Slow Travel...It's a Thing

Author

Paula Mohammed
March 11, 2025

Yesterday I got back from two weeks in beautiful New Zealand.  For those of you who don't know, my family moved to New Zealand when I was nine and stayed until I was thirteen.  I have been fortunate to visit family and friends in New Zealand every few years since I was a baby.  My Mum is from New Zealand and we have a lovely connection to New Zealand (Aotearoa is the Maōri name), that includes visits to the family farm, new memories created in the last 20 years in the Beautiful Bay Of Islands and a Great Great Great Grandfather who was a Maōri Chief.

I was editing our latest podcast episode while I was in New Zealand, listening to my conversation with my guest Sonia Bozzi I was reminded to slow down and savour the moments, and I did just that on my trip.  I didn't pack the days full instead I let them roll out as they please.  In my chat with Sonia we also talk about the studies behind the benefits of visualization as meditation and while in NZ I recorded some key moments in my travel journal that I will go back to on rainy days in Vancouver and meditate on.  I have shared an image below of Whale Bay on the Tutukaka Coast in Northland, where I recorded in detail what I experienced with all the senses.  

Sonia, brought up an excellent point, meditation can also happen around food and how this is especially practiced in Italy as part of the La Dolce Vita lifestyle: sitting down with a lovely view, chunk of good quality parmigiano and a glass of a local pinot grigio….In New Zealand for me one key moment around food was being in the beautiful bay of islands on Theo's boat with my brother and cousin. We came back from a walk around Urupukapuka island, a swim off the boat and then a picnic that included my favourite vinegar marinated mussels. Savour the moments, remember them to draw on later and embrace La Dolce Vita lifestyle. Arohanui.

What if the best way to experience Italy isn't through checklists and tourist attractions, but by slowing down and savoring each moment?

In this episode, Paula is joined by Sonia Bozzi, entrepreneur and founder of Cultour Italia, who curates immersive culinary and cultural tours in Italy. Sonia shares her journey from growing up in the Alps of Lombardia to managing hospitality ventures across Mexico, Canada, and Italy—all of which led her to creating unique travel experiences rooted in food, culture, and community.

Together, they explore slow travel, the art of truly experiencing a place, and how Emilia Romagna’s food culture is built on centuries of craftsmanship. Sonia gives us an inside look at the family-run farms, vineyards, and culinary traditions of Parma and Modena, from handmade tortellini to Parmigiano Reggiano aged for generations.

In this episode, you'll learn about:

  • The meaning of La Dolce Vita and why Italians embrace slow living

  • Why Parma and Modena are home to Italy’s most iconic ingredients

  • The importance of family-run food businesses and traditional craftsmanship

  • How Sonia built a career blending food, travel, and hospitality

  • A simple yet luxurious Parmesan fondue recipe to try at home

If you dream of truffle hunting in Umbria, sipping balsamic vinegar aged for decades, or learning from Italian chefs in hidden culinary schools, this episode will transport you straight to the heart of Italy.


FEATURED RECIPE

Fonduta di Parmigiano: "It's just a sauce that is two parts cream to one part parmigiano reggiano. You heat up the cream over a double boiler and then you, you whisk the cheese in there until it becomes kind of like a nice velvety sauce. And then you can put it over pasta like or tortellini or you can be creative with it like it's so versatile."  -Sonia

 
HELPFUL LINKS

Happy Cooking, Happy Travels

-Paula

P.S. I would love to hear from you, what is your favourite cuisine? Just hit reply to this email and let me know.

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