Drunk on Italy.Outside of our home country Italy is the place we've played the most as a band. We never, ever turn down an offer of a show there. So I feel like I'm in a pretty good position to tell you the best ways to tour this beautiful, delicious country. TAKE STRETCH PANTS.SERVICE STATIONS ARE YOUR FRIENDS
England is pretty good at roadside pit stops, we have Marks And Spencers which does upmarket yummy sandwiches on soft granary bread, and extremely overpriced but absolutely the most perfect raspberries you'll ever eat. But the Italian services beat our ass. Obviously food is an area where these guys excel, and that even includes their “takeaway food” which is still a religious experience of heavenly gorgeousness. And as you exclaim in ecstasy they just shrug like, “well, duh”. You can also pop into the shop and stock up on excellent balsamic vinegar, pasta and biscotti to take home and help ease those post-tour blues.
This was me after dinner one night, feeling like I'd communed with some sort of higher power.
HAVE DAYS OFF
We always try and have a couple of days off around the dates of our Italy shows as there is so much to frickin' see. And by see I mean eat. For example we recently played in Rome and had two days of walking round the city trying the best gelato. Gelato tip: apparently the best kinds are the ones when the ice cream is stored in metal tubs so you can't actually see it before you buy it. (Although we ate some of the other kind and it still tasted like nectar of the gods so go figure.)
BRANCH OUT A LITTLE
Speaking of food. Again. Don't just be a boring Boris and fall into the pizza and ice cream trap (oh god how delicious that trap would be). Every area in Italy excels in a different type of cuisine so find out what they do where you're going and try it. For example if you're in Naples, get pizza with a thick fluffy crust. If you're in rome, get pizza al taglio, a thin crust you order by the slice. Also don't forget pastries, pies, grilled fish, ham and even just frickin' roasted vegetables. Oh and truffles. And mushrooms. And those crispy sweet things they make which are filled with what tastes like nutella and covered in confectioners sugar. On the other hand, a band member once tried horse in Italy, but I 100% feel weird about that.Before we go I always hit up blogs and websites for the best food in each area. It's normally the places that are really old that are the best, rather than the ones with Michelin stars or expensive prices, so be prepared to eat a lot of your meals on the street standing next to a beautiful fountain or statue or something. Also take photos to show how your food baby is progressing.
IT'S NOT JUST THE FOOD THAT'S DELICIOUS
Italy is like a living breathing museum. It's very rare to see chrome or glass or any building that isn't terracotta in hue. Most streets are cobbled, not that it stops beautiful women of all ages walking in incredible high heels and wedges over them. It's easy to get lost walking around the cities and towns with their winding streets ESPECIALLY IN VENICE. So download a free map onto your phone that you can use offline. Of course, all that beauty can be a bit overwhelming and it's easy to fill up your camera or phone with reams of photos of yet another Juliet balcony or crumbling ruin. When that happens lighten the mood by trying out some fun poses. For example the “Hey look at this purple van” pose. Or an “I'm in a boyband” pose, or the classic “this is a motorcycle yay!” pose.
LOOK OUT FOR OASIS LYRICS
We always find some everywhere we go in Italy.
IT IS BEAUTIFUL
I feel like such a lame-o but I can never resist taking 8000 photos of the buildings.
Although actually this time my favourite photo was of the inside of this mechanic shop where they had a very big poster of a man who seemed to be some sort of pilot or something called Stefano (apologies if I'm insulting the guy or anyone who loves him).DRINK FROM THE FOUNTAINS
I think it's clean water. I saw loads of people guzzling from them and they seemed OK. And you'll need some hydration after ingesting so much wheat and salty parma ham. Jeremy used this huge acorn to wash his hands. That was pretty special. Check out that foot step thing.
VISIT THE BOUTIQUES
This is after all the country that gave us, among others, Versace, Missoni and Moschino. And there's something pretty awesome about visiting the flagship store of Moschino and looking at those Spongebob Squarepants dresses in person. And of course the recent Barbie-inspired collection. Gloriously batshit.
THERE IS ART EVERYWHERE
You can't move for bumping into the incredible statues or huge buildings housing wonderful exhibitions. On our days off this time we went to Warhol, Terry O'Neill and Escher shows. Our eyes were bleeding culture.
YOU'LL GET A GREAT RIDER
Sometimes it will just be a foccacia studded with sun-ripened tomatoes; sometimes it will be mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwiches; sometimes it will be a platter of ham and melon. Sometimes it will be some of the best pizza you've ever eaten. Be prepared to go onstage burping. Actually for this reason we often eat after the show so we can give the food our full attention.
STAY THERE FOREVER
Seriously if there is any way you can—maybe by “losing” your passport, or marrying an Italian, or just running away from the tour bus and never looking back – do it. It's an amazing place. We're going back in November.
You can follow all of Summer Camp and Elizabeth Sankey's travels on Twitter - @summercampband, @sankles.
England is pretty good at roadside pit stops, we have Marks And Spencers which does upmarket yummy sandwiches on soft granary bread, and extremely overpriced but absolutely the most perfect raspberries you'll ever eat. But the Italian services beat our ass. Obviously food is an area where these guys excel, and that even includes their “takeaway food” which is still a religious experience of heavenly gorgeousness. And as you exclaim in ecstasy they just shrug like, “well, duh”. You can also pop into the shop and stock up on excellent balsamic vinegar, pasta and biscotti to take home and help ease those post-tour blues.
Advertisement
We always try and have a couple of days off around the dates of our Italy shows as there is so much to frickin' see. And by see I mean eat. For example we recently played in Rome and had two days of walking round the city trying the best gelato. Gelato tip: apparently the best kinds are the ones when the ice cream is stored in metal tubs so you can't actually see it before you buy it. (Although we ate some of the other kind and it still tasted like nectar of the gods so go figure.)
Speaking of food. Again. Don't just be a boring Boris and fall into the pizza and ice cream trap (oh god how delicious that trap would be). Every area in Italy excels in a different type of cuisine so find out what they do where you're going and try it. For example if you're in Naples, get pizza with a thick fluffy crust. If you're in rome, get pizza al taglio, a thin crust you order by the slice. Also don't forget pastries, pies, grilled fish, ham and even just frickin' roasted vegetables. Oh and truffles. And mushrooms. And those crispy sweet things they make which are filled with what tastes like nutella and covered in confectioners sugar. On the other hand, a band member once tried horse in Italy, but I 100% feel weird about that.Before we go I always hit up blogs and websites for the best food in each area. It's normally the places that are really old that are the best, rather than the ones with Michelin stars or expensive prices, so be prepared to eat a lot of your meals on the street standing next to a beautiful fountain or statue or something. Also take photos to show how your food baby is progressing.
Advertisement
Italy is like a living breathing museum. It's very rare to see chrome or glass or any building that isn't terracotta in hue. Most streets are cobbled, not that it stops beautiful women of all ages walking in incredible high heels and wedges over them. It's easy to get lost walking around the cities and towns with their winding streets ESPECIALLY IN VENICE. So download a free map onto your phone that you can use offline. Of course, all that beauty can be a bit overwhelming and it's easy to fill up your camera or phone with reams of photos of yet another Juliet balcony or crumbling ruin. When that happens lighten the mood by trying out some fun poses. For example the “Hey look at this purple van” pose. Or an “I'm in a boyband” pose, or the classic “this is a motorcycle yay!” pose.
We always find some everywhere we go in Italy.
I feel like such a lame-o but I can never resist taking 8000 photos of the buildings.
I think it's clean water. I saw loads of people guzzling from them and they seemed OK. And you'll need some hydration after ingesting so much wheat and salty parma ham. Jeremy used this huge acorn to wash his hands. That was pretty special. Check out that foot step thing.
Advertisement
This is after all the country that gave us, among others, Versace, Missoni and Moschino. And there's something pretty awesome about visiting the flagship store of Moschino and looking at those Spongebob Squarepants dresses in person. And of course the recent Barbie-inspired collection. Gloriously batshit.
You can't move for bumping into the incredible statues or huge buildings housing wonderful exhibitions. On our days off this time we went to Warhol, Terry O'Neill and Escher shows. Our eyes were bleeding culture.
Sometimes it will just be a foccacia studded with sun-ripened tomatoes; sometimes it will be mozzarella, tomato and basil sandwiches; sometimes it will be a platter of ham and melon. Sometimes it will be some of the best pizza you've ever eaten. Be prepared to go onstage burping. Actually for this reason we often eat after the show so we can give the food our full attention.
Seriously if there is any way you can—maybe by “losing” your passport, or marrying an Italian, or just running away from the tour bus and never looking back – do it. It's an amazing place. We're going back in November.