Things to Know/Do in Italy!

I decided not to give a travel log of our whole trip to Italy because I figured that would be really boring for everyone to read. I will save that for my personal journal. So for now I will share with you some things to do and know if you are ever going to Italy!

By the way...Sorry this has taken so long to put up here!

1. Before you even leave, just know that you will not get any ice or cold drinks while in this beautiful country! They do not have ice that we take for granted. The "ice maker" is something not found! If you do ask for ice... many times they will not understand you or have a clue what you are talking about, and other times they will bring you a custard dish with 5 pieces of ice meant for 9 people! (Yes this really happened to us).

2. Understand that our dollar is worth NOTHING! The exchange rate is horrible and you will find yourself going... "Oh it is ONLY 5 Euros...wait a minute that is like $10! That is expensive!" So just remind yourself not to think about how many American dollars you are spending!

3. If you go to Venice, you HAVE to go on a gondola ride! They are romantic if it is just you and your significant other, and it is just fun if you are with a group. They are expensive, but it is worth the money!



4. In Florence there are TONS of museums to see! Definitely hit the big things like the Uffizi Gallery and the David statue! They are worth it. I was so amazed at how beautiful to art work is.

5. If you are in Florence, you definitely need to take a day trip is Pisa! Yes, the leaning tower of Pisa. It is amazing to just see it for real.


6. Rome is amazing because there is just flowing water everywhere! You can drink from all the fountains and it is cold and refreshing (or so I heard from everyone else). I had to stick with bottled water only. I guess that is what happens when you go to another country and you are pregnant!

7. When in Rome you will just be overwhelmed with the beauty of the architecture! It is amazing to think that the buildings and especially the Coliseum have been there for so long and are still as solid as they are. The city is just more than you can describe!

8. When flying to and from Italy be sure you understand it is a VERY VERY VERY long flight. If you are pregnant, know that your feet will look like whale flippers once you finish your flight. Yes, mine were huge for like 2 or 3 days! Sorry I didn't get any pictures, but you can only imagine!

9. While in Italy, you have to get your hair cut by a man you just met who is actually from Albania and used to be a weight lifting champion! If you want to know more or if any of you show interest this might be a blog on its own...just let me know.

Before

After

10. Do NOT go in the middle of summer. It was SOOOOOO HOT! Every day it had to be atleast 100 degrees and 200% humidity. They do NOT believe in air conditioner, so you can forget that idea. When you are sightseeing and everything all day...you may DIE OF A HEAT STROKE! Even when we were inside restaurants and things it didn't get any better. They don't understand what it is like to feel the relief of an air conditioner!

And those are just 10 things I learned from my trip to Italy.

We had an amazing time and loved every second of it. All I know is I will not take the USA for granted anymore! I love being able to understand the language, get ice in my drink, drink water from the tap, use the A/C, and so much more!

Oh, and I realized I really didn't take a lot of pictures with my camera. Adam took a ton with his and I don't have his pictures, so I will make him do a blog soon just full of pictures!

Hope you enjoyed the quick trip though Italy!