Italy Trip - You would really like Italy if...

After another 24 hour travel day, I was finally home. I must say this trip was exhausting. I ended up packing in too much in my schedule during the days I traveled solo, and too much exercise on a cycling tour with Intrepid.

You would really like Italy if you like:

1) Food. It is incredible! Although I primarily ate high carbs foods, like pizza, pasta, and lasagna, I could order other dishes, I just chose not to. Italians have pride in their food and most of the time the servings are generous, especially if you go to a family run restaurant. Salads made with fresh vegetables, I have not found anything that was not fresh (unless you go to a touristy place).

2) Art and history. There is a never ending supply of spots where you can enjoy art. From galleries to street art, Italian cities (and even small villages) are full with diverse forms of art. History is embedded in so many buildings and streets, that you soon will take it for granted. I would do some research prior to visiting a site of attraction or have Internet available to do research while visiting it. Alternatively, you can join a tour, so that the guide becomes your storyteller.

3) Nature. While I did not do any hiking, cycling through the mountains and forests provided incredible views. Stay away from big cities if you would like to fully enjoy the nature, go to towns that may not be well-known to avoid tourists.

What I didn't like was:

1) Service. Many places just lack it. Grumpy waiters, long wait time for food to arrive (in some restaurants) and lack of attentiveness to detail is a normal thing in Italy, or at least in places I have been to. Maybe it's because waiters don't work for tips like here in the US, so they don't have to be really nice to their customers. Maybe it's difference in culture...

2) Mosquitos. There are no screens on any windows, and air conditioning is a hit or miss novelty. Hence, if you are hot in your room and want to open the windows, you will probably enjoy some buzzing insects at night.

3) Smoking. I am not sure what the percentage of people is who smoke in Italy, but it is by far much higher than in the US. Smoking is allowed in outdoor areas of restaurants, and since many restaurants don't have much indoor space, you end up puffing together with your neighbor. Second hand smoking is not a joke there.

Overall, I enjoyed my trip. It's good to get out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. I have never been abroad by myself, and now I can surely say I can do it again. Dining alone at restaurants is no longer an issue. My cycling roommate recommended a cycle-and-boat tour that she did right after our cycling trip. She said it was not as intense and allowed rest, something that I missed.

When traveling to other countries, I also realize how lucky I am living where I do. We take for granted so many luxuries we have in life. Traveling helps you look at life from a different perspective.