Where to relax in Rome

A little pampering goes a long way I believe, and when you need a little bit of 'me' time in Rome, where do you turn?

When I am in need of a little spiritual (and emotional!) boost, there are places in the Eternal City I will always turn to.

Noi Salon

Piazza del Popolo 3
Tel. +39 06 3600 6284
noisalon@alice.it

I discovered Noi back in May 2013 when my I took my Mum there for a blowdry surprise when she came to visit. I did some research on English speaking, modern salons in Rome, and Noi came up time and time again. Owned by brothers Massimo and Giuseppe, Noi offers modern, luxurious stylings in the centre of Rome. Joined by Rick from California, the team are attentive, skilled and a pleasure to visit. I went for my own re-style last week; I wanted a trim, roots done and my ombre re-done. I was there for 3 hours over lunch and loved every second. Every single stylist makes the effort to talk to you, check up on you and make sure you are happy. The reception staff are welcoming, polite and charming. Price wise, this place is beyond reasonable. If you live in Rome or are just visting and need some hair attaention, VISIT NOI! You will not be disappointed!

Acanto Day Spa
Piazza Rondanini 30
Tel: (+39) 06 68136602
(+39) 06 68300664
info@acantospa.it

I first visited Acanto last year after I moved to Rome; tired, stressed and a little overwhelmed, I booked into Acanto for a traditional hammam treatment to soothe my senses. Located close to the Pantheon, Acanto is worth visiting purely for the venue alone. Located inside a beautiful, ancient palace, you could convince yourself you have stepped back into a Roman bath from another century. The tranquility of Acanto is second to none; candle light and aromatherapy scents attack the senses in all the right way. The staff are professional and speak good English, and a wide range of well-priced treatments are on offer.

Ciao for now!

Nina x

All Roads Lead (Back) to Rome...

If someone had told me a year ago that I would have left the UK, sold my house, moved into 3 different apartments and be returning to Rome, I would never believe them. 

Last February, I came to Rome for 2 weeks to have a trial of living in Italy, and more importantly, Rome. I rented an apartment in Monti for two weeks from 2nd February, and within a week I had decided that I wanted to make Italy my permanant home. 

I've made no secret of how hard it is to leave your home country and become an ex-pat in another. People that haven't experienced that have no idea of the difficulties and tough emotional times you go through. I found myself missing the strangest things about the UK...BBC London News at 6pm. Sainsburys. Hollyoaks. The talks/rants I would have with my best friend in his kitchen after a night out. Relocating is HARD, no matter how amazing the pull to your new country might be, it's emotionally and physically hard to leave your past one. 

It's been a tough 12 months. It's also been an amazing 12 months. 

So, as I find myself 6 days away from moving back to Monti, and looking how things have gone full circle for me, I think back to something my Mum asked me a few days ago. She asked me where I find my strength from, to manage to go through these things and still remain positive. I really thought hard about this, because it was something I realised I needed the answer to myself. I came to the conclusion that I get through the tough times because life is always a lesson. Learning constantly about yourself and other people is great knowledge to have and it feels good to always learn something new. I'm also a big fan of fresh starts, and that is what I see my new life in Rome as. I am excited to return to vibrancy of the city. To wake and sleep in the presence of such history and architecture. I adore Rome, ever since I did a school project on it when I was 6, I was fascinated by the Eternal City. So, I am happy to close the door on the last 12 months, and open a new one. 

My new apartment is fantastic and I can't wait to live there. It's back in the heart of Monti and will be a great base for the start of this new phase of my new life. I'm excited to create some wonderful memories with my good friends here, and I'm curious about the new friends I will meet along the way. 

Ciao for now

Nina x

Life in Rome Series: Learning lessons, settling in, and on the move!

So, it's been just over 2 months since I left the UK and have settled into the Italian life. So much has happened in the last 2 months; I spent a week in Ibiza on a bootcamp, I have got engaged to my gorgeous Roman boy and in just under 2 months I leave my apartment in the city to move in with him. This year has been a great one so far, and I still have my 30th birthday celebrations in Lazise in July, moving in August, the boy's 30th in October, Barbados in November and home to London for Christmas!

The transition from English to Italian life has been an...interesting one and I wanted to share with you some of my experiences, lessons and musings I have encountered in the last 2 months...

1. Is that a UFO? No, it's an English girl driving an English Mini
No matter how many times I do it, people still give me the funniest looks when they see my little red Mini on the roads. I mean full-head swivel looks! I'm certain that back in the UK I didn't practically decapitate myself looking at a car with foreign plates, but you'd think I was riding a unicorn down the autostrade going by people's reactions! It causes me great amusement and it's nice to be that little bit different!

2. In Italian, "sorry I'm English, I don't understand" roughly translates to "keep talking at me"

One of my most used (and remembered!) phrases is "Mi dispiace io sono Inglese, non capisco". Meaning I'm English, I don't understand. But, if you think that would encourage the lovely Italians to a) give up and walk away or b) try and communicate some other way, you'd be wrong. It's almost like a thumbs up to encourage them to talk at you more, and faster in Italian! This only results on you a) feeling terrible that you can't speak more of their language and b) a little humiliated. I have now become professional at standing/sitting about listening to people have their conversations of which I contribute very little!

3. 'Angry'/'Hungry'...who's splitting hairs? Not me!
I am always honoured and flattered when any Italian talks to me in English. They are making the effort and that makes me feel awesome! As a rule, unless someone asks, or pays me to, I NEVER criticise their pronunciation of English words. I get it; it's not their native language and like Italian, some English words are hard for Italians to pronounce. However, I find that doesn't work the other way. Pronounce/spell just ONE word wrong, and they leap on you, practically making you repeat the word until you get it right! I appreciate the help, but sometimes it's kind to acknowledge that person isn't talking their native language and is in the process of learning a new language that is 10 times harder than their own. Language police back off!

=UPDATE= I found a great blog that I feel sums up how a lot of expats in Italy (and elsewhere!) feel when they are in the honeymoon period of their relocation! Read more here!

So, there you have it, a little snippet into the last few weeks here in Rome. I love this city; I love Italy and moving here was the best decision I ever made. I head home in August for a few days to see my parents, celebrate my besties 30th and have a look at some wedding dresses. I do miss the UK but Italy is where my heart is.

Ciao per ora,

Nina xx

Life in Rome...my thoughts on the first 48 hours!

So, I could start my story with the tale of the phenomenally long car journey it took to get here, but that will follow. To start with, I thought I'd run through my feelings on my first 48 hours living in Rome.

I live in a neighbourhood called Nomentana (named so as the main street that runs through it is Via Nomentana). It's to the north-east of the city and reminds me a little of north London - big, period houses and tree-lined quiet streets. Before I came here I read a few articles online about it being too far out of the hustle of the main city, but today it took me 20 minutes from my from door to the Coliseum. I am happy with that and couldn't ask for a better location. Nearby I have a great supermarket, a bank and a pharmacy.

The apartment itself is in a Regency-style building and there are only three apartments in total. I have more space here than I could have dreamt of!

I'll be honest and admit that I had a small teary moment on my first night, but it was late and we had travelled for nearly 11 hours...I think tiredness got the better of me as I felt OK the next day.

There are soooo many expat blogs and forums you read that tell you so many contradicting things about feeling homesick and it can be a bit like trying to self-diagnose an illness online; you end up scaring yourself silly! Today I met with an old work colleague who was in Rome for a conference, and she left the UK for Australia and told me that she still does not have that heart-aching, stomach churning homesickness that I have heard of, and she's been there 6 months! I think with all things, it's mind over matter and whilst I stroll the tree-lined streets of the Eternal City in the sun, taking long, leisurely lunches and chomping on the odd gelato, it's hard to miss the UK. Of course, there are people I miss terribly, and I am always thinking of them, but true relationships stand any distance.

Time is a great story teller, and it is only time that will tell me how I feel about life in Rome. For now, I am very happy.

Ciao per ora,

Nina x

Talkin’ Italian

I HATED learning French at school. Maybe a combination of being a teenager and having bad teachers and disruptive classes, it was never my favourite subject. But from a young age I wanted to be bi-lingual. I saw it as a valuable skill and something that would make me feel…more accomplished as a woman. (I blame years of reading Jane Austen novels for this desire to be an ‘accomplished woman’!)

It was my first trip to Italy in 2005 that ignited my passion for the Italian language – from the minute I landed at Pisa I fell in love with it! Such a passionate and beautiful language! On my return from Tuscany I bought my first English – Italian dictionary and learnt some basic! Bene! 

I went back to Italy 3 further time before my trip to Rome (which changed EVERYTHING!) and tried my best to speak as much Italian as I could! It was when I made the decision to move to Italy that I became serious about Italiano. 

Learning a new language it was I imagine recovering from amnesia must be like – you go back to the very basics of your educational life. Last night, I learnt a new alphabet! And it has only 21 letters; not the 26 I have been used to for the last 29 years! And numbers too – I’m counting in a whole other language in my head when I am counting things out at work and at home…I have been reciting my telefonino number in my head, in Italian all morning! 

One thing I love about this language is its drama – it’s a delight to speak and I am loving every single lesson I am having. I go to bed afterwards with phrases in my head and it’s so rewarding to feel like I am getting there – even my teacher has told me that my pronunciation is the best she’s heard…I “sound Italian!”

I have 5 more lessons before I go to nail some of the basics to help me get by, but it’s when I am there and living the language that I will really learn it! And then have to factor in Roman dialect! Another language consideration! Daje! (which up until this point is the only Roman word I successful know and understand!)

My goal is to be fluent, and I mean COMPLETELY fluent in a year. I have read it takes 2 years but that’s too long. 

So, ciao per ora!

Nina x

Life in numbers...on the countdown to Rome!

Life is all about numbers, and often, numbers with little positive outcome - like my current Monday to Friday alarm clock, set at 6.30am!

The plans to relocate to Rome are really coming along nicely. The house is under offer and I have handed in my notice at work! SCARY! But I am really excited now, and looking at what the next 8 or so weeks have in store for me...

46 days until I get in the car and drive to Rome
26 days left in the office (not including weekends!)
6 weeks, roughly the length of time taken to get the paperwork done on the house
17 hours in total to drive from my house to my apartment in Rome
2 cats will be in the car with us
1, 182 miles covered
4 countries driven through
1 English girl and 1 Italian guy in 1 Mini Cooper

So excited about this and I can't wait!

Ciao for now,

Nina x

I have been awarded not 1, but 2 blogger awards!

Wow!

What an honour! The lovely lovinlifeonadirtroad.wordpress.com has awarded me two awards! THANK YOU SO MUCH!

As you may have noticed, I have relocated from Wordpress to Blogger, simply because it gives me more flexibility with my layout and design.Hope that my followers continue on with me on my journey!

I'm really flattered to have these nominations and am aware that they come with some rules, so as soon as I have a few more moments, I will get the post up!

Thanks again!

Ciao for now,

Nina x

Where else but Rome?

Yes, it's a well known fact I love Rome...all of Italy in fact, but this year, I would like to travel to some other places and see more of the world. 

I knew 2013 would be a big year for me; not only do I turn 30, but I am relocating my life 1000 miles! My roads do indeed lead to Rome, but here's my wish list of other places to visit this year.

Panarea
Yes, technically still in Italy, Panarea is a beautiful island North of Sicily. It's everything I could want; aqua sea, white sands and peace and quiet. It's also pretty cheap and I'm hoping for a few nights there in late Spring/early Summer. 

Mexico
Why? It looks stunning and I can eat all the authentic Mexican food I want! I have only heard good feedback about Mexico; a friend of mine goes there every year and it looks like a great holiday!

Lazise

OK, yes, again this is Italy, but this holiday was booked before the 'big move' was! I will be spending a week here with my parents, brother, his girlfriend and the boy to celebrate my 30th in July. I'll be honest and say this wasn't a birthday I was looking forward to, but now I am actually really excited! 

And finally, the States...
I'm not really sure where but I think the US of A deserves another visit. I have done Florida and NYC, and I would certainly go back to NYC but there are so may places that I would like to see in the States. Driving Route 66 in a Mustang has been a dream of mine for years, so maybe that could become a reality!

Now, where did I put those holiday brochures!

Ciao for now,

Nina x

All roads lead to Rome...

In my case, they actually do! This is the route I will be driving (yes, driving!) when I make the move. I had mainly looked at flying, but after a chat with my Dad, he made me see that driving was the cheaper and better option!

Driving to Rome means that I have more than my BA allowance of 22kgs and I can take a lot more of my bits and bobs with me. There are things in my house that I want to take and that simply is not an option if I fly. Not to add that it would cost me over £1,200 to fly my two cats to Rome and I think they may prefer the comfort of the Mini compared to the cargo hold of the plane! 

So, it will take nearly 18 glorious hours over 4 countries! I am actually very excited about traveling this way; I love driving and I'll get to see places I might not otherwise get the opportunity to see! Fear not, I won't be alone...the boy has offered to fly over and drive back with me which I am very happy about...although he may change his mind when he sees how much I plan to cram into the Mini + the two cats! Will be most amusing!

I plan to make the trip as fun as possible and hope the weather is on my side. An overnight stop seems likely at Geneva in Switzerland (about halfway!) and then onto Rome. It seems like a good opportunity for a photoblog so I'll make sure lots of good snaps are taken to show afterwards! 

Ciao for now,

Nina x

England 5 – Italy 1…banishing the Monday morning blues!

No, these are not the scores of some recent sporting victory for the UK, but just an in-joke with the boy that made me smile this morning, on a morning when it seemed impossible to smile. It’s Monday. And I’m back at work. After 2 weeks off. And yes, I have somehow managed to smile. MIRACLE.
Coming back to normality is horrible. Especially after 2 lovely weeks away with lovely friends. There was a certain feeling of ‘back down to Earth with a bang’ last night when I got home to my cold, empty house, and it’s hard to feel positive about things at those moments, especially when those you miss most are 1000 miles away. Sleep was hard last night; rather than feeling like I’d come home, it felt strange being back…familiar and unfamiliar at the same time. It was odd for me as I usually find great comfort in coming home – my bed, my house and the familiar sights and sounds, but it all felt odd. I can only look ta this in a positive way – it shows me that relocating to Italy is the right thing and when making a huge leap of faith like that, you need constant reassurance that you are making the right choice.

It would have been easy to wake up this morning and want to climb to the roof and jump off. Work – urgh. Monday morning – urgh. Back to normality urgh. NOT IN ROME – MAJOR URGH! But, rather than look at the downside, I find myself looking for the positives in things…

So, as I sit back at my desk, feeling rather like the last amazing two weeks in Rome were a dream, I find myself looking forward to the positives that are coming, rather than looking behind and missing what has just been..here’s the list:

• I’m visiting family in Cornwall the first weekend in March – probably the last time I’ll see them for a while before I leave
• My bro and his lovely lady are coming down from Manchester for a long weekend mid-March
• I can get back to the gym and start on getting the Spring/Summer figure worked on! Amen! It’s hard to explain just how much I missed the gym whilst I was away!
• I have so much to plan re: the big move and its very exciting!
• In April I plan to drive to Rome over two days when I make the move, and the boy has even offered to fly over and drive back with me! How lovely!

So, becoming the best version of me is the goal over the next month or so. It’s easy to sometimes look at the ‘not so positives’ that life can throw, but whats the point in being miserable? Life really is too short, and there are always going to be Monday mornings, so make something good out of them…make a change in your life, book a holiday, tell someone you love them…it’s all possible!
Happy Monday morning readers!

Ciao for now,
Nina x

Is there life in Rome? My thoughts on my habitation experiment…

I know that I don’t leave Rome for the UK for another 4 days, but with Valentine’s Day tomorrow and then the weekend, I may not have time to write this before I leave and I want to give my honest, real thoughts as I sit here in the comfort of the Eternal City.

There are so many thoughts that run through my head on a daily basis when I walk the streets, clean the apartment…they range from the obvious to the ridiculous but they all bring me back to the same thing – Rome is where I want to live. As I walked back from Termani today after a lovely day with a friend, I rattled 3, 50 cent coins I had saved for the Metro in my coat pocket and a lump formed in my throat. I never thought that the Euro would be my currency – besides all things, I’m loyal to my English roots…I’m proud to be English and always will be and I will miss my pennies and pounds! It’s a strange thought that I am sure only those who have walked in my shoes will understand. Missing a currency sounds ridiculous, but its another part of the whole process for me; it’s exciting and terrifying all at the same time.

People I have met here that I am proud to call my friends are very supportive and encouraging of my plans. Talking about it today it became obvious to me that I like to set myself challenges; I like to accomplish things I don’t believe I can. For example, I am taking my Dad’s advice and deciding to drive my little English Mini (cats included!) to Rome when I make the move. Why? Well, it saves me £1500 on flights and its not the easy option – it’s the challenging option. Me, two cats and as much of my life as I can squeeze into the Mini on a 17hour, two-day drive across 4 countries? Sure, easy! But, its something I would never get the opportunity to do…if this move wasn’t happening, I would never do it, and that makes it appealing.

So, back to Rome. This city bewitches me. I am head over heels in love with it. Today, as I walked to the Metro, I walked down Via dei Fori Imperiali, the main road that leads to the Coliseum, and in the bright winter sunshine, I couldn’t have been happier. I could drink in the view of my most favourite monument, surrounded by ancient history and I felt at home. OK, when I live here, I won’t be in such a central location…sure, I dream of living in one of the gorgeous, pastel coloured palazzos in the historic centre, so do most Romans (I’ll be north, in Nomentana!) but knowing I can get on the Metro, and a few stops later I can see the wonders of central Rome, makes me feel very happy inside.

Live here? Sure, in my dreams!

The language is a challenge, but I will take it on! I have lessons booked right up until I leave and I think that living here and living the language will be the best way to learn! And I simply can’t wait!
So, I think the easiest way to rate my two weeks here and the effect its had on my plans to make Rome my home is a good, old-fashioned ‘out of 10′!

• The city – 9/10
• The people – 10/10
• The food – 8/10 (I LOVE Italian food but pasta/pizza/gelato are not good for my waistline, hence a gym for my arrival has been found!
• Shopping – 7/10 (Yes, Italy is the home of Prada, D+G and Zara, but sometimes a girl needs a one-stop Sainsburys shop!)

As I sit here and look forward to my last 4 days in this wonderful apartment in this city I will soon call home, I am a mix of emotions. Will I miss my family and friends back in the UK? Yes, more than I can imagine. Will it be scary to start a whole new life in another country? Scary, no…exciting, yes! Will I be devastated that I have to leave Rome again in 4 days? Yes! These past 2 weeks have meant a lot to me in a lot of different ways. It will be sad to say goodbye again, but I am comforted by the thought that the next time I return, it’s possibly forever! There is a lot to do between now and when I set off for Rome again and I am sure that the time will go too fast, but I feel an overwhelming excitement inside me when I think that the next time I write from Rome, I’ll be calling it home…
Terrified? Yes! Excited? Even more so!

Ciao for now,
Nina x