ABOUT ME AND ITALY WHIZ
Me at Lake Como
©Charmaine Tanti 2014
Welcome to Italy Whiz!
My name is Charmaine, and I'm thrilled to have you here.
Italy Whiz is my passion project, born out of my love for Italy and a desire to share what I’ve learned about travelling in Italy during my many trips to this amazing country.
On this page, I want to tell you more about myself and about my website.
A SHORT HISTORY OF ME
I'm a school teacher and freelance translator and I've lived all my life in Malta, a small archipelago 100 miles south of Sicily.
On the map, Malta is that tiny dot below Sicily. On a clear day, you can actually see the Sicilian coast and Mount Etna, which is particularly spectacular at night when it’s erupting.
As I mention on the homepage, my love affair with Italy began in my childhood, watching hours and hours of my favourite programs on Italian TV channels from my island home.
The result was that I assimilated the Italian language and I
can speak it fluently, on the same level as Maltese and English, which are my
native languages.
In fact, Italian, English and Maltese are the languages I work with in my freelance translating. I also taught Italian at school for a number of years.
Growing up so close to Sicily, I often dreamt of going to Italy and exploring its many wonders – the art and architecture, the beautiful natural landscapes, the cities and their monuments.
However, although Sicily can be easily reached from Malta by ferry or by a 20-minute flight to Catania, back then in the 70s and 80s, my family didn’t have the financial means to travel abroad.
It took years before I could finally embark on my first trip to Italy, a day trip paid with one of my first pay-cheques. My chosen destination was what I considered to be the most magical and dream-like city in all of Italy – Venice, during Carnival.
MY FIRST GLIMPSE OF THE MAGNIFICENT COUNTRY THAT IS ITALY
I arrived at Marco Polo airport on a foggy February morning. The visibility was so bad that the pilot had to make more than one attempt at landing. During the second attempt, you could actually hear people praying. I was SO relieved when I finally set foot on solid ground!
The bleak weather and adventurous flight, however, did nothing to dampen my spirits! If anything, the fog added an aura of mystery to my arrival in Venice and reminded me of the many novels with a Venetian setting I had read over the years.
Exiting the airport building, I took a water taxi, and the ride to Piazza San Marco was surreal.
The fog seemed to drown the noise out, and so it was just the muted sound of the boat’s engine and the water splashing against the side of the boat. It was truly dream-like.
Occasionally, a wooden pole with a seagull standing like a sentinel on top would emerge from the mist, only to vanish moments later.
As we approached land, I could just make out the first buildings on either side, as “ghostly” boats and gondolas glided silently on the water.
Finally, as the water taxi neared Riva degli Schiavoni and the fog lifted, the dome of St Mark’s and the Doge’s Palace came into view.
Stepping off the boat, I was greeted by an explosion of colours amidst the greyness of that cold, rainy day.
Maschere (masked people) in fabulous costumes and masks were scattered all over Riva degli Schiavoni and the Bridge of Sighs, all the way to Piazza San Marco, leaning against columns, looking over the bridge, sitting under the loggias and posing against backdrops of swaying gondolas and the church of San Giorgio Maggiore across the lagoon.
It was like stepping into another world, more beautiful and exciting than anything I had ever experienced.
©Charmaine Tanti 2014
VENICE AND BEYOND
That was way back in 1992. Since then, I have visited Venice and the rest of Italy countless times at different times of the year, often multiple times a year.
From Sicily to Tuscany, from Rome to the Amalfi Coast, from the Alps to the Apennines, I’ve had the joy of exploring Italy’s cities and regions, each with its own unique charm and character.
Thanks to low-cost airlines, whenever there is a long weekend or a public holiday, I seize the opportunity to return and discover something new.
©Charmaine Tanti 2014I have travelled to Italy by plane, by ferry, and on cruise ships.
I travel around the country on trains, buses and boats, and walk, walk, walk everywhere I go.
I’ve made a promise to myself to explore as much of Italy as I could, every nook and cranny, the lesser-known towns, and off-the-beaten-path attractions that the locals know about.
Luckily for me, friendly Italians I meet at hotels, on trains and buses and on tours often recommend less touristy places to visit. So, I’m always taking notes on my cell phone and googling the places they tell me about.
I have travelled to Italy by plane, by ferry, and on cruise ships.
I travel around the country on trains, buses and boats, and walk, walk, walk everywhere I go.
I’ve made a promise to myself to explore as much of Italy as I could, every nook and cranny, the lesser-known towns, and off-the-beaten-path attractions that the locals know about.
Luckily for me, friendly Italians I meet at hotels, on trains and buses and on tours often recommend less touristy places to visit. So, I’m always taking notes on my cell phone and googling the places they tell me about.
HOW DID ITALY WHIZ COME
ABOUT?
Since I travel to Italy so much, my friends often ask me for practical tips on transportation, safety, and cultural etiquette, as well as advice on itineraries, sights to see, what to wear, where to stay, and so on.
My extensive experience means I can provide them with reliable, first-hand advice.
Sometimes, I’ve even been asked to go with them because their other friends or significant other do not share their interests.
©Charmaine Tanti 2014I’ve been to the Venice Carnival a number of times with friends who wanted to dress up and take part in Carnival events. As a drama teacher, I always jump at the chance to wear a costume and mask and join in the fun.
Another time, a friend who shares my love of history and art asked me to accompany him to museums and historic landmarks that were on his bucket list.
Italy Whiz is my way of sharing my experience with YOU, offering tips and insights to help you make the most of your Italian adventures, just as I helped my friends.
In this website, I don’t just share destinations and itineraries, but also practical tips, such as how to navigate the intense summer heat, what you need to know about transport, the best shoes to wear depending on where you’re going, what to carry with you, how to avoid being pickpocketed, and so on.
These are all things I’ve learned through experience, sometimes the hard way!
Since I still watch loads of Italian TV, I’m also on top of the latest news that affects travelling to Italy, such as the new access fee being charged to enter Venice that has been introduced this year.
Italy is more than just a destination for me; it’s a place that continuously inspires and captivates me and makes me eager to go back again and again.
Through Italy Whiz, I aim to inspire you to explore Italy with the same passion and curiosity that drives me.
Whether you're planning your first trip or are a seasoned Italophile, I hope my tips and articles will enhance your journey and help you fall in love with Italy, just as I have.
Thank you for visiting Italy Whiz.
Buon viaggio!