All around Italy.

So hey Blog, it's been awhile!

               I'd like to say I took break from blogging and did a soul search, but that would be false. 

Over the last two weeks, I've seen more of Italy than I have any other country since starting this world tour.

Well cripes.

The reason for this? A combination of travel practically and of course, location. Italy has been high on my visit radar since, well, I started traveling. Think of all those must-sees associated with Italy:

 

        I'm taking a wild guess that I don't have to name any of these.

So for place like this, time was favorable. And I think we had just the right amount. But as many travel-goers can attest, the best experiences came not necessarily from the 'must-dos', but rather, some of the other bits. I made them in a nice little list. Let's call it a top 10,. SHALL WE BEGIN?

Internationally Natalie's Italy: Top 10 Experiences.

1.) Home-cooked Meal.

This fish was delish.

In Venice, Italy, Mom and I had the pleasure of staying with a friends Kaisa and Massimo.They were excellent hosts, and needless to say, the best meal in Italy I had was the one that was prepared and served at home.Thank you Chef Massimo!

2.) True love conquers none all.

 10 points in the grim department.

So Verona, Italy is the setting place of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, if you remember. ( I did not.) This is a great place to go aside from the story - with absolutely fantastic shops and sights- but we maximized efforts here in the fiction department. Where else can you see Juliet's tomb and terrorize Romance-seeking pilgrims from her infamous balcony?

THE PRINCESS IS IN ANOTHER CASTLE.

3.) The Quest for Turkey.

Florence is famous for its art. I don't think it's famous for its turkey, but  it was Thanksgiving when were there, so turkey had to be found. Luckily our family friends the Springfields were in Florence the same day we were (crazy coincidence) and were savvy in finding this plucky bird. It came in the form of a rather large sandwich. But holiday tradition was accomplished. Happy Turkey-day, everybody!

4.)The un(?)intentionally odd art

Ok, ok, maybe this falls under the must do-s of Italy Travel, with y'know, the Renaissance art. But look at this picture.

Look at their faces. I MEAN WHAT IS GOING ON.

Now in this case in Naples, (which is the city of pizza and Nativity decorations), I'm fairly sure this was 100% intentional. And cute. In an odd way.

I just don't remember a pizza-baker in the Nativity.

5.) RELICS!

St. Valentine's Skull. My anti-romance jokes continue!

I have a fascination with the tradition of relics.  Italy's a great bet to find them. The Capuchin Church in Rome (which didn't allow photos, so Google is again your friend) had a monastic order who decorated their church with bones and body parts from their deceased brothers to make an strange ossuary. In Naples, a cave full of abandoned bones were turned into a sort of a ritual-going place for residents, who decided to adopt skulls and pray over their souls.

They even prayed asking for lottery numbers. This is a great idea.

6.) Scoring tickets to see the Papal Audience.

This was neat. I'm not religious, but the idea of seeing Pope Francis in flesh-and-blood was too good to pass up. Actually getting the tickets was a fun experience alone, as it was a quest in itself. Basically, from our hands-on research, you can get tickets if you approach the Swiss Guards around St. Peter's Basilica the day prior to the audience on Wednesdays (granted, don't try this in the high season/holiday, as you'll likely be disappointed) and then ask them. Nobody tells you this stuff. For Mom and me, it was trial and...success!

7.) Time-Travel.

 According to a depressing theory, someone would have come back to the past by now if time travel will ever be invented, so I have glum predictions for the future. But Roman Ruins are the next best thing. Just ignore the guys dressed up as Roman Soldiers wandering around asking to take a photo for money and the moment will not be.... ruined. Bada-tss.

Ruins, ruins everywhere. Ruins in the road. Ruins in the park. 

Ruins in the subway. Ruins in the room. Oh no, those are my shoes!!!

8.) Taking Instagram-worthy pictures.

I talked about last post how I recently developed an Instagram addiction. (Thanks Brian.) This was not helped by the particularly scenic pictures I got in Tuscany and Naples. And the color saturation tool definitely is abused makes for awesome shots.

Technicolor dreamland~...

9. COFFEE WITH FACES!!!

Oh, and Italian cuisine.

I'm on a carb-free, cheese-free, sugar-free break at the moment. But it was tasty.

10.) Feeling smart about art.

Lastly, art smarts. Italy was like a continuous game of Clue. You'd see something, and go, AH-HA! That's famous. Where is the Know Your Italian Art Jeopardy when I need it.  This is in contradiction to my usual experience in art museums which is spent wandering around vaguely nodding at pictures, but I digress, I felt like an art wizard.

Is art wizard even a thing?

Nothing says I know Italian Renaissance painters like being able to recite 

their names by their Teenage Mutant Ninja-Turtles association.

 10 points to Mom's Art History Class.

Great experiences are to be had in Italy. There's really something for everyone: Art, history, religion, drama, science, shopping, overusing Gladiator quotes, people watching, seashore escapes, and tasty food. And more Italian leather products than anyone would ever want or need.

Next on our continue dive into the Ancient World, Greece! Fire up the machine, we're going further back in TIMEEEEEE