Things I Love:
1. Things stay open til Midnight or later. The whole country is like a big taco bell commercial. :) If you need something, you no longer have to go to a 24 hour Walmart.. Dolce and Gabanna, Souvenier shops, All the gelato shops, you name it... all open very late.
2. Holiday. Why work the month of August, really? Parts of Italy practically shut down in August. Milan for example, a huge banking capital for Italy... practically deserted. Everyone leaves and heads for the coast, or somewhere more interesting to say the least. They all get practically an entire month off of work and do what they please.
3. 90% of people (at least) can speak two languages. Obviously not completely fluent all the time, but they are much more intelligent in the fact that they have taken the time to learn it. Foreign travellers are much better off in Italy than in the US. If an Italian person came in to Panera, they would be shit out of luck, and they would simply have to point.
4. Cheese and wine! It's good, and there are lots of it!
5. It really is beautiful here. When you take some time to get out of the cities and really touristy parts of Italy, there are some breathtaking views that I am certain are one of a kind. Tuscany has been amazing, and there will be nothing else in my life like Chianti.
6. You can take your dog everywhere. It doesn't matter if it is a grocery store, pharamacy, or clothing store, your dog is for the most part, welcome. Don't get me wrong, I have seen a handful of stores with no dog stickers, but they are rare.
7. People are much more prone to traveling. I think that Americans are workaholics after being here. These people take tons of weekend trips, and tend to leave their worries behind.
8. Cars. Ferrari, Lamborghini, so what-- their coolness factor is dropping a little, just because they are so common. :)
With all that being said: Italy isn't my favorite place on earth. For one, my family and friends are really far away! That is the worst part about being here, but I get over that one cause I know I will be home soon. Italians have very dry personalities- if they are not dry, they simply don't care about getting to know new people. They have friends, and they have people in their lives, they don't need you. Italian men like American women ( don't ask me why, I don't really see the fascination), but besides that, unless they are trying to sell you something, they just want to know why you are here. I am too outgoing for this country! The country side was my favorite so far! I love the beach, but do not understand how these people manage to go everyday. Everyone does it. They wake up every morning and go to the beach. No questions asked. For the past 25 days, that is where I have been, and I will be there til this coming Saturday (if you are looking for me)! The kids want to do something else, but that doesn't matter- we go to the beach, that's just what we do. Have I mentioned there is no air conditioning? I promise that on my next visit (I will be back), I will be staying at a hotel or it will be winter. There is no reconsidering the previous statement.
I am so lucky to have seen all the things I have seen this summer so far. I can't believe I have already been here this long. I don't think I will make it to Southern Italy this trip, which sucks, but I have the North covered, and Southern Italy has so much that it could easily be a trip by itself. Starting Saturday the 31st, I have the week off and I am going to be staying just North of Venice. A friend from Johnson and Wales got married to a military guy and they are stationed there. I talked to her today, and I am excited to be able to experience some American things on the base. Italians don't stray much from their own culture, so I have missed some things from home. I will be able to see Venice and explore the east coast!
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