I have been spoiled by markets in Korea being open seven days a week so I didn't even think about most larger markets in Thailand only being open on the weekends. Both the Floating Market and the Chatuchak Market run on Saturday and Sunday and unfortunately we missed them both. Just another excuse to come back and visit right?

No worries though, there are 'smaller' markets hiding around every corner of this country and we saw our fair share. The picture taken below is from a market near Soi Rambuttri Street (an amazing bohemian, backpacking haven filled with eclectic restaurants and hostels). The market was several blocks long on either side and was shut off to cars and transportation during shop hours. 

.Feel the tranquility inside of one of the many temples. Similar to the markets, tourists can find several different temples without even meaning to. In order for us not to get 'temple overload' we picked three or four temples that we wanted to see and stuck with those. If you try for all of them, you can literally spend days visiting the 19 'well known' ones in the Bangkok area. We decided to stick with The Marble Temple, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. Even though we still wandered into several others as we were walking down the street. 

Another one to check out is the Royal Palace. We didn't exactly make it all the way into this one. There is a lady standing at the gate and her sole job is to tell everyone passing if they are appropriately dressed or not...while yelling through a megaphone. I was one of the lucky ones blasted for *gasp* wearing shorts. In any temple associated with the government, you must cover your shoulders and knees in order to enter. Don't worry though, there are garments for rent with a small deposit that is returned when the garments are. After seeing the line to rent these said garments, we turned and walked right back out with the intention of coming another time which unfortunately didn't happen. 

TIP: Go early! Any of these temples are sure to be swarming with site seers by the early afternoon. To ensure great pictures and not having to rub up against dozens of strangers, aim for mid morning and beat the rush.  

The Marble Temple

Wat Pho was definitely my favorite temple that we saw in Thailand. It is the largest temple in Bangkok and is home to a 46 meter long reclining Buddah. I realize it looks large in the picture but it's nothing compared to seeing it in person. As soon as you walk into the room, your head automatically goes all the way back in order to take it all in.

Wat Pho

 

Wat Arun was another one I was very excited to see. We never made it across the river to go inside but the views from across the way were just as magnificent. When lit up at night, it's especially beautiful.

.Take a ride down the Chao Phraya River. This is one of the best ways to get from one end of the city to the other. You can either take a private long-tail boat taxi or opt for the cheaper way of traveling and hop on one of the many ferries that travel along the river. It's also a great option to take a tour of the river around sunset and see the coastline come alive with lights as the guide tells you about history of the river and temples that line it.

.Spend the night sipping cocktails and overlooking the city of Bangkok from the Banyan Tree Hotel's rooftop restaurant and bar. While the cocktails are a bit high for the land of cheap eats and drinks (around $9 for the local beer and on up from there for mixed drinks and wine) the views of the city are well worth it. We decided to make a date out of it and enjoyed the views of the sprawling city below us mixed with the stillness that comes with being so far above it all. 

TIP: there is a dress code for both the restaurant and the bar area. Men need to be wearing long pants and ladies cannot wear jean shorts. We learned this a little too late as we came straight from sightseeing that day and hubs was still wearing his shorts. Thankfully they do have loaner pants to wear, although it doesn't look as classy when they're about three sizes too big.

We loved the city a lot more than we thought we would and would love to return someday. Even though we both agree that two to three days was enough for us to see and do all that we had hoped to. Any other suggestions on what to see in Bangkok?

Letters/42

Ko Phi Phi Island

Dear Thailand, I'm already missing your white sandy beaches, cheap delicious food and friendly people. Hopefully it won't be long until we're back again. Until then I'll be making green curry weekly. Dear Home, after two amazing weeks of traveling, you felt good to come back to. Even though both of us paused when we came through the door because we couldn't quite figure out where we were. The affects of city hopping for two weeks. Dear Hubs, I'm so glad I have such an amazing traveling partner. Another adventure this summer? Dear Persuasion, you were used well on the trip by hubs as we sat on the beach looking out at the moored sailboats. Maybe his dream of sailing around Asia will come true after all. Dear Stomach Bug, you're finally done and over! As nice as it was to get you as a welcome home gift I'm going to say I don't miss you one bit. Oh and thanks dad for packing our bags full of antibiotics before leaving the states! They sure came in handy! Dear Hubs, I came home unexpectedly early one night this week and found you watching me through the window as I pulled in and doing a little happy dance that I was home. I found a winner.

Linking up with Ashley, Amelia, Chrissy, Lauren

We're Back!

Us and a two month old sleepy tiger at the Tiger Kingdom in Chiang Mai, Thailand

And all in one piece surprisingly.  Especially seeing as how we just spent the last two weeks traveling around a new country, being swatted at by tigers (ok, ok, they were only 4 months old but those claws are still sharp!), riding bareback through the jungle on elephants, rock climbing free style above the ocean, and oh, deciding it was a good idea to take a guy with a motorbike as a form of a taxi (not our brightest moment. I've never been so scared in my life). But aside from all of the adventures we had on our little get away, what I loved most was just that. Getting away. Unplugging, shutting down and getting back to the basics in a beautiful country with my favorite travel companion.

With that being said, being away from technology for just over two weeks can sure take a toll on your inbox! So please be patient as I try to catch up on all of your sweet emails and comments. I have some amazing posts and photos that I can't wait to share with you all in the weeks to come! Just as soon as I hubs goes through the 48gb of pictures we he took!

Linking up with Shanna

Travel Tuesdays-Thailand

Just a little something to cure your wanderlust for the week.

Ko Tao, Thailand

Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living. – Miriam Beard

Guest Post-Dancing With Ashley

We don't have any kids, unless you count a cat that wakes us up in the middle of the night, a kid. But for the sake of not sounding like a crazy cat lady, I'm going to give that a big fat no. One thing that's always amazed me about moms out there is how the hay do you travel with little ones?! It's enough trying to keep myself in order while we're traveling. I'm really hoping it's something that magically happens overnight or that my kids will be the one exception and be perfectly behaved all the time. Please God? But since I'm doubting either of those are realities, I turned to the sweet Ashley from Dancing with Ashley for some insight on how she travels with her two little ones. Oh and by the by, if I had a guarantee that my kids would turn out to be as cute as her two little boys, I'd start right now. But again, I think that's just wishful thinking on my part.

Hi everyone!  I'm Ashley from Dancing with Ashley.

I do love these little babies of mine.  It's fun traveling different places with them, but it also takes a lot of work!

Here are 3 rules I live by when traveling with children.

1.  Pack in ADVANCE.

I know this seems like a no brainer, but really...if you wait to to pack until the last second, you won't get out the door.  Make lists and have the car packed the night before.  And have their clothes packed in outfits.  What a difference that makes.

2.  Have SNACKS.

Snacks make everything better.  Even for adults :-) 

3.  Have something NEW.

A new toy, a new book, or a new activity will help them have fun and enjoy the journey a little more.

What are your tips for traveling with little ones?

Thanks so much to Chelsea for having me!

Balenciaga Paris is HAUTE!

Balenciago Paris 10, Avenue George V, L'Eau Rose has me thinking about Paris! I love the rose notes and pretty pink glass bottle. It's simply beautiful and so sweet. There's no other way to be inspired by my love of Paris than a pretty fragrance in a gorgeous glass bottle.  To learn more visit www.balenciagofragrance.com

Which fragrance inspires thoughts of your favorite travel destination?

Disclaimer: Balenciaga Paris L'Eau Rose was sent to Haute Travels for review by Coty Prestige on behalf of Parfumes Balenciago, Paris.

Solid Perfumes As A Beauty Accessory is HAUTE!

When it comes to Haute Travels every girl wants to include a great fragrance in her carry-on bag. I've discovered two amazing fragrances that come in solids created as beauty accessories.  

Chloé's Bianca Signature Solid Perfume Necklace comes in a beautiful locket that hangs delicately around your neck adding a bit of luxury. It's smart and timeless featuring the original notes of rose. It's so pretty! 

Bottega Veneta's Deluxe Collection comes with a gorgeous solid perfume compact that includes a little pink carry case. The fragrance has mid notes of Jasmine and Pink Peppercorn with top notes of Bergamot. I love it! 

The Bottega Veneta Deluxe collection also comes with a sensuous  perfumed candle that makes any hotel room smell amazing. And a 1.7 oz eau de parfume with an Atomizer that brings back the glamour of travel!

What do you think about perfume solids for travel?


Disclaimer:  The Chloe Bianca Signature Solid Perfume Necklace and The Bottega Veneta Deluxe Collection are both part of the Coty Presitge Collection. They retail $65 and $340 respectively. I was given complimentary samples for review.

Perspective Series-In Paris

This week I'm happy to introduce not just one guest blogger but the three wonderful girls that make up the blog Stamp in My Passport, for the next installment of the Perspective Series. This is a series about expats sharing their experience of living and traveling abroad and how it inevitably changed their outlook and perspective on life. These girls bonded over their time studying abroad in Paris and their travels throughout Europe. Jealous yet? Be sure to stop by their blog to read more of their adventures traveling the world together! 

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Emily - It was my junior year of college and I was asking for a sign.  I was sitting in Chapel one day when they were making announcements about Studying abroad. I had always wanted to go but just needed the perfect trip, the perfect city, and the perfect adventure. That’s when they made the announcement, a study abroad trip to Paris for three months and they were offering a discount to get more people interested. So before Chapel was even over I had my dad on the phone and I was making plans with him to set this in motion. 3 things happened pretty quickly after I made my decision. I went to a meeting, I signed a few papers, and I got my best friend to sign up with me. Sam was planning a trip to Greece with our school but she had backed out of that one and Paris was too good to pass up. This was in October of 2011 and we were set to leave January 31^st 2012. So you can imagine this all happened pretty fast. We made our arrangements through the school, finished the Semester, went home, packed our bags and flew out of Dallas to meet our group in the Atlanta Airport. That’s actually where we met Jess for the first time. We hit it off instantly with Jess and all three of us became fast friends. We hopped on the plane and took the long flight over to our new home, our La Ville-Lumière, Our Paris! 

Samantha- Life for us in Paris wasn’t as Anna Wintour-esque as I had originally imagined. I pictured myself strolling down the Champs Elysees on the arm of an attractive French man while walking my poodle. Not so, my friends. It wasn’t nearly as glamorous OR romantic. Since we were there for school, we generally had class in the basement of our long term hostel from 8 am to noon. After that, we were free to explore the city {and do homework} all we wanted. Most days you would find us searching for adventure in the Latin Quarter or spending hours on the metro riding all the way to Montmartre to visit the street artists. Perhaps my fondest memories of the entire trip are of the old man at Café Cluny in the Latin Quarter that made the most delicious Nutella crepes. C’est bon! We also went to the Louvre on a regular basis for school assignments and ate a ton of French food, all in the sake of experiencing the culture. Maybe I’m looking back on the experience with rose colored glasses {it wasn’t always sunshine and pain au chocolat, you know}, but that was honestly the best three months of my life, & I couldn’t have imagined experiencing it with anyone different. What we did there and the memories we made certainly changed me for the better. 

Jess- By the end of our week back-packing through the UK, I was ready to come home. I needed a haircut. My two pairs of jeans had seen better days. And I desperately wanted to find a diet coke that wouldn't cost me $7.

My first day back on American soil was filled with trying to catch up on sleep and eating copious amounts of Chick-fil-a. I love a croissant and café au lait as much as the next expat, but nothing can beat fried chicken, waffle fries, sweet tea and chick-fil-a sauce. 

After hitting the highlights of American culture, I proceeded to watch “The Hills” and “Gossip Girls” episodes set in Paris and cry because I wanted to go back. 

I have mixed emotions about being back in the States, so I’ll give a pro/con list about being in the U S of A instead of Paris. 

Pros of living in America: 

-Supertarget. I love that in America you can go to one store and get everything on your shopping list. Food, clothes, home goods, electronics; you name it they have it. 

-Drive-thrus. Because sometimes I don’t want to sit down for a three hour lunch with multiple courses. 

-Family and friends. As much as I loved being in Paris, our lack of reliable internet made Skype sessions difficult. It means the world to be able to text, call and visit family and friends whenever I want.

-Free refills and free water. Need I say more? We’re a thirsty nation who has had to ban 60 oz. drinks in some areas.

-We only speak English. Some might call this a negative, but I see it as a positive. There is one language for the whole country and area. When traveling a few hundred miles in Europe, you might encounter two or three languages. It’s a lose, lose situation.

Cons of living in America: 

-No crepe stand on every corner. I miss nutella and banana crepes every day. The ones in America are few and far between.

-Loud and overwhelming. Americans are rude and obnoxious, generally speaking. I didn’t realize this until I went to Europe. Since being back, I’ve made a conscious effort to be quieter in public. 

-Terrible public transportation. America should take a page out of Europe’s transportation book and design a rail system, at least regional ones, that are affordable.

Thanks so much for writing girls! Be sure to stop by their blog and show them some love! 

If you have lived abroad and would like to be featured please email me at lostintravelsblog@gmail.com. I would love to hear from you!
You can read more of the Perspective Series here.

TROPEA: Living the Good Life in Calabria

I love summers in Southern Italy’s Calabria. Nothing feels better than trading in high heels and power suits for bejeweled sandals and straw hats. Here, life is taken at a leisurely pace. It is a time to enjoy long relaxed lunches, evening strolls and a laid-back approach to life that many of us strive to emulate in our daily lives. Italians refer to it as “La Dolce Vita,” the sweet life, and that it is.

While at times sleeping in is just what the doctor ordered, I enjoy waking up early, cappuccino in hand, and setting out along Calabria’s scenic coastline high above the Tyrrhenian Sea to the beautiful seaside town of Tropea. Few places remain relatively untouched by the modern world, and lucky for us, Tropea is one of them.

Unbeknownst to the prying eyes of tourists, Tropea is home to one of Italy’s most spectacular white sand beaches, turquoise-blue water, and a stunning coastline to be rivaled by Italy’s famed Amalfi Coast and Cinque Terre.

Perfectly situated between Gioia Tauro Gulf and Sant’Eufemia Gulf, Tropea is swathed by warm Mediterranean breezes on a 40-kilometer coastline the Ancient Greeks named “Coast of the Gods.” What an incredible experience it is to see the dramatic rocky cliffs rise up against the sunlit sea of blue below, and if you’re fortunate, on a clear day you can see the volcanic Aeolian island of Stromboli.

Tropea is steeped in history and tradition with many ancient churches, palaces and artisanal workshops gracing its narrow streets. The most evocative of these is the famous church of Santa Maria dell’Isola built on a bluff jutting out to a brilliant sea. But don’t let Tropea’s laid back coastal vibe fool you, it is bustling with charming hotels, boutiques, lounges, cafés and restaurants that serve fresh local cuisine — some of the best on the coast.

Like a fine wine, Tropea continues to get better with age and provides the perfect ingredients for an unforgettable Italian vacation at a more affordable cost than other well-known cliffside towns. Is it any wonder I keep coming back? So what are you waiting for? Andiamo a Tropea!

 

FUN FACTS

• Locals believe Tropea was founded by Hercules who named it Tropeas (Trophy) for the prize he had discovered.

• Tropea is also famous for its “Cipolla Rossa,” a red onion with a mild and sweet flavour and aroma. It is Italy’s most famous onion. Local delicatessens use it to prepare red onion marmalade and local cafes serve up a delicious red onion ice cream. It may sound odd, but it’s a must try when visiting!
 

SURROUNDINGS

Tropea is located on a gorgeous coastline flanked by lots of beautiful sea towns and beaches like Capo Vaticano, Nicoterra, Pizzo Calabro and Ricadi. I highly recommend a visit to Pizzo Calabro, the birth place of the famous Tartufo ice cream and home to the Chiesetta di Piedigrotta; a seventeenth century church carved in a cave of soft rock facing out to sea that shipwrecked sailors created in gratitude for having been saved from a storm. It is a site you won’t forget.
 

WHERE TO STAY

If tranquility and romance are at the top of your wish list then look no further than the lovely Villa Paola. This fourteenth century monastery turned boutique hotel offers spectacular views of the Tyrrhenian Sea and with just six rooms and a private pool, Villa Paola feels more like staying at a friend’s luxurious home rather than a hotel. In addition, Villa Paola offers transfers from the airport. www.villapaolatropea.it

For good value and private beachfront access Le Roccette Mare can’t be beat! The property provides all the amenities one would expect from a larger resort: restaurant, snack bar, sun umbrellas, deck-chairs, beds, pedal-boats, canoes, beach volleyball and table tennis. It’s the perfect place for a family getaway. www.roccettemare.it
 

WHERE TO EAT

The entire region is known for its bounty of quaint local restaurants that serve up fresh local fare, and by fresh I mean the fisherman’s catch of the day. One worth mentioning is El Sol Ristorante E Pizzeria with a large outdoor patio, wood burning oven, open aired kitchen, and partial ocean views. Another I enjoy is Ristorante Tropea Vecchia, which serves up fresh local seafood. The décor is laid back and relaxed and the food is great.
 

GETTING TO TROPEA

Tropea is easily accessible by plane, train, or automobile. The closest airport is Lamezia Terme with direct flights from Toronto and Montreal during high season and connecting flights through Rome all year long. If instead you opt to drive and enjoy the views, you can make your way towards Tropea on the A3 Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway.