One of my big adventures in life was to move to Napoli, Italy, as a newly-wed, to live and work. It was brilliant, because we had never been there and didn’t know anything about the place, so hubby and I explored it together. It was in Napoli that the idea for loveandpizza.it and Carolina’s adventureswas born, and in 2016 “Loveandpizza.it was live for sale on Amazon! Now, 5 years later, there is also a French version and the Portuguese one is being translated as I write this page, by the dearest Farah Serra.
As Carolina would say, “It would be incredible if we could weigh things that don't go in the suitcase. (...) But if my dreams, fears and expectations had been weighed at the airport, I would certainly have to pay excess baggage!”
This is me, a dreamer, in love with the sea, for traveling and getting to know other cultures. An incorrigible romantic, I love a good story and have such an imagination that sometimes it makes me feel dizzy and lost - sometimes the ideas decide to take my brain hostage!
I was born and raised in Brazil, in a city called Uberlândia. I am the oldest of three sisters, daughter of a mother in Heaven and a father who is still around to give us all loads of love, affection - and recommendations. Hehe.
I have so many interests that it would take me ages to list them all here, but here are the top ten (or thirteen!) - in no particular order:
- puppies (have you met Cookie yet? He’s the cutest cockapoo ever! Check him out on @cookiethewelshcockapooYou’re going to fall head over heels in love!)
- psychology and behaviour
- reading & writing
- History
- Monet
- photography
- Lindt chocolate
- coffee (usually black, no sugar, but I love when Christmas comes, so I can finally indulge on Gingerbread lattes!)
- crime series and documentaries
- period fiction/drama
- alcohol: nowadays I am a veeeery “lightweight” drinker, so I rarely drink, but when I do, my choice will be one of the following: Bayleys - at home and strawberry & lime Kopparberg, or freezing cold draft beer or Guiness - in a pub.
- music
- dancing
I was an English teacher for over 20 years, and worked in Brazil, Italy and here in the UK as a teacher, university lecturer, teacher trainer and Director of Studies. I also LOVE to travel and I have very itchy feet – lucky that Hubby does too! My mum used to say that I did all the travelling she hadn’t done. I always took that as I compliment and always felt really happy telling her about my adventures. My favourite places in the world are:
- Napoli, Italy (the city that stole my heart!)
- Tropea, Italy
- Rome, Italy
- Prague, Czech Republic
- Amsterdam, Holland
- London, UK
- Bath, UK
- Barcelona, Spain
- Salvador, Brasil
- Santos, Brasil
- Zakynthos, Greece
I have an MA in English and Creative Writing (Cardiff Met) and have done courses on counselling and coaching/mentoring. I’m a “nerd”. I LOVE to learn new things, and I’m quite good at learning things by myself.
I also love to read and watch TV series, and some of my favourite TV series are Outlander, Gomorrah, Line of Duty, The Crown, Downton Abbey, Grey’s Anatomy, How to Get Away with Murder and The White Queen. I'm a big fan of Lucy Worsley, a British historian and TV presenter, and also of those programs (usually from the BBC) that recreate how people used to live.
To read, I love:
- a good romcom/chick lit by authors such as Katie Fforde, Sophie Kinsella, Marian Keyes, Jojo Moyes;
- period/historical drama such as the ones from Victoria Hislop, Rosie Thomas and Philippa Gregory (she’s the author of "The Other Boleyn Girl", which inspired the film “The Other Boleyn Girl”, and of the novels about the Wars of the Roses, which inspired the series "The White Queen");
- crime novels, from Karin Slaughter, Stephen King, Tess Gerritsen, and if you’re into all that Jack the Ripper stuff and never read Patricia Cornwell’s Portrait of a Killer, you’re missing out big time!
I am very eclectic with music and films, so for a look at my music favourites you can check me out on Spotify.
As for films, I learned to love movies from my mum. All the great actors and actresses I know and like it’s because of her! I still love classics like The Goonies, Top Gun, Dirty Dancing, but mostly I’ll go for the same genres of the books I read. There are two films that I love and watch it whenever I can: The Holiday and Book Club. If I want to relax and have a laugh, Book Club is the one I go to! Besides those, there are way too many films/series that it would be hard to tell! I also love a good Brazilian comedy (I LOVE Paulo Gustavo and his Dona Hermínia!) And the classic Mr Bean. See, I told you! I’m very eclectic!
Flowers, pretty and colourful things make me smile, as well as puppies or kittens and listening to the birds and to the rain.
My biggest dream is to live 10 metres from the sea. is viver a 10 metros do mar.
I am terrified of spiders and snakes.
What else would you like to know about me? Ask in the comments, or send me a DM on Instagram!
Beijoca e intis!
Dani
