Matt Visits the US

In this episode, we’re doing something different - talking about traveling to the USA. Matt recently took a trip to visit family in Virginia, and it was an interesting experience after so many years out of the country. 

Among other things, you’ll hear about:

- What were Matt's favorite foods that he had on the trip;

- What exactly is a “picnic cello”? ... and

- Why did he pay cash for nearly everything in $1 bills?

Want to know more about us and our travel services? Find us at: 

www.LittleRoadsEurope.com

www.facebook.com/LittleRoadsEurope

We craft small-town driving itineraries for travelers to Italy, Ireland and Scotland.

And our "alter-egos" as musicians:

www.OrsiniVirtuosi.it

Transcript

Note: This is not a complete transcript, but rather the show notes we write in advance to prepare for the episode. 

INTRO: 

Welcome to Little Roads Unfiltered: Italy and Beyond

Today we’re doing something different - talking about traveling to the US: I recently took a trip to visit family… Among other things, you’ll hear about:

What Matt’s favorite food was on the trip;
What exactly is a "picnic cello”; and
Why Matt paid for everything in mostly $1 bills.

*****

This is Matt Walker          …and I’m Zeneba Bowers - 

We’re recording while sitting on the terrace of our tiny home in Italy - so you’ll get a sense of the sounds of life in our little town - complete with church bells, cats meowing, motor scooters and trains and the town’s daily siren, and maybe the occasional clink of our drinks. 

“ … we’ll be talking about my impressions from visiting the US for the first time since the pandemic - here on Little Roads Unfiltered: Italy and Beyond.”

[Music up then fade out]

For those of you who don’t know us: We are professional musicians and also travel writers and consultants, living and working here in Italy for going on 7 years now. 

If you want to learn more about us and our lives, you can find us on our website LittleRoadsEurope..com, on our socials, and here on this podcast… 

…and by the way, the intro music ecc ecc — 

So let’s get to talking about visiting the US

- Planned last-minute: waiting for paperwork and finally got it, booked travel almost right away

(our tolerance for rule-following - compliance with taxes, documents, etc

- I hate flying: control issues stemming in part from bus accident in the 1990s - why I always drive.

Tie-in to: ASK US ANYTHING from social media:

“Would you be comfortable doing all of these types of things/drives by yourself without Matt? I would be petrified”

My previous solo trip to US - much more stressful due to Covid regs and testing

Also, planes are generally gross: small space w lots of people, recycled air (worse during covid)

Passport/customs into and out of US - Much easier than expected: Global Entry / TSA Pre

Food in US airport: $$$$$!!! Got special meal on the flight, slightly better than normal

— “ADVERTISEMENT” BREAK —

That reminds me that we need to stop for a word from our sponsor - - - - 

- - - just kidding, we don’t have any sponsors - and we’re not looking for any either, we want to keep this an ad-free show.

So today’s show is brought to you by: A Good Idea… And today’s Good Idea is: 

BRING YOUR OWN FOOD ON PLANE

That’s it! … So anyway, where were we?

Being in US: 

Brought goodies from Italy for family - hazelnut cream, food/cooking stuff, limoncello, etc

Also Italian candies to mail to family in other parts of US

Visited with brothers - 1st time in a long time that all 4 brothers together, w Mom

Borrowed Mom’s car - roads are huge, not a big car but much bigger than ours, 

- everything door to door by car

Covering big distances (20, 30, 40 min) by car is commonplace - where we live a 10 minute drive is pretty far

Arranged to pick up cello; used to be my cello! (wrote on FB about it) Pic-nic cello

Played for Mom and fam, then for the residents at facility (on the day I flew back to Italy

Prices at grocery

Food: got lots of “American” food, like Asian dumplings, Pizza (?!?), Mexican restaurant - also Waffle House, McDonald’s breakfast deal

BBQ & fixins at sis-in-law’s, buffalo wings at airport

Ice water at restaurants 

CASH: Unusual - had lots of $ from our tour guide friend - tipping was easier 

Stuff Matt brought back: requests from Zen, other goodies for friends and kids here

Local Richmond beer; pork rinds!, lots of junk food stuff

OUTRO: 

I think that’s a good place to wrap it up here - we hope you enjoyed joining us for this little trip wrap-up!

If you enjoyed what you’ve heard, please give us a like or a good rating on your favorite platform, and tell your friend about us…

And don't forget our “Ask us anything”, where you can send us questions and we’ll answer them in a later episode.

Starting next week, we’ll be “broadcasting” from Chianti, where we’re relocating with the cats for a biti of work and a bit of a break, so we’ll talk a lot abouti that in coming episodes

We talk about a wide variety of topics here on this podcast, from travel tips to slice-of-life stories - we’ll post a new episode every Tuesday. 

So catch us next time - we’ll see you down the Little Roads… CIAO!