#i should mention this was a gay art market and i was like 15 at the time. lots going on there

[muirneach]

really excited to sell my big book of kells prints because theyre one of my all time fave pieces but the market for 12x12 lino prints of jesus christ doing this ✌️ is probably pretty slim

[amywritesthings]

I posted 1,295 times in 2022

That's 1,291 more posts than 2021!

372 posts created (29%)

923 posts reblogged (71%)

Blogs I reblogged the most:

@prolix-yuy

@iamskyereads

@amywritesthings

@meadowofsinfulthoughts

@mandosmistress

I tagged 1,281 of my posts in 2022

Only 1% of my posts had no tags

#feedback. - 264 posts

#fic: point a to point b - 183 posts

#q - 178 posts

#fic recs tag. - 176 posts

#commentary. - 101 posts

#din djarin - 90 posts

#pedro pascal - 82 posts

#the mandalorian - 71 posts

#art. - 67 posts

#prolix-yuy - 67 posts

Longest Tag: 103 characters

#this could also inspire me to write a line from a future fic.... stares at my 'want to write' list like

My Top Posts in 2022:

#5

SERIES MASTERLIST ( WIP )

Summary: Escorting a former Empire prisoner of war to a Rebel Alliance safe zone? It should be a piece of cake. Absolutely no problems whatsoever.

A/N: Point A to Point B is a multi-chapter romance loosely following The Mandalorian S2. It follows ‘You’ and your journey with Mando after your rescue from an Imperial ship. His task is to escort you to Coruscant, though you have no memory of the cause (or who you truly are).

Pairing: Din Djarin x F!Reader ( Din x You ) Rating: Explicit ( 18+ only / smut noted with an asterisk*) Word Count: 54K+ Tags: Slow Burn, Smut, Mentions of PTSD, Amnesia, Adult language, Manhandling, Praise kink, Injuries, Graphic violence, Mentions of torture, Flashbacks, Yearning, Blindfolds, Mando is Very Religious, Hurt/Comfort, Sexual Tension, Dirty talk, Oral sex, Virgin!Din, Hand play, Helmet Stays On, Warnings update per chapter

( Visit my AO3 version of this story. )

CHAPTERS

1. THE EXCHANGE / 2. NAMELESS, FACELESS / 3. THE WAY / 4. A TOAST TO MARKET / 5. BAD TIMES AT THE SUPPLY ROYALE /  6. JEALOUSY / 7. GEDET’YE* / 8. READY, AIM / 9. FIRE (PART I)* / 10. FIRE (PART II)* / 11. THERE ARE OTHERS / 12. CHASING A RUMOR / 13. THE FREIGHTER / 14. WRECKED / 15. NER GAI* / 16. tbd!

Join the tag list here!

473 notes - Posted February 14, 2022

#4

Meet Me At The Usual

gif credit @ gwinammie

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Word Count: 5K

Summary: It's sophomore year Winter Formal, and things get a little messy with your secret friendship (and secret crush) with the Freak of Hawkins High.

Warnings: Language, Fluff & Angst, Secret Friendship, Unresolved Crushes, School Dances, Yearning, First Kiss, Eddie Munson in a Suit

A/N: Enjoy my self-indulgent, cavity-inducing story of Eddie Munson having a massive crush on you and not knowing how to be chill about it. I love writing this man. Prequel to Where Shadows Meet Shapes.

( Read on AO3 )

PREVIEW

“I wanted to ask you to the dance tonight,” you croak before you can chicken out.

Eddie sucks in a sharp breath, readjusting his all-too-aloof demeanor in order to protect the brief, crackled surprise underneath. 

“Little ol’ me? I thought it was supposed to be the other way: guys ask girls, yada yada—”

“You were never going to ask me.”

His chin juts back, face scrunching in offense. “That isn’t true.”

See the full post

546 notes - Posted June 12, 2022

#3

Where Shadows Meet Spaces

gif credit @ drogonstone

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader (Rated E; 18+ only)

Word Count: 2.4K

Summary: He’ll never be what your father approves of, and he’ll certainly never be a boy you can bring home to meet your mother. Eddie isn’t your life plan, but he doesn’t ask you to look anywhere beyond the here and right now.

Warnings: Smut, Oral Sex (f!receiving), Porn with Feelings, Pet Names, Protected Sex, Eager!Eddie

A/N: So did we all fall in love with the same 3x senior year goblin boy or what? I wrote this in two hours. Enjoy my thirst for this sweet idiot.

( Read on AO3 )

PREVIEW

“Do you want to roll for perception?” you ask, sliding the fingers of your right hand to the top white button.

His eyes widen gradually to the size of saucers the second the button snaps open, exposing the start of bare collarbones.

“If you talk Dirty and Dungeons to me, angel, I won’t last beyond a minute.”

“So your usual, then.”

The quick-witted response garners a genuine belly laugh from the curly-haired boy.

“Oh, fuck off.”

See the full post

578 notes - Posted June 6, 2022

#2

A FIRST FOR BREATHING

Pairing: Steven Grant x Reader (+ Marc Spector x Reader)

Word Count: 1.6K

Summary: (Spoilers) At the end of Episode 5, Steven wakes up.

Warnings: Smut, Angst, Hurt/Comfort, Porn with Feelings

A/N: Marvel owes me compensation for my emotional state this morning, so here’s a little hurt & comfort smut to hopefully make you feel better. (Because I did it so I felt a little better lbr.)

Also dedicating this to the Moon Knight besties @prolix-yuy & @iamskyereads​ , ilu both.

( Read on AO3 )

It’s as if he’s taking his first gulp of air.

With an anguished gasp, Steven Grant jolts from his mattress in a cold sweat. Sometimes it’s always like this: seconds that feel like minutes, minutes that feel like hours, to get his bearings of where he’s been. Tingles at the tips of his fingers are a good sign. It means his body’s working — their body, the body that was once torn apart — and his second instinct is to stare.

In the dark, in the mirror, until he sees a familiar silhouette.

Except it isn’t his, not really. Not entirely.

The sheets beside him move, and in the gentle hue from the London street lights peering through the bedroom window he can see the relief in Marc’s face when you wrap a hand around Steven’s bare bicep.

“Steven?”

Concern. You’re not meant to be concerned, not about him. And if Steven wasn’t so frightful at the idea of Marc’s eyes disappearing from view, then maybe he would have turned faster.

“Are you alright?” he asks, but not to you.

Swallowing thick to calm the tremble in his throat, Steven waits for Marc to say something, anything, between the reflection keeping them separate.

(There was a space where the alters were tangible. Is that how close they’ll ever get, when Death is a mere few feet away?)

“Answer her, Steven,” Marc answers instead, jaw tense. 

Always so closed off. Always so worried about everyone else.

“Is Marc okay?” you murmur, cautious in your approach to be the middleman of the equation. Approaching the two can often feel like trying not to spook a wild animal — while one will respond, the other is prone to run. 

When you stare into the mirror, it’s only Steven’s wide eyes and wild curls matted to his forehead. He looks like he’s seen ghosts. The worry festers in the bottom of your stomach.

“Tell her we’re okay,” Marc urges, gaze focused on you behind Steven as if he can tell you himself without the buffer of another person.

“I— yeah, think so,” Steven finally answers for the both of them, blinking to glance at you through the reflection. 

“What about you?”

It’s eerie, how you and Marc seem to echo the same concern in different octaves. The question is spoken at the same time, further confusing reality from his own mind.

Steven squeezes his eyes shut, making a noise of discomfort. “Oh, god, dunno what the hell happened. Felt like I— like we got separated and it all went black and I couldn’t feel a bloody thing…”

“Separated?” 

You shift on the mattress to sit in front of Steven, but he’s already meeting you in the middle. With desperation, he turns from the mirror to quickly pull your face into his large hands. He inhales sharply, as if the mixture of your lingering perfume and the ability to expand his lungs will be enough to bring him solace.

Right on the precipice of what it means to be alive and dead.

See the full post

817 notes - Posted April 28, 2022

My #1 post of 2022

Meet Me On the Other Side

PART ONE: THE PLAN

gif credit to @ joseph-quinns

Pairing: Eddie Munson x Reader

Word Count: 4.9K

Summary: The Hawkins crew only has eight people in their three-tier plan to take down Vecna. Eddie makes a Hail Mary of a phone call to even the odds.

Warnings: SPOILERS AHEAD, VOL2 FIX-IT, Language, Angst (with a Happy Ending), Unresolved Tension, Yearning, Peril, Violence, The Upside Down, Desperate-To-Kiss!Eddie, we’re writing this entire storyline baybee let’s go

A/N: Are you hurting just as much as I am after Vol2? Cool, well that didn’t happen. This is the new canon. Within the ‘Freak & Valedictorian’ series. Separate Ways (Remix) intensifies.

                     PART ONE / PART TWO / PART THREE

( Read on AO3 )

PREVIEW:

“Eddie?” Click.

And just like that, Eddie Munson is gone.

(You refuse to let that be the final say in this conversation.)

Leaving behind your homework and study for a pair of keys and sneakers, you burst from your dorm room and run down the hallway to the stairs, to the student parking lot, and beeline to your car.

Hawkins is a two hour drive.

If you double the speed limit down the interstate highway, then you can make it in half the time.

See the full post

891 notes - Posted July 4, 2022

Get your Tumblr 2022 Year in Review →

[yibuo]

love your hot takes! was wondering if you could give your two cents on shipping/rpf in relation to idol culture, how more often than not these pairings are subtly if not overtly used as a marketing tool etc. I’m all for freedom of expression / fandom consumption as long as the fourth wall is respected but given recent developments in c-ent I feel like we’re treading on thinner and thinner ice....

EDIT you asked for my two cents and i gave u my entire bank account. nice

ok i wasn’t sure how to answer this tbh without possibly getting attacked but i have a pretty strong opinion of rpf/shipping and how people take it to the extremes and i talked to oomf who validated me so here i go

tldr i mean people can take part in shipping/rpf if they want to and if they keep it lowkey but there’s a boundary as to how far shipping/rpf can go and there are too many instances of where people insert rpf/shipping in places that are unacceptable and this goes for all real ppl pairings 

i’m not meaning to offend anyone, and in no way are my opinions discriminatory, but also, if you’re someone who’s gonna make HUGE stretches regarding to celebrities and push your favorite ships in totally unrelated things, maybe you should step back and think about how your actions can affect your favorite people

and i’m totally stealing this from oomf, but here’s a thought:  if you ask yourself  'if i met this person irl, would i feel embarassed if they looked me in the eyes and i read this out loud to them' and if the answer is 'i would look like a pervert stalker' then like........maybe don't do what you’re doing?  

pls respect ur faves is all n don’t make them uncomfortable ! ! and also pls don’t fetishize same sex relationships !

anyway

ok so let me start by saying i’m a seventeen stan and when i was 15-16 y/o i shipped svt members, read rpf, etc, but never really was into overanalyzing every touch or gaze. i obviously enjoyed my favorite pairings interact and i read romantic fics about them. i wasn’t really into reading smut because for me, personally, fics using the members’ names and personalities even in au kinda made smut feel like visualizing the members in a sexual context and i felt like i was crossing a fan boundary, like, would my idol be comfortable with me seeing them in a sexual context with another member they tell us they consider as friends/brothers/sisters? or just in general, would they be comfortable with me thinking of them sexually? but hey, if it was a good fic i would just skip over the smut because good fics are good fics. now idk if it’s because i’m older, or other changes? i don’t really do romantic shipping or read rpf, i stick to reading fics about fictional characters because that’s what makes me comfortable (like if i ever rb two members’ interactions on my main, i stick to just tagging the members instead of their ship name, same goes on here for real people) and i still very much am uncomfortable w/ real people smut literature and art, but that’s just me

ok you see shipping a lot in idol culture because idols are in groups and members spend a good 90% of their time together, so whatever cute interactions you see  kinda lead to people shipping two (or more ig) members. i never really thought about idol shipping culture from a marketing perspective, so i asked some of my friends, and one of them made a really good point about how some ships are more popular than others, and these interactions on shows and stuff might be a strategic/marketing tactic to lure in new fans because of the “ships” being cute. i don’t know how true this actually is, but it kinda made sense. for example, in svt, mingyu x wonwoo is a super popular ship, compared to ships like the8 x vernon which no one ever talks about, even though we know that all the members love each other equally and wholeheartedly. so yeah, there probably is a subtle pushing of certain ships in order to gain momentum in attracting more fans to the group

also i’m gonna be using wonwoo and mingyu as examples but i’m not targetting anyone or anything, just hypothetical situations w/ an idol ship that i noticed to affect the members because how out-of-control SOME stans are

so as i said in my tldr, i don’t really mind romantic shipping, as long as it’s 1) lowkey 2) not pushed in places that it doesn’t belong and 3) not mentioned among the members

keeping it lowkey- pushing ships in everyone’s faces gets annoying. sometimes fans just want to enjoy idols’ content as they give it to us and frankly, it’s a little offputting when you’re trying to watch something or enjoy something and hoards of fans are fangirling over a gaze or a touch between 2 members. keep it on your private acct, or in a group chat, not in the youtube comment section of the video. but still, men and women are allowed to touch each other and show affection without it being romantic, and i feel like shipping culture kinda invalidates the platonic relationship. like unless a pairing is confirmed to be dating, why even bother with overanalyzing these gazes or touches. and no, it’s not homophobic for non-rpf fans to be annoyed, because sometimes fans just want to see the members as they portray themselves to be rather than finding a deeper (and unconfirmed) meaning behind every small thing. fans being like “bro it’s just the touch of two hands it’s not that deep” is not the same thing as fans going “ewww i’m’ not supporting them if they’re not straight” . and sometimes i feel like people try to twist non-rpfers words and call them homophobic if they’re not for shipping when sometimes people don’t wanna romantically visualize 2 people if they’re an unconfirmed couple. how can you use lgbt struggles, which is an issue in society, to fight against people who simply don’t do rpf?? how are you use that as a weapon and for what ??? (also a good amount of people who do this are lgbt fetishizers who aren’t lgbt themselves bye i said it) why can’t we all jus be friends dudes

ok but if you’re against your idols dating someone of the same gender, that’s homophobic and you needa get that checked

but that’s different from treating two members as friends rather than bfs

but this being lowkey concept applies to any pairing, straight or gay, just keep it lowkey dudes. (like for ex we see yibo and meng meiqi shippers, which also doesn’t make sense to me because it’s based off of literal crumbs but ok) it’s ok to be rpfer or non-rpfer as long as you’re respecting the idols and keeping their best interests in mind

respect ur faves pls

not pushed in places that it doesn’t belong- people need to stop bringing up ships and pairings in randomass places. for example, if wonwoo is doing a interview, with mingyu being nowhere in sight, and he’s talking about his hobbies and interests without ever mentioning mingyu, what’s the need to bring up mingyu?? people do it and it’s so... weird? like wonwoo can do things without being constantly associated mingyu? one of my BIGGEST pet peeves is when shippers make these ships such a HUGE part of a members’ identitiy, when the members are doing so much w/ their lives? like no, not every move wonwoo makes, and every breath he takes is related to mingyu, but people still wanna have the audacity to mention mingyu in something completely unrelated? what’s your point?

RESPECT UR FAVES

not mentioned among the members in an uncomfy manner- like if you’re interacting with a real person, why are you gonna bring up a ship they’re included in when you have so many other things to talk about?? like ok it’s one thing to ask someone on a livestream “hey this event you guys did on xxxx show was funny, what’s the tea behind that” but it’s not okay to just mention a ship with no relation and no context to the situation. again, this counts as rpf-ers and shippers attributing a single ship to an idol’s identity much more than what it actually counts as. no, wonwoo is not 70% made of mingyu lover and vice versa. we actually saw this between mingyu and wonwoo as people kept pushing meanie (the ship) to their faces, and we saw (and  still see) a much more decreased amount of interaction between them compared to them predebut, because shippers couldn’t stay in their lane. so yes, out-of-control shipping DOES affect idols and can be harmful to their relationships if you don’t control it

^ so y’all see why i feel so strongly about this, because it literally can affect these idols’ relationships on screen

JUST RESPECT UR FAVES

again, this applies for any pairing of any sexuality, i’m just using wonwoo x mingyu as an example because it’s something i saw when i was into rpf. i love both mingyu and wonwoo and they are wholesome together. i have friends who ship them and i’m completely ok with that because they do it without posing any harm to the members, but some people just need to take a chill pill and a seat and calm down ????

so i completely understand that shipping/rpf serves as a creative outlet for lgbt+ folks and that’s completely fine, inspiration, love, cool cool cool. just don’t be so pushy about small interactions especially directly to idols. and as for rpf-ers, don’t let rpf give you a reason to start fetishizing same-sex relationships, that shits weird and problematic...pls

again, if you ask yourself  'if i met this person irl, would i feel embarassed if they looked me in the eyes and i read this out loud to them' and if the answer is 'i would look like a pervert stalker' then like........maybe don't do what you’re doing?  

lol so this is why i’m much more comfortable w/ fictional shipping, because these people don’t exist in the real world and don’t have actual lives and relationships to protect 

just respect ur faves omg and we’ll be fine

“given recent developments in c-ent” and me being a yibo stan and you sending me this strongly leads me to believe you’re referring to out of control bjyx cpf (yizhan shippers)  LOL

i don’t follow much c-ent besides xnine, uniq, r1se, and sometimes unine and the nine percent members, and honestly im not too into the fan culture so i dont follow ships there? so i’ll focus on. this ship

to be completely honest, shipping for idol groups makes some sense to me because idol group members are with each other most of the time, that’s literally their job

shipping actors who haven’t confirmed that they’re dating/no proof doesn’t really make sense to me at all--they work on one project together, and they’re off to their next., with or without each other . we don’t know if they keep in contact every day, much less if they’re into each other, but each to their own! my opinions and takes aren’t perfect and as long as you’re respecting your faves, it is ok~

ok so i’ll start of with saying: obviously, i love yibo. i love xiao zhan. they’re cute nd wholesome and evidently had good times together and learned a lot from each other regarding acting and being in the industry and just developing as people together. good for them, we love character development. amazing

is pushing bjyx a marketing tactic? most definitely yeah by tencent thanks tencent. i think you can see this through the amount of bts videos there are with just bjyx in comparison to other bts videos/interviews, even though there are many more important characters apart from wwx and lwj in cql, we don’t see as much side cast interactions as bjyx, and if we do, there aren’t that many w/ other cast members and yibo and xiao zhan?? relatively speaking

so yeah i think pushing this yibo x xiao zhan thing definitely was a tactic to further the momentum that wangxian was already having to attract stans, and it worked. like i LOVE watching yibo and xiao zhan bts videos because they are two goofs. love them. love my boys. love their camaraderie. and if people wanna ship, then go ship. cool! just be casual pls

i think where this becomes a problem is when people start projecting wangxian’s relationship onto yibo and xiao zhan because...the latter are real people. yibo and xiao zhan =/= wangxian !!!!!! (ok first of all yibo is a gremlin how can he be the wang in wangxian in real life)  what wyb and xz show us in videos is nowhere near what wangxian is hJKNDJNWD and i see so many people just equate the two pairings...nooo... and combining everything mxtx writes about wangxian in the novel and projecting that onto wyb and xz...i don’t think that’s the move dudes they have their own lives they’re not wangxian

my BIGGEST pet peeve is when people wholly credit wyb’s development as an actor and as a person to xz and vice versa. i cannot tell you how many times i see posts saying “wyb brought xz out of his shell” and vice versa and things like “xz looks like he’s having much more fun than he is when he’s with xnine, they’re soulmates” and etc

both wyb and xz have had years of industry experience before getting to know each other. they’ve gone through some of the lowest points of their careers before even getting to know each other well, and they’ve both found Their People in the industry before finding each other. to say that wyb brought xz out of his shell in a summer’s worth of filming based on some bts videos is just so unfair to the bonds xz has made with his other colleagues and xnine  members and the accomplishments he’s had before cql. same with wyb and his career prior to cql. and his uniq members, his ttxs bros, and all his other colleagues. these 2 have gone through some shit with their idol groups and it’s just not fair for cpfs to erase the significance of their career prior to cql to support and find a leverage for their shipping. i’m not saying all cpfs do this, but there is  a Good Amount That Do and it pisses fans like me off

they are not each others saviours bye

also  “xz looks like he’s having much more fun than he is when he’s with xnine, they’re soulmates”, if you guys ever watch xnine videos, you’ll know that xnine is Loud. with members like wu jiacheng and peng chuyue being so loud and extroverted, it kinda makes xiao zhan relatively quieter. but he’s still a gremlin and troublemaker and it’s not like he isn’t having fun. he’s just louder w/ yibo because yibo is more introverted than xz. relationship dynamics are relative to the relationship cmon people !!!! this is basic knowledge !!!! anyway that was a side tangent but ya

but ya my point is, wyb and xz have their own careers and they’re doing their own things now, and it’s unnecessary to bring up xz in an unrelated wyb post/article and vice versa, and it’s just so so unnecessary to link them in everything??? like i heard that cpfs prevented xz from keeping his nomination for an award because yibo wasn’t nominated so xz lost the nomination ./rolls eyes

anyway my point being, if you wanna ship them then go ahead! just do it normally and don’t bring up the ship in unrelated places (like other dramas, tv shows, etc where they’re not together), don’t spam them with bjyx related things, don’t make weird stretches/connections?? the other day on twt i saw a twt about uniq wenhan’s drama, where he was being referred to as xiao zhan (little zhan) in the drama (different  “xiao” and “zhan” characters than actor xz’s name) and i saw cpfs go “omg theYRE CALLING HIM XIAO ZHAN??? IS THIS FATE OR” like no it isnt maam it’s just a name stop reaching

ANYWAY UNNECESSARY SIDE RANTS BUT MY MAIN POINT is that people are allowed to be shippers and take part in rpf, but don’t make their identities “____’s lover”, don’t look past their current and past achievements for the sake of your ship, don’t erase their relationships with other people for the sake of your ship, stop bringing your ship into things that are only related to one person/aren’t related to your ship, stop saying creepy things about your ship (if you think the ship people would be uncomfrotable with what you say about them you probably shouldn’t be saying it)

just. respect ur faves pls no matter who they’re with ...just respect them ty

stan yibo stan xiao zhan stan uniq stan xnine

comment ur fav yibo and xiao zhan moment below

like comment subscibe

ok bye mic drop 

[queermediastudies]

Blue, the Warmest Color? Or the Most Profitable Color?

Blue Is the Warmest Color is a 2013 French movie directed by Abdellatif Kechiche, which won a lot of rewards including the Palme d'Or and the FIPRESCI Prize. This is a three-hour film about the romance story of a 15-year-old high school girl, Adèle (starring Adèle Exarchopoulos) and a female artist Emma (starring Léa Seydoux). The entire story depicts carefully about Adèle’s growth from adolescence to middle age, accompanied by confusion and struggle for her sexual identity. 

At the beginning of this story, Adèle was dating a boy, Thomas. Once they were dating, Adèle passed by a blue-haired girl when crossing the road. After this encounter, Adèle woke up in a dream about making love with this girl. She was confused and embarrassed by this fantasy. When her best friend Valentin, an openly gay man found her unhappy, he took her to a gay bar for fun. But later, Adèle came out and entered a lesbian bar by chance, where she met (again) and started getting to know the blue-haired girl, Emma. Adèle and Emma became friends and hung out with each other frequently. And their romance relationship confirmed by a shared kiss when picnic. A few years later, Adèle realized her dream to become a primary school teacher; Emma was preparing her art exhibition, and their relationship was not passionate like it used to be. Adèle had a sexual relationship with her male colleague Antoine because of Emma’s indifference. After this was known by Emma, ​​she drove Adèle out of the home immediately and refused her apology. Although Adèle expressed her love for Emma again a few years later, could not recover the relationship. And Emma had formed a new family with her first love, Lise. 

At the end of the film, when Adèle attended Emma’s art exhibition and saw many portraits of her own, she chose to leave quickly, which also marked the complete end of this relationship. In general, this film records the whole story of Adèle and Emma in a very delicate way, trying to present the audience with true lesbian life detail. And the goal of making the audience get involved in the real-life of the LGBTQIA community can contribute to the sympathy and understanding of them to a certain extent, which is conducive to the diversity of the media. But I critic that this film is still unable to break away from the use of lesbian love as the strategy “for creating ‘edgy’ programming and attracting a wide range of viewers” (Kohnen, 2015). And many descriptions in this film deepen the audience’s misunderstanding of the lesbian group.

Firstly, this film does a great job of recording Adèle’s life detail. For example, she always has a messy hair, she will open her mouth when sleeping, and she loves biting the bottom of the pen when she reads. When she gets lost or drunk, the film’s scene will shake and be a blur, just as seen from Adèle’s perspective. When she in the literature class, the shots keep switching to the teacher’s lecture and the students’ distraction because of the boring content. As a viewer, I can also feel that this content was very boring. The film recorded all these tiny details by using this first-person perspective technique to make Adèle just like a friend in our own life, or actually, she is ourselves. I believe to depict a character on a very personal level is a great strategy to promote the audience’s understanding. And this method also mentioned in the Goltz’s article for finding an effective term to refers to gay or lesbian in Kenyan language context, that one man focus on “there was more to him than his sexuality and that he was ‘beyond being homosexual or being a gay man’ ” and “ ‘to come out as me and not to highlight his sexuality, preferring to ‘talk about me, about my life, not about my queer life” (Goltz et al, 2016).

The tricky thing is that even though this film wants to show the real-life of lesbian, it almost becomes the most controversial lesbian movie because of the ten-minute (or even longer) lesbian sex scene. In fact, I was super embarrassed when I watch this scene because I invited all my roommates to watch this film together as a celebration of the weekend. I am not an extremely conservative person, I mean, the sex scene in this film is simply porn-level, so that we had to turn down the volume and made some jokes to cover up our embarrassment. Firstly, there was no background music in this scene, only big gasps instead and the sound of skin rubbing. Secondly, the scene boldly shows female whole body, without cover. In addition, the two actresses are very good in shape, without flaw or even pubic hair. This is the most confusing place for me. On the one hand, the director wants to present the most authentic lesbian life, which even refuses the background music at the sex scene; on the other hand, it idealizes the female body just as the male gaze, the flawless body, and the perfect shape.

Interestingly, the original author of this story, Julie Maroh expressed the same shock as me. She rated the most lacking in this film is lesbian, and aired her suspicion that there were no lesbians present onset (Romney, 2013). And “a brutal and surgical display, exuberant and cold, of so-called lesbian sex, which turned into porn” (Sciolino, 2013). Maroh replied in the interview, “everyone was giggling. Heterosexuals laugh at because they don’t understand it and find the scene ridiculous. The gay and queer people laughed because it’s not convincing, and find it ridiculous; and among the only people (who) we didn’t hear giggling were guys too busy feasting their eyes on an incarnation of their fantasies on screen” (Sciolino, 2013). When I learned that the director and both two actresses are straight, this makes more sense.

Director Kechiche labels himself as an unconditional devotee of realism. “I don’t want it to look like life,” he says of his cinema. “I want it to actually be life. Real moments of life, that's what I’m after” (Romney, 2013). But at the same time, he also admitted that his purpose is to idealize the female body (Sciolino, 2013). He explained, “Like paintings, or sculptures” (Romney, 2013). Ms. Seydoux counters the Kechiche’s use of the so-called real lesbian sex scene as an eyebrow-raising directly. When the reporter used ���several unsimulated sex scenes” to ask Ms. Seydoux, she interrupted immediately, “Be careful, they are simulated. We were wearing prostheses” (Sciolino, 2013). Ms. Exarchopoulos used the word manipulation to describe the director's guidance for them. For both actresses, the filming process was horrible and indicated that they would no longer work with Kechiche (Stern, 2013).

(Léa Seydoux, Adèle Exarchopoulos, and Abdellatif Kechiche won the Palme d'Or.) 

It can be said that this film is successful in regards to cultural diversity as brand management. This movie has received a high honor, people should know it is the first film to have the Palme d'Or awarded to both the director and the (two) lead actresses (RFI, 2013). Not only that, but the film also performed not bad at the box office. It can be said that this is a work that has gained a good reputation and attracted the audience through brand management of cultural diversity. But as Kohnen mentioned, “the strategic use of LGBTQ content to signify edginess has not disappeared” (2015). Lesbian movies, especially those including so-called real lesbian sex scenes, are not only targeting the group that supports LGBTQIA and cultural diversity but also a straight (especially male) group who wants to satisfy their own sexual fantasies. Although shocked, it is important to know that Lesbian has been the most popular porn search term for porn sites (Lufkin, 2016).

So I have been thinking about whether lesbian movies are the most cost-effective thing. Due to the brand management of cultural diversity, LGBTQIA films can gain a good social reputation, because more or less they are showing/facilitating the spread of cultural diversity. On the other hand, this type of film caters to the Queer Market, as we mentioned the homonormativity, “depoliticized gay culture anchored in domesticity and consumption” (Duggan, 2002). In addition, a large number of heterosexual groups who want to satisfy their sexual fantasies/curiousness are attracted to the cinema.

The toughest point is that, as mentioned above, the director's purpose is to idealize the female body. And the two actresses clarified their heterosexual identity immediately after the processing of the film. Everyone has made a profit from this lesbian-themed film, but everyone is trying to getting rid of any suspicious of homosexuality identity after making a profit.

As an Asian (I used to believe myself as) straight woman, I have to admit that this film started to make me doubt my own sexual orientation. When I was watching this film, I would involuntarily introduce myself to Adèle’s role, and I found Emma to be a very charming woman. In the film, Emma's hair is blue in the first half and light brown in the second half of the film. The blue hair period is the sweetest time for her and Adèle. I think that Emma was really attractive at that time. And the second half with the light brown hair is the period that her relationship with Adèle is about to burst. I think this is why the film's name is Blue Is The Warmest Color. In fact, in the original comics, all the scenes are black and white, except that Emma's hair is blue, and the intuitive contrast that comic can present can more express this theme.

I have always lived in a heterosexual culture community. The heteronormative in Asian culture is more ingrained than Western culture, so I never thought about my sexual orientation. It’s like I also cannot figure out the sexual orientation of Adèle. She did not show any love for women other than Emma, and she had an affair with a man, not a woman. By watching this film, I am rethinking whether it is a wise choice to define sexual orientation based on gender. I love a person because of the gender of that person, or because that person is that person.

In general, I would think this film is a good movie, especially from the contribution that made me rethink my own identity. But when I know more about the story behind this film, the harder it is for me to evaluate it from the work itself. Everything became complicated when lesbian-themed movies/televisions connect with cultural diversity brand management, homonormativity, Queer Market, and even male sexual fantasy.

Reference:

Duggan, L. (2002). Equality, Inc. The Twilight of Equality? (PP. 43-66). Beacon Press, Boston.

Goltz, D. B., Zingsheim, J., Mastin, T., & Murphy, A. G. (2016). Discursive negotiations of Kenyan LGBTI identities: Cautions in cultural humility. Journal of International and Intercultural Communication, 9(2).

Kohnen, M. (2015). Cultural Diversity as Brand Management in Cable Television. Media Industries Journal, 2(2).

Lufkin, B. (2016). The Most Popular Porn Searches in Every State. Gizmodo.

RFI. (2013). Blue is the warmest color team win Palme d'Or at Cannes 2013. archive.org. https://web.archive.org/web/20130608102433/http://www.english.rfi.fr/culture/20130526-wins-palme-dor-cannes-2013

Romney, J. (2013). Abdellatif Kechiche interview: 'Do I need to be a woman to talk about love between women?'. the Guardian.

Sciolino, E. (2013). Darling of Cannes Now at Center of Storm. Nytimes.com.

Stern, M. (2013). The Stars of ‘Blue is the Warmest Color’ On the Riveting Lesbian Love Story. The Daily Beast.

[mackincaid]

A few open submission calls for minority and marginalization themed markets

Note: This list was written in July 2018, and features markets that are not permanently open, so if you’re seeing this list ages after that time, these markets may be closed.

Not a writer? Some of these projects are available for you to read/listen to now, or are crowd-funded; if they sound interesting, check them out to back the projects and get your copy! Some are also seeking illustrators, comic artists, and podcast readers.

Also, most of these markets don’t actually restrict submissions to marginalized writers, they’re just asking specifically for stories featuring themes of marginalized identities, and obviously own stories are ideal. Without further ado, here are the markets!

Unlocking the Magic

Deadline: 1 November 2018 Payment: $300 per story, plus royalties Seeking short fiction 3000-6000 words.

In fantasy, we read about how people with mental illness are more susceptible to magic, closer to breaks in reality, more likely to be able to see the unseen. These stereotypes are harmful and contribute to keeping people from seeing the good in getting help, taking their meds, or talking to someone. This anthology is about changing the narrative and telling stories of strength and perseverance, of getting help despite the darkness. Not the myth that getting help will kill creativity and magic. Not the story our society tells about mentally ill people: that art and magic must come from suffering. I want stories that show what can be accomplished when we take care of ourselves and seek help. I want stories that show the reality of being mentally ill within a fantasy setting. I want to see how mental illness and its treatment affects the magic that lies within all of us. I want to read realistic portrayals of mental illness in magical worlds.

Fantasy only (no Science Fiction or Horror, although horror elements may be present in the story). Urban Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Historical Fantasy, Steampunk, and other genres of fantasy are all encouraged. Read the full submission guidelines here.

Bikes in Space: Trans & Nonbinary Edition

Deadline: 15 November 2018 Payment: “A percentage of net profits from the Kickstarter project used to fund the book will be split evenly between contributors, if the project is successfully funded. This payment will be at least $30 per story, plus 10 contributor copies per printing.” Seeking short fiction 500-8000 words.

For this issue, we’re looking to feature trans and nonbinary writers writing trans and nonbinary characters. At least one trans or nonbinary character should be a protagonist and centrally featured, though they don’t have to be the POV character. Their gender can be integral to the story or can be mentioned in passing, but please make the theme clear. Stories can be in any science fiction or fantasy – ish genre: high fantasy, hard SF, space opera, fairy tales, solarpunk, spec fic, slipstream, you name it—anything but fanfic. Note that we aren’t looking to ‘bury your gays’ (or trans/nb characters). All stories must contain bicycles—the story doesn’t need to be about bicycling, but this element must be central enough that removing it would change the story significantly. Same goes with feminism. Read the full submission guidelines here.

Nightlight Podcast

Deadline: No deadline, open and ongoing Payment: $75 for short fiction, $35 for flash, poetry, and reprints Seeking short fiction 4000-5000 words, and shorter flash fiction is also welcome.

Are you Black? It doesn’t matter what part of the world you’re from, or where you are now–as long as you’re Black and you write horror, you are welcome to submit! Read the full submission guidelines here.

Spoon Knife 4: A Neurodivergent Guide to Spacetime

Deadline: 30 September 2018 Payment: 1 cent/word Seeking short stories under 10,000 words, and poetry

We’re basically looking for work that examines and explores two fundamental ideas: time and space. Moreover, we want work that engages with themes of neurodivergence, queerness, and/or the intersections of neurodivergence and queerness. Read the full submission guidelines.

Not Just A Pretty Face Anthology

Deadline: 30 September 2018 Payment: $25 CAD + electronic contributor copy Seeking short fiction 2500-5000 words.

(This is a women only anthology to coincide with WIHM 2019) Behind those sparkling eyes, curvaceous figures, and pouting lips, lurk some of the darkest minds horror has to offer. These women are not just a pretty face and they’re out to prove it. Are YOU one of them? Send us your best, most horrific story and show the world woman are made of more than sugar and spice. Read the full submission guidelines here.

(On a personal note, this is a token pay anthology and I found the description of it kind of yikes? But your mileage may vary; I wanted to include it since it’s a women-only antho.)

Flame Tree Press also has an upcoming call for submissions on the theme of Afrofuturism (and pays professional rates), so keep an eye out for that one to open up if you’re a writer of that subgenre!

[latestnews2018-blog]

A Conversation With My Friend Who Really Wants To Have Sex With Mr. Incredible

New Post has been published on https://latestnews2018.com/a-conversation-with-my-friend-who-really-wants-to-have-sex-with-mr-incredible/

A Conversation With My Friend Who Really Wants To Have Sex With Mr. Incredible

Earlier this week, a review by The New Yorker’s Anthony Lane of the Pixar film “Incredibles 2” caught the attention of the internet.

The reason was a paragraph near the end of the article that painted a theoretical picture of two parents taking their children to watch the film only to find the mother comparing Ms. Incredible to Anastasia from “Fifty Shades of Grey” and the father catapulting his popcorn in a state of throbbing cinematic appreciation.

Holy crap, WHAT is with The New Yorker’s review of The Incredibles 2? Gross. pic.twitter.com/2PCVW4BQga

— Amanda Wong (@amandawtwong) June 19, 2018

I, on the other hand, could only think of an old friend of mine, Will Wiesenfeld, who, for as long as I can remember, has badly wanted to have sex with Mr. Incredible, i.e. Bob Parr. This is not a joke. Will really, really loves him some Bob Parr.

i want Bob Parr to fuck me up and down the goddamn block

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) May 29, 2018

thinking about bob fuckin parr

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) June 12, 2018

i don’t think u understand how hot i think the dad from The Incredibles is. Bob Parr. that’s my dude

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) May 7, 2018

like honestly Bob Parr is a dreamboat

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) February 15, 2018

Wiesenfeld is a professional electronic musician mostly known by his stage name, Baths. He’s very good; Pitchfork loves him. My editor, Tommy Craggs, did not care about any of that. He wanted to know more about my friend who’d like to boink an animated superhero dad. He asked me to talk to Will. So I did. It turns out that Wiesenfeld’s desire to sleep with the man with perhaps the largest chest-to-hip ratio in the cartoon universe is actually just one part of a larger story about coming to terms with his sexuality through cartoons as a teenager ― and becoming something of a connoisseur of the form as an adult.

Here is our conversation, edited a bit for clarity.  

Will Wiesenfeld: Hey dude!

HuffPost: What’s up, dog?

Not much. How’s it going?

It’s chilling. I can’t believe I’m interviewing you about this.

So you want to fuck Bob Parr. When did that start? When did you first get into Bob Parr?

How long ago did “The Incredibles” come out?

I must have been 15. I wasn’t out. I would have just found out that I was gay, so probably not yet. I don’t know.

When did cartoons become a thing for you in terms of your own sexuality

That was right away. Basically I found out I was gay because of porn, straight-up porn. I just realized that was going on and I had the realization, and I think through looking for that stuff and then always being a fan of Japanese stuff, I came across porny art and muscular art of characters, and so it started off not [with] American cartoons, but Japanese stuff and people’s original characters and buff men. And that would have been a year after I found out I was gay, so probably 16.

this mode of bob parr could get it ✔️ https://t.co/DLno1tbMBH

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) January 16, 2016

Why do you think you had that attraction to anime or cartoon characters?

I can tell you almost exactly. Everything about porn ― at least what I was finding ― was intense and kind of aggressive. There’s nothing really loving about it. It was just sex, obviously, and very intense and very upfront.

And almost immediately the first images I saw of this sort of stuff ― of drawn characters and erotic illustrations and stuff ― it was all softer, even though it was really muscular men. A lot of it was really domestic. There were comics that I found that were just couples at home, or illustrations of dudes doing it in an apartment, outside of a pornographic context, just because they were dating or whatever.

And all of that was brand new to me. Just the idea of gayness as normalcy. That was the thing that allowed me to come out after that point. I knew I was gay before finding out about this stuff, but then I was comfortable coming out realizing that there was a route to gayness and queerness that was chill.

And now is it more just a funny thing than anything else?

It’s not actually much of a funny thing. There are funny things that come up. There are illustrations that are insane, where it’s like, “Oh, my God, look at this.” But it’s a super deep hobby of mine. I collect art. I have a running collection of manga in my house and a bunch of illustrations. I’ve paid for commissions of characters and stuff like that. It’s very real and it’s very deep. And I’m into it in a way that’s well beyond a joke thing, you know? I’m truly down with it.

You’ve done a Bob Parr illustration, I know. Have you done other ones besides that?

Yeah, or I paid for a commission of it.

who can i commission some tastefully hot mr incredible art from . mr bob parr

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) May 15, 2018

I commissioned this other character from this series called “Legend of Korra,” which is also an American cartoon. His name is Bolin, and I’m super, super into him. I’ve paid for commissions of him in the past. I actually have one that’s pending right now that somebody is doing [laughs].

Twitter/Tumblr: yoPeppy

Here’s the illustration Will got commissioned for himself.

With Bob Parr, what is it about him that attracts you to him?  

It’s a huge mix of things. Physically, he’s exactly my type. Big 40-, 50-something-year-old dudes who are muscular but kind of friendly and approachable ― that’s my shit. So that, combined with all the stuff in “The Incredibles” ― him being a good dad, meaning that it translates to him being a responsible person and, I don’t know, safe? Those things, they’re great. And they are a huge turn-on. And he’s straight, obviously, but you can find comics and illustrations and fan art that people have done that skew it into a fun gay thing, and there’s plenty of it with Mr. Incredible.

I think people would probably think of an attraction to a cartoon character as mostly a physical thing. It’s interesting that what he’s like as a father figure and person wraps up into it.  

I think that’s a thing with a lot of the characters that I’m really into. Bolin also is the same way. He’s much younger, but he’s carefree and positive and all that stuff. I don’t have a thing for villains usually, sometimes I do, but it’s usually a physical thing. But I’ll obsess over a character if they’re almost role model-y. I’m realizing it now in my brain that a lot of my favorite characters are the role model of the series that they’re a part of, or the most rounded and the most mature. ’Cause I think that it’s this weird motivator for myself to try and see myself in that.

“@DisneyPixar: Home sweet, crazy home. pic.twitter.com/LHOOqUXDCo”

Bob Parr could get it god damn 😎😎😎

— ● Will Wiesenfeld ● (@BATHSmusic) February 27, 2015

What do you mean? You want to become that kind of person as you age, or you hope to be that kind of person right now?

Yeah, exactly, something like that. Just inspiration to live honestly, the way that I’m doing, and stay positive. And a big part of it is keeping in shape, ’cause all of these stupid cartoons are buff as hell [laughs]. Just looking at it for too long, it sort of works its way into your brain to try and keep doing that.

So you’re saying that by looking at buff dad cartoon characters, you yourself go, “I gotta hit the gym as well” or something?

Absolutely, it’s fair to put it like that.

What are some of the other top characters for you?

Looking around my room, there’s this character Shiro, who’s one of the main characters from the new “Voltron” series on Netflix. He’s literally the dad of the group, and he’s buff and mild-mannered and he’s just super hot. And then there’s this character Daichi, from this show “Haikyuu.” It’s a whole series about volleyball. It’s a sports anime and it’s way, way, way better than it should be. It’s the most exciting, most intense series I’ve watched in forever. He’s the captain of the volleyball team that the show follows. He’s not the lead character, but he’s the one that’s in charge of that team.

A big note: It’s problematic because his character is 17, and in the first season of that show “Legend of Korra,” that character that I mentioned, Bolin, is 16, and I had no idea watching it. I thought he was 24 or 25. When I found out way later on that in the first season he’s 16 years old, I felt so gross.

Then, yeah, later on in the series I think he’s much older. He ages as the show progresses. I’m attracted to Daichi and Bolin because they act older and more mature than their peers on top of the fact that they’re super buff. All these hundreds of artists out there making fan art of them feel the same way.

There exists this whole deep fandom in Japan of every single one of these characters. There’s this thing called doujin, or doujinshi, and it’s like “fan comic,” and it usually translates to being porny most of the time. But there are doujin that are not and are just narratives that people make up.

But they’re fan comics, and there’s a huge market for it, and there’s conventions. The same way you have, I guess, Comic-Con or Anime Expo in the States. There’s huge, huge conventions in Japan where all these different artists sell all this stuff and the market for it is much, much bigger and much more widespread. And so, when I found out about this show “Haikyuu,” I was like, is there any art of this dude that I’m into? And it was insane how much of it there was. There’s so much, and most of it is not actually sexual. It’ll just be a romance novel or a romance movie or something like that. The plot will just be them being attracted to each other and not knowing what to do with it and at times navigating high school and being on a volleyball team at the same time ― that sort of shit. There are comics that are just full plots of that without sex being involved.

Does the character have to be human or can it also be an animal or something like that for you to be attracted to it?

I think I’m cool with anthropomorphic stuff. I’m basically a fan of buffness, so it’s usually, if I see something where the character is buff and they’re also an animal, I’m like, that’s cool. I can get into it or whatever. But I don’t seek it out, and I kind of don’t obsess over it the way that I typically do with human characters. But lately there is ― you know “Zelda”? The new “Zelda” game?

There is a bird-man in that game that is all of these things that I’m talking about with these mentor characters that I get really into. He’s this big, buff bird that helps you on your adventures, and he’s like a good dad and is fair and relaxed, and it hits all the benchmarks for me. And, for whatever reason, they gave him really beautiful eyes in the game. They give them all this eye makeup and intense ― I don’t know how to describe it. You should just Google the word “Kass,” K-A-S-S, in Zelda.

Yeah, and “Zelda,” and you’ll just see this handsome ―

It makes sense, you know what I mean? Me talking about all the other things I just talked about ― it’s like, “Oh, yeah, this makes sense.”

I feel bad for asking you earlier if it’s just a funny thing, when now that I think about it, it’s obviously something more serious.

Don’t even worry about it. I’ve been involved in the hobby of it for so long that I don’t think there’s any question that somebody could pose that could offend me.  

What did you think of “Incredibles 2”? I forgot to ask.

I liked it a lot. I think Bob Parr was hotter than ever, and I was very, very down with that. But as an actual movie, I think it suffered from pacing issues.

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[grgedoors02142]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[pat78701]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway���with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[repwincoml4a0a5]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[rtscrndr53704]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[repwinpril9y0a1]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[chpatdoorsl3z0a1]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[rtawngs20815]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[stormdoors78476]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[repwincostl4m0a2]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD

[exfrenchdorsl4p0a1]

Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting

By Adam Groffman

There’s a secret that even the most passionate travelers keep to themselves. If you’re like most people, you’re probably always looking for that new place, that new discovery, that truly unique offer. While many travelers are often after the new and the local, to truly get a taste of something special—something secret—it’s important to not just wander around lost a familiar city, but to find a new city altogether.

Most tourists who visit Italy hit the familiar places on a grand Italy tour: Rome, Venice, Florence, Naples. And who can blame them? All these cities are amazing and full of culture, unique landscapes, good food and… long queues.

Yes, because one of the problems of going where-everyone-else-is-going can be expressed in a single word: crowded. Visit the Trevi Fountain or Pizza San Marcos during summer and you’ll barely be visible in your own Instagram photo. There are just too many tourists, so much of that special Italian culture gets lost.

We tend to forget that Italian culture, with its breathtaking cuisine, its romantic language and its unique architecture is not confined to a single city, but is available throughout the whole country. Abruzzo, for example, is one of these hidden gems in Italy. And a young couple are trying to put it on the map.

The Eden House is the dream project of Federico and Federica who plan to convert an original Italian home into a beautiful, luxurious guest house. They’re currently running a Kickstarter to help get the guest house underway—with detailed and exhaustive plans to renovate the building into a lovely guest house. Those that wish to donate to their project can provide anywhere between €10 and €1,000 toward rewards such as nights in the hotel, postcards, posters and even homemade local jams and marmalades. The guest house will be located in Abruzzo, in a small medieval borough near Pescara. Check their Kickstarter page here to see how you can help!

And below you’ll find some recommended reasons on why you should put Abruzzo in your travel plans. Start by booking a room in the Eden House through Kickstarter.

Five reasons to visit Abruzzo  Outstanding beaches

Oh, the Adriatic Sea. The beauty of the Abruzzo region isn’t just the calm, pale blue waters, but it’s also to do with the opportunity of enjoying long strolls in the sand, great food in seaside restaurants and even some sailing. From the Alba Adriatica to Vasto, and especially around the little city of Pescara, you can enjoy open beaches both in the summer and mild winter months. Moreover, one of the great things about beaches is seafood, and even when Italian food is most closely associated to pizza and panini, you’d regret not to try the risotto ai frutti di mare, one of the classics of Italian cuisine.

Unique architecture

From Roca Calascio, a fortress in the Apennine mountains to the the Church of San Pietro in Roccascalegna, there are a lot of opportunities to appreciate ancient Italian architecture in the region of Abruzzo. The good thing about visiting this area is that you can stay in Pescara, for example, and discover the Old Town while taking day trips to nearby communities. New projects such as the Eden House are emerging, promising to improve the city and the region making it more accessible for LGBT tourists. The Eden House Project is trying to restore a medieval borough in Spoltore, near Pescara, with the goal in creating a gay-friendly guest house for international tourists.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

Solitude in nature

Many of the enchantments of the Abruzzo region are related to the scenic natural landscape, visible within the small cities and in the countryside during road trips or day trips. You can rent a bike and have your own self-guided tour through the valleys and mountains, or you can visit the National Park Gran Sasso e Monte della Laga, with the Apennine’s highest peak the Corno Grande. If you prefer to explore the Adriatic Sea, there are small tour companies that take you around. If you are into trekking or camping, then Abruzzo is worth discovering. Spoltore is a wonderful place in Abruzzo where you’ll find a medieval clock tower, an historical church, a medieval convent and 360° panoramas of the sea and mountains!

Art and culture

As I mentioned early, Italian culture is visible throughout all of Italy, but there is something about small villages and towns that makes it feel less commercial and more unique. Spend time to explore the city life of Pescara or Spoltore, visit some of the museums like the Museo d’Arte Moderna Vittoria Colonna with its interactive halls and temporary exhibitions, the Paparella Treccia Devlet Museum with its collections of artifacts and objects; or explore the archeological sites in the region. Local markets, galleries and bar and restaurants also offer a glimpse of contemporary Italian art, from music, to painting and crafts. Choose to stay in a local guest house in one of the small medieval towns of Abruzzo and you’ll get to live as if in the past, but with all the modern amenities.

Heaven in your mouth

Like so much of Italy, one of the best reasons for visiting Abruzzo is the food. Italian food in can either be great or terribly bad. Forget the overpriced panini of Rome and opt instead for a more local discovery of all the delicious breads and cheeses, olives, wines and Italian dishes that the Abruzzo region offers. Moreover, you have to take into account that the cuisine of Abruzzo is different because the region has been influenced by the pastoral lifestyle and by the proximity of the coastal zones. This means that the food is both traditional and modern—a true Italian fusion. The region of Abruzzo frequently holds food festivals.

Support this LGBT-friendly guest house in Italy

Want the chance to discover Abruzzo for yourself? Then make sure you check out this Kickstarter campaign from the Eden Guest House in Spoltore. The city is strategically located in Italy, just 10 minutes from the sea, 30 minutes from the mountains and only 15 minutes from the international airport of Pescara.

Join the Kickstarter today to get a postcard or custom-made jam and support this innovative tourism project!

The post Abruzzo, Italy – An Italian Hotspot Worth Visiting appeared first on the Travels of Adam blog.

from DIYS http://ift.tt/2obdYjD