What a lovely holiday we've had. Today we point back toward Rome where we will board a plane tomorrow and return to the states. Often when going on vacation there is a feeling that you wish it could last a little longer. Not so when you have the luxury of a month touring. We have gotten a good feel for Italy and Greece. We've enjoyed just about every minute of our time here. But we're done and ready to be home.
In parting, here's a list of observations we've made:
Outside the cities
No graffiti
Doesn't look like anything has changed in years...about 400 years
Muted colors, void of decorations...except in alpine - colorful with attention to decorative details
Roads through villages were built after the advent of automobile = no wider than footpath in some places
Little litter
People are still very connected to the soil
Lifestyle is much less stressful...slower
Inside the cities
Much graffiti
Dirty
Loud - scooters everywhere
Very few obese people
All road construction workers are busy
Old rock walls everywhere
Most buildings are concrete faced
Toll roads are well built/maintained
85 mph/130kph
Transportation, be it trains or toll roads, very efficient
Off toll roads, windy (hairpin, cheek-tightening turns) & narrow & rural
Heavy Catholic influence still evident
Shutters everywhere
Free wifi? hahahahahahaha
Shrimp served with heads on
Visible police presence in piazzas; not so much (if ever) on roads
Took a while to have a bad gelato experience - room temp tiramisu
Italians eat pizza with fork & knife
Last time I came to Italy I was told not to wear athletic shoes because it was an obvious mark of an American. Not any more. Nike has strong presence here now.
Scarves are a necessary wardrobe piece
Man purses are common
Beds are hard, harder, hardest
Garmin is essential for getting anywhere in car, but don't always trust her
Sunday bicyclists out in droves
It's been in the 70s but because it is technically autumn, folks are layered
Still very green
Much more mountainous than we knew; have enjoyed the Apennines west to east from Genova to FrancaVilla del Mare and the Dolomites in the northeastern corner
Have been well received as American tourists
If able to plan ahead, buy reservation tickets to Vatican Museums ;-)
Things we will miss
House wine, cheap and tasty
Fresh pasta
Crusty bread. Chewy bread. Focaccia. Croissants. Cream puffs. Tarts. Local bakeries on (almost) every block.
Arrividerci!
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