Revisiting Italy

I'm in the midst of a multiple-week cleaning and organizing project at my house. During the process, I've uncovered many forgotten gems: senior photos of my high school friends, abandoned craft projects, and an unbelievable amount of disjointed electronic equipment accrued from my father (mostly against my will) over the years.

I also recovered the journal I kept during my two-week trip to Italy with Ryan four years ago. The journal contains a detailed description of everything we ate, saw, and experienced, which I'm grateful for now, having forgotten many of the little details of our trip (but not the bigger ones, including my accidental purchase of $35 worth of cheese, a result of linguistic overconfidence on my part).

Below is a list of reflections and memories I wrote out while waiting in the Milan airport for our plane home:

• Sometimes you just have to pay a little more to sit down for a drink or meal
• The tap water is no good
• Most Italians in the service industry speak enough English to make things happen
  
• Every city is SO different
• There is definitely a more 'international, European' feel in the North
• It's nice that you can travel anywhere by train, bus, etc.
• I got groped on a bus in Rome and almost got robbed in Milan
  
• Probably paid too much for my leather purse in Florence
• I did a surprisingly good job packing
  
• I hate birds!
• Italian towels suck
• The Swiss Guards are seriously funny-looking (what's their story??)
  
• So very many tourists
• Yay for Cultural Week! (free entrance to most museums we visited)
• Incredibly blessed with no late or missed trains, planes, etc.
• I lost weight, despite the copious amounts of pasta, wine and gelato consumed (all that walking!)
  
• Every city except for Milan felt safe
• Loved the tour at the Coliseum (must watch Gladiator!)
• Street artists EVERYWHERE
• I am terrified of trains and planes
• Thank you God for keeping us safe thus far
• I liked the side streets in Rome
• Soccer really is a huge deal here
• I can't believe I drank wine every single night!
• Going to the bathroom is a pain - have to pay everywhere
• There's no such thing as 'a huge cup of coffee'
• Italian breakfast is dumb

I hope and pray I get to return one day. Best diet ever!