I’ve just returned home from a fantastic week in Northern Italy, kid free, thanks to the help of my parents. Did I mention they are no longer speaking to me? Anyway, I wanted to share a bit about my trip with all of you. I could easily go on and on about the beauty of Venice, the quaint town of Mantova, the shopping in Verona, the art in Florence and the charm of the Italian people, but I won’t. Instead, I’d like to share a few simple observations.
The people are all drop dead gorgeous. There’s not a bad one in the bunch. Even the beggars are stunning. This sort of makes me hate them.
Not a soul is overweight. They eat tons of carbs and still remain thin. I’m not sure how they pull this off. After a week of dining on Italian food, I needed a shoe horn and a can of Crisco to fit into my jeans. I wish this was an exaggeration.
While having drinks in a friend’s home, I stupidly referred to my 100-year-old home as old. After bursting into hysterics, they shared with me that their home was built in the early 1500′s. Let’s just say, stuff there is really old.
Wine is served with every meal. I’m considering moving based on this fact alone. If you cut me right now, I would bleed Chianti. However, my passion about drinking my fair share of wine while in Italy had a major downside.
Yes, this is the stuff of nightmares. Using the restroom is not for the faint of heart. This was my biggest dilemma while traveling through Italy. Unless you are a contortionist, this act will not end well. Enough said.
The quickest way to achieve a full-blown anxiety attack, besides using the restroom, is as a passenger of an Italian driver. They make crazy New York drivers seem like kittens. Our driver blew down the highway doing 120 miles per hour. Is it any wonder I felt compelled to drink wine with breakfast?
No matter what the weather, everyone wears pants. You will not see an Italian bare leg anywhere. The idiot in the skirt would be me. I never got the “Pants Only” memo. I’m lucky they let me in.
Ciao!
Sounds like an awesome trip. Italy is one of the few places outside the US I wouldn’t mind visiting.
Toilets are one thing I think ”we” got right… hahaha…
When you go, I recommend bringing your own. Find one that fits in your carry on.
Hahaa, love the unique perspective on Italy! Gorgeous pictures, by the way
Thanks so much for the kind words and for reading.
Was just discussing a possible trip to Northern Italy with a friend this morning…..did you go with a tour group or out on your own?
been there with the toilet situation in Istanbul…
Daeja, we did not go with a tour group. My brother-in-law travels to Italy regularly for business, so he put together the itinerary for us. If you can pull it off, spend more than a week. I wish we could have spent more time, but we had to get back to reality. It was just enough time to make me want more.
Italy is my obsession lately! I want to go to Positano before I die. Didn’t know about the bathroom situation though…hmmm….Loved all your pictures.
Positano is on my all time list of places to go before I die, too! Let’s go together, okay?
That would be fantastic, Jackie!
Now that would be an amazing trip, Darla!
This was great! I love this kind of review! The nitty gritty! The REAL stuff. We all know the food is spectacular, but let’s hear about the loo, the drivers, the “yes, I’m American and can be totally clueless about your country so go ahead and laugh at me” stuff!
Thanks, Irene. I like to get right down to the nitty gritty. Glad you liked it!
The large coffee is served in a shot glass sized mug and don’t pack a lot if you go to Venice.
“Look at the stupid Americans with all their luggage!” Sad, but true.
Interesting. When I went to Italy, Rome, Florence, Capri, I never saw a public bathroom with a hole in the floor. At least that one looks clean…depending on your aim.
I bet it was because you were wearing pants. Maybe they save the good bathrooms for people who wear pants.
wow, Very funny. Glad you had a great time. To bad for your parents.
Thanks so much, Goeber. I know, my poor parents! They’re still shaking.
I would so love to go to Italy. I’m totally jealous. Your pants story reminded me of the prank calls we would make to neighborhood grocery stores as kids. “Do you have chicken legs?” “Why yes.” “Then just wear pants and nobody will notice.” Hang up. Maybe they all have chicken legs?
Hahahaha! Yes, I bet it’s because they all have chicken legs. At least that’s what I’m going to tell myself.
Italy How awesome! It’s so funny that you wrote that they are all gorgeous. I just got back from a week in The Netherlands and I wrote the exact same thing on my post. What’s up with that? Blessed with good genes I guess.
Can’t wait to read about your trip to the Netherlands. Headed over soon.
By the way, are you having trouble with your WordPress “Blogs I Read?” I no longer get updates on the blogs I follow.
I just checked the Blogs I Read section and mine seems to be working. Although I usually use Google Reader as my feed. (Shh. I think that might be blasphamy over here at WP)
Mine’s still not working. What the heck! I have no way of tracking everyone’s new posts. Hmmm. I need to try out Google Reader if I can figue it out.
I don’t think you’re alone. Byronic Man was just complaining about losing all of the blogs he’s following over the weekend.
Mine is finally back in action, but I know there are many people still struggling with their Reader.
LOVE italy myself Nancy. agree with all of it…but, i think he might’ve been doing 120 kilometers an hour…almost sure of it. anyway, ooks like u had a lot of fun. continue…
Peaked about 180 kmh. We figured why wear seat belts???
also.. besides ooks it Looks like u had a lotta fun.
No joke, Tony! I thought we were going to die.
We truly enjoyed having the kids and that you had this wonderful experience. Nothing should be read into the fact that we’re leaving shortly for the quiet and solitude of Maine.
Oh good, because I forgot to tell you we’re planning another trip next month. Just about the time you stop shaking.
Loved your observations Nancy. Sounds like a great trip.
Thanks, Jeff. Let’s catch up on my front porch soon.
Haha! Meemaw’s comment cracked me up! I am so jealous of your trip to Italy! I’m pretty sure I can’t leave Wonderbutt for that long, though. We would not have a house left!
You could always bring Wonderbutt along. Imagine that plane ride.
Nancy, I’m so glad you guys got to have a nice trip. It sounds like a lot of fun!
Awww, that baby will be here in no time and what fun you’ll have!
The trip was great and now back to reality. Although, there’s no easing back into reality, it’s more like jumping into an ice cold pool.
Great pictures and descriptions alike!!
Thanks, Karen. It was a great trip.
Wow! SO COOL, Nancy! I didn’t even realize you were in Italy! Miss the bus and I miss out on all the exciting news! Anyway, I’d say it looks beautiful, but, you know… that pretty much goes without saying, I guess. Love your photos, too… bella!
Sig, you’d be like a kid in a candy store in Italy. So much beauty to capture with the camera.
Thanks for the kind words.
Italy seems like a wonderful place to visit. My wife and I have always wanted to go. I’m glad you were able to make the trip. And I love your line about the “stunning beggars”. I’ll be laughing at that all day.
It was wonderful! And I’m not even lying about the beggars…stunning I tell ya!
I remember those style toilets in Hong Kong. I thought they were just an Asian thing. I guess it stops people peeing on the seat. I wonder what’s with the long pants thing? What a great opportunity you had for this trip. Did you hear anything on an Italian Bus?
I did, but sadly I don’t speak italian!
Hey with all that wine and wickedness it’s a wonder that
you came back at all, well I guess the loo was a bit off putting
but you could always take up Yoga
Thank you for sharing your wonderful trip with us Nancy
Androgoth XXx
Thanks so much. It was a great trip! I would have loved to stay longer, even with the scary toilets.
You should try Greece next that will be an eye opener for you, unless you are an expert at Origami
lol
Androgoth XXx
Origami is not my thing.
I absolutely love Italy. As for the toilets, I have a vivid memory of pulling to the side of the road to go to the toilet and planting my naked butt straight into a clump of stinging nettles!!!
I’ll take the scary toilet over the stinging nettles any day!:(
Found your link via Goober. Read this post – and being Italian – I found it humorous and very interesting, especially with the pictures. I’ve always wished I had visited in the 80s when time was plentiful and knees were strong as Apollo’s.
Thanks so much for popping over, kidzcomic! I’m glad this post made you smile. I’m with you, I wish I had visited years ago when I had no responsibilities and all the time in world.
Ancient Romans had toilets that looked more like toilets!
I mean, how hard could it be to pop a seat on one of those things?
I was in Italy a few years ago and never once saw a toilet like that. Hmm… Are you sure your parents didn’t send you to a 3rd world country?
Seriously, the photos are lovely and I am jealous…
And this was not the only toilet like this that I encountered. There were several!
I hate the French for the same reasons. What is it about the less a people care about their eating and their health, the better off they are? I think it has something to do with the 11 hours of TV I watch everyday.. but it’s not my fault that the entertainment industry turns out so much compelling programming.
I don’t like squatter chutes either. I would be seriously constipated after a trip there.
The polite thing to do would be to post instructions on the wall next to the squatter chutes.