"Finally Under Construction!" nicolettart's Profile

Profile
Activity
Travel Pages (32)
Photos (632)
Videos (2)
Badges (9)
Stats

Getting Close to 10 Years on VT...Time to Update!!

Travel Log:

Trips for 2012:
France
Mexico
New York City (frequent visitor)

2011:
Montreal, Canada
New York City (frequent visitor)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Savannah, Georgia

2010:
Orlando, Florida
Japan

2009:
Montreal, Canada
Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles

2008:
Mexico
St. Barthelemy, FWI
Miami
Florida Keys
Outer Banks, North Carolina

2007:
New England: Nova Scotia
American Southwest: Las Vegas, Grand Canyon, Sedona, Phoenix

See my travel map for more destinations.

Coming to America: My Heritage

The Providence

Well, here's my story. In 1921 my great-uncle Zio Domenico left his hometown of Molfetta in Italy and sailed to America. This picture shows the ship which brought him and many passengers to Ellis Island. He settled in NYC to raise his family. Eventually more of his brothers came to America, including my grandfather , Nonno Felice, who brought his family here in the '60's and settled in Hoboken, NJ. The family consisted of: my grandmother, Nonna Lucia, Zia Susanna, Zio VIncenzo, and my mother, Giulia, who soon married my father, Girolamo, and gave birth to me. Years later, I am happily married with a beautiful daughter named Sophia. I teach elementary art to small children and I believe that travel is really the best education.

A Travelin' Family

My Great Grandparents

Quando gl'Italiani sono arrivati in America, hanno imparato tre cose -- che le strade non erano sfaldato in oro; che le strade non erano sfaldato per niente; e che loro dovevano sfaldre queste strade.
~Italian Folk Saying

(English translation: When the Italians got to America, they learned three things -- that the streets were not paved with gold; that the streets were not paved at all, and that they were expected to pave them.)

Here are my grandfather Felice's parents,Giulia De Nichilo and Vincenzo Sciancalepore . These are not photographs, but paintings. They were made at the turn of the century by an artist in Buenos Aires.

L' America!

The dream of the immigrants...America!
I can only imagine how
it felt to be on the ship
and finally see land...
I can almost hear the shouts
when they caught their first glimpse
of the Statue of LIberty.
Can you?

"What is your name?"
The immigrants were asked this at Ellis Island. Of course, the officers did not know Italian, so many names were misspelled, shortened, or just changed.

"What is your occupation?"
Italians could only speak, well, Italian. But they understood work. They wanted to work. Are you a plumber? Si. Are you a carpenter? Si. Even if they weren't, the answer was yes. They would learn the trade, as long as they could work.

Between the 1890's and 1954 people from all over the world came to America through Ellis Island. You can still visit Ellis Island today. Go to Ellis Island Official Site for more information. It's a good starting point if you want to research your heritage.

And on VT, don't miss my Ellis Island page!

Art is Life

seeing The Gates in Central Park, NYC

I am building most of my travel pages from an artist's viewpoint (that's right, poor and starving, didn't you see all my food tips???). My degree is in Fine Arts and I have been teaching art to young children for many years.
I believe in learning about a culture by looking at what its people have created over time, and what they have left behind.

Music is Life, Too

Zucchero

"Sogno
Qualcosa di buono
Che mi illumini il mondo
Buono come te"
-from "Il Volo", Zucchero Fornaciari

I listen to all kinds of music, and being from New Jersey, of course I am a fan of my fellow B+R's ("born and raised"): Frank Sinatra, Bruce, and BON JOVI!!!!!
...I listen to all kinds of Italian music, too, from Eros Ramazzotti to Antonello Venditti, Anna Oxa, and Zucchero.

***Upcoming Zucchero Concert at the Beacon Theatre, NYC: October 25, 2011!

***Zucchero in Atlantic City September 28, 2008***Check out my Atlantic City page***

...and What Would Life Be Without Travel..

me and my baby in Rome

...with the ones you love? I have had a passport since I was 2~and our daughter began traveling with us at 7 months. Travel as a family!!

Updated Japan pages coming soon...

Thanks for Stopping By!

Please leave a comment! Especially if you rate any of my pages, so I know who you are.

Don't forget to take a peek at my New Jersey page. You'll be surprised at what you'll find about my home state!

Happy Travels,
Nicoletta

Disclaimer: Please note that in some older tips info may be outdated. Always do your homework!!

Intro Updated Feb 27, 2012
Report Abuse

Personal Pages (6)

1 - 4 of 6

Comments (296)

SOLODANCER Apr 30, 2012 at 2:12 PM Report Abuse

Welcome back dear friend. Pretty sure you had a most superb trip. Did you get a chance to get to Versailles and walk around its magnificent gardens? You should catch Woody Allen's latest film 'Midnight in Paris'.
I agree time for another meet in the city. Hmmm, who shall do it?
lorrainece Apr 23, 2012 at 5:54 PM Report Abuse

Hi Nicoletta, funny you should ask...I was just writing to Gabriel...I am due to have my gall bladder out on 14 May, otherwise I am great!!! How are you? How was the trip?
sayedaburas Dec 24, 2011 at 11:05 PM Report Abuse

*¨`*:(~_~) I wish you a Merry Xmas (~_~) I wish you a Merry Xmas(~_~) I wish you a Merry Xmas?and a Happy New Year 2012 (~_~) (~_~)•:*¨`*
Maurizioago Dec 12, 2011 at 10:10 PM Report Abuse

Grazie Nicoletta! I had a good day trip on the lake of Garda.

Ciao!
shrimp56 Nov 23, 2011 at 4:47 PM Report Abuse

Yep. I'm back. Will VTmail you my piccie link
Donna_in_India Nov 23, 2011 at 4:28 PM Report Abuse

Hi Nicoletta - wishing you and your family a Happy Thanksgiving! See you in a few weeks.
VTGlobalMeeting2012 Nov 2, 2011 at 6:07 AM Report Abuse

Hi, Nicoletta! Hope you and Sophia will attend the VT Global Meeting in Seattle!
Andraf Oct 31, 2011 at 1:25 PM Report Abuse

Thanks Nicoletta. I am one happy mom :) it's a girl and her name is Leia.
angiebabe Oct 27, 2011 at 11:12 AM Report Abuse

Hi Nicoletta, your sistine chapel ceiling is so lovely! I loved seeing it for real too and how lovely - and creative! to make a version of your own at home too!
AyurinHiro Oct 25, 2011 at 8:38 AM Report Abuse

Hi! Thank you very much for your comment! Miyuka has started crawling. Children do grow very quickly! To our surprise, now I am pregnant again...due on May 21st next year.