Things I learned

Some things I learned when in Italy:

1. I can drive a manual, no doubt! If you can drive a manual up and down hills in the dark with pouring rain and horrificly bad fog successfully, I think you've done a good job. Oh, and I managed to not screw up the car either. Woo hoo!!!

2. Lesson learned: in the future when planning a city hopping trip, as I would call my experience to Italy, figure out the city you want to visit the most and do that first. By the time we got to Venice, we loved it so much, but were so tired and so ready to go home...oh and SO BROKE! no money equals no money.

3. While the food is WAY cheaper in Italy (Paris is SO darn expensive and I had forgotten that until I went away) but they get you in charging you for TAP WATER, yes, 2-4 euros for a bottle of water they got from the sink. AND they charge a sitting and service fee. Back in the States we call that a tip, but here its hidden in the menu in Italian so the tourists are shocked at the bill being considerably higher after its all said and done. Thanks, Italy!

4. People in Italy eat at certain times of the day, lunch is between noon and 3pm and dinner is between 7 and 10 and if you eat any other time you'll either get a restaurant to yourself or not find anyone to serve you. Both happened to us. In Paris, people eat all hours and you will be served at all hours and not usually be alone in the process.

5. There is a reason they call it "off-season"....while it was nice to not to have deal with large crowds and hefty prices that you normally would have if this was the summer, we dealt with lots of rain and cold and wind. Not the most pleasant way to tour the Tuscan hillside. (But that didn't make it any less beautiful, just makes me want to go back when its sunny and warm) Oh, and we had problems with places just not being open because it was off-season as well which was not broadcasted on the internet so we were shocked to find those things out once we arrived, but again, it didn't slow us down one bit.

6. They really do eat only pasta and pizza and gelatto in Italy, thats not a lie. Ok, maybe Alison and I only ate pasta and pizza and gelatto, but hey, we were in Italy!

7. Lastly, backpacking and I do not have a future together. It worked out this was still coat wearing season so its ok that I look the same in all the pictures, but I did rough it like the rest of them. 1 pair of pants, 1 pair of shorts with leggings, 2 pairs of shoes, and 3 shirts not to mention the things I did without like a hairbrush, blow-dryer, and extra pairs of socks and undergarments...all thanks to my lack of space for storing it. It was a lovely experience but not one I plan to recreate anytime soon. I don't mind toting around my hot pink rolling suitcase just for the sake of a bit of variety! :-)

Well, I think this is a good start for now! My trip was AMAZING as you can see in my previous posts and i'm already looking forward to my next trip, where will it be????

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend and is having a great week! Off to go play with the kids and chat with my host mom. This should be fun!!!

Ciao, for the last time!