Most asked questions about our sabbatical

After the first few months in Italy and Scotland

I recently posted an AMA (Ask Me Anything) box on my Instagram and received an overwhelming number of questions about our trip so far. To recap, we arrived in Rome in late March and will be overseas until August. If you have any extra questions, let me know in the comments and I’ll get around to answering them :)

Mel x

1. How long did it take to get from mainland Scotland to the Hebrides?

We stayed in Oban and took the ferry over to the Isle of Mull which took around 45 minutes on the ferry. This was our second time visiting the Hebrides, genuinely my favourite place on Earth so far, and was much easier to navigate this time around. There is a ferry network all over the Inner and Outer Hebrides that you can take your car on too which makes it convenient to get around. You MUST be confident with left-hand side driving, there are many one-way roads with lay-bys to navigate, and I cannot tell you how many right-hand side drivers had a go at me (and other drivers we saw) before realising they’d made the mistake. If you make a mistake, lift your hand in apology – that’s all it takes to keep locals and tourists alike happy and understanding. You can hopscotch your way through the Hebrides from isle to isle if you prefer shorter ferry trips, and this is what we have done because each isle has a different sort of wilderness to offer and experience. Check out https://www.calmac.co.uk/en-gb/ for information on some of the ferries off the west coast of mainland Scotland.

2. Is it good to carry cash in Italy as well as using a bank card?

I think it’s always good practice to carry some cash when you’re in Italy, usually for an emergency or those situations where card is not accepted. But this has only happened a couple of times in the few months we’ve been away from home – and only when the EFTPOS machine was down. If you are travelling off the beaten track though it’s useful to carry some cash with you, and we have mainly needed it for paying the city-tax at each location. This has changed massively since we first started visiting in 2009 where we almost exclusively used cash. I’d say we have withdrawn a total of maybe 300 euro in the whole time we’ve been here.

3. Do the locals get stuck into the wild produce?

I’ve had numerous people replying to some of my stories on Instagram featuring the wild garlic, figs, rosemary, artichokes, capers and more letting me know that they do cook with these when available. It’s hard to say just how common it is though with many of the wild plants growing on cliff-sides or in hard-to-reach locations.

4. How do you cope with being away from your pets for so long?

With great difficulty!! We’re lucky that our house sitter sends us a lot of photos but I’d be lying if I didn’t say that that’s the one thing I’m most missing. I can’t wait to give them a big squishes and cuddles (if they don’t hate me haha) when we get home!

5. Is it possible to book private drivers in Tuscany?

Definitely! There are many companies who provide private transfers throughout Italy – a quick search on the internet will bring up many. Definitely read reviews where you can and be mindful of the cost. Sometimes it’s far more cost effective to take public transport, notwithstanding that the train/bus network does not go everywhere you may wish to go.

6. How much is a sun-bed?

The cheapest we’ve seen has been around €25-40 per day in high season in the south of Puglia, and the most expensive places such as the Amalfi coast can be up to double or triple that.

7. What are you doing for work over there?

I’m still working on a couple of projects while I’m away (I’ll be able to share soon enough!) and have continued teaching into the nutrition undergraduate course at La Trobe University online each week. Isaac isn’t working at all as he is on 6 months long-service leave.

8. How do you get around?

We hired a car in Scotland which was necessary, but neither of us feel particularly confident driving in Italy so instead we’ve exclusively used public transport – mainly trains. Italy is very well connected and although you might face a strike here and there, we’ve largely had overwhelmingly positive experiences on the various train networks operating throughout the country. We’ve basically done this exclusively since 2009, hiring the odd driver for more remote destinations on occasion, but honestly, I think trains are the way to go. I can’t be bothered navigating parking in each location especially considering we have been staying in the ‘Centro Storico’ in most places, which are typically pedestrian only areas.

9. Non-touristy areas you loved or recommend?

One of my favourite cities in all of Italy has to be Torino – which is often overlooked by tourists (from Australia at least). An incredible vibe, beautiful architecture and stunning food that you wouldn’t normally think of as ‘Italian’. There is so much history there, being the city of the Savoys – Italy’s royal family, and so many stunning landmarks, galleries and museums. It’s also the home of ‘caffe al bicerin’, which is a frothy milk coffee with a rich, decadent chocolate layer in the bottom of the glass. Make sure you go to ‘Caffe al bicerin’ (the name of the café and the drink are synonymous) for one, the historic café is lit by candlelight (alongside soft electric lights now) and the original marble step is heavily indented signifying the cafes age and popularity. France is also just over the border as well, a gorgeous alpine/spa town of Briancon, that is perfect for a day trip. I would, and often do, recommend visiting Torino to anybody who will listen to me!

10. Must do’s in Puglia?

This has not been my favourite region of Italy to travel to, and I can’t quite put my finger on exactly why. The exception was Polignano a Mare which was perfect, however I know we were there just on shoulder season and Summer would feel exponentially busier. I wouldn’t return to the region in any hurry however, the beaches and some of the food have been amazing. Make sure you try a pasticiotto, a rustico Leccese, a caffe Leccese, bombette, a panzerotto, and a puccia. I think the bombette were best in the north of the region, and you can buy them at almost any supermarket to cook yourself.