My wife and I returned from our 4th trip to Italy in September. We've seen a lot (Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast, Cinque Terre), to name a few. My appetite for Italy has just scratched the surface, but family members are questioning our sanity in wanting to return to Italy.
They think we should explore other countries (We have been to Ireland and France). I don't disagree, but I love Italy's culture, food, wine, art, architecture. I could go on. Italy is a big country, with a lot to see, do and experience. I'm sure that I don't need to convince most of you.
Anybody have similar experiences? Suggestions to counter the blastphemous arguements?
Hi--just tell them that no one, no one, goes to Italy once. The first time is simply the teaser that draws you back and back and back. They know not of what they speak!!
We have been to Italy so many times that I can't even come up with the number. I can immediately come up with 12 times, including one that lasted a year. And........there are people on this board that have been there many more times than we have.
So--tell them it's just the beginning. Oh--there are still many places we have not been to so much more to do.
We've been ONLY six times and would happily go back if we had unlimited funds! My husband keeps mentioning going back.
I'm currently helping my son with his plans to go (where to stay without us) back to Rome in February. He's an archaeologist, so he really loves Italy.
My Italy trip count: 20+. Most of them have been to Venice -- and I'm still discovering new facets of that most amazing city. I think it's important to explore other parts of the world (I have 2 continents to go before I can say I've visited all of them), but Italy IMHO is a good place to call your home away from home.
I'll probably get my face slapped for this, but I don't think it's totally nuts to consider going somewhere other than Italy, any more than it's totally nuts to keep going back to Italy. I've been to Italy 9 or 10 times and I adore it, but I'm not at all sorry that I've visited other places, too. If I'd only gone to Italy I would have missed out on some other places that I've ended up loving--Lisbon, Saint Petersburg, Scotland (many times), New Zealand, Croatia, etc.--and I enjoy the thrill of new destinations, as well as the familiarity of old ones.
But it all comes down to what you want to do, and there's no need to justify that to others. I've found that most people who criticize one's choice of destination aren't really all that concerned--they're usually either curious or just talking for the sake of talking. If somebody gets genuinely unpleasantly critical, I tend to point out that I'm paying for my trip, so I get to choose the destination.
Posts: 821 | Location: San Francisco Bay Area | Registered: 28 June 2006
You know, Italy has been one country only very recently in its history. The campanilismo (attachment to your own town) that is such a hallmark of Italy may present some political problems. But it means that every place you go in Italy, even if only separated by a few miles from the last place, has its own flavor -- both literally and figuratively. We have been to Italy 10 times, and every time we go, there is something new to discover and experience.
Seven trips and number eight coming up in March '09. And, of those seven trips, on three I didn't leave Rome except for day trips. Now, that is a narrow perspective! But it is my perspective.
If I could, I would move to Rome tomorrow, but my reality lies in Alaska.
Just returned from my 7th trip. I explain it to people like this, "If someone from Europe visits Boston, NYC and DC? Do you think they've seen the country? What if they've seen only Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and the Painted Dessert? What about San Francisco and LA?" Italy has varied cities and countryside just like we do.
That said, like others, we too have "expanded" our horizons a bit, in that we've also traveled to London, Paris and Israel lately.
Honestly, if I had my way, I'd get to do two big trips a year - one to Italy and one somewhere else. Or one to Paris and one somewhere else. Ah hell, I'd just get to travel .... hey I can dream, can't I?
Fifteen trips since 1994; normally three or four weeks per visit, but we spent three months there in 2001. I think that we all have different reasons for returning. I have explored the northern half of the country pretty well, but to be honest I have barely seen the south. I do plan on expanding our travels, but I'm in no hurry. I think that one of the benefits of "slow travel" is that relationships can develop; both with places and people. We enjoy seeing our familiar haunts and visiting the friends that we have made. There is something wonderful about not having to take out a map. It "feels" like home. I enjoy this website very much because I know that people here can relate to that.
There is something wonderful about not having to take out a map. It "feels" like home. I enjoy this website very much because I know that people here can relate to that.
We can relate. We are here in Venice for three months this time, six weeks last Christmas. This is our 8th Italian trip - anywhere from one to three months each time.
in Venice
Posts: 837 | Location: San Francisco | Registered: 22 April 2005
I don't know how many times we have been to Italy. I spent two summers (3 months) at age 10 and 18 and several trips since. I just feel at home there. One year we had a trip planned to England, France, then Italy. We were looking forward to visiting these places, but were so excited when we were finally on our way to Italy!! It's just a feeling!! Maybe the relatives, the gelato, and the wine help!!
Posts: 561 | Location: Connecticut | Registered: 02 December 2005
I too love Italy! I've been just six times (which around here in nothing!) one of which was a summer semester of law school at the University of Siena w/the late Chief Justice Rehnquist as professor.
I now have twin six year old boys who will be visiting Italy for the first time this summer! I can't wait to share with them all the amazing wonders, flavors and culture of a country I love. I hope at least one of them catches "the bug"!!
So, keep going back...there is so much to discover!
Between my wife and myself, 16 times either separately or together and for various periods of time. Now, we live here in Tuscany on 50 acres in a rented farmhouse built in 1640 with a separate guesthouse. In 21 months, we will be moving and we have no idea where but we have enjoyed ourselves in the Marche.
We have traveled to most of Western Europe and I lived and worked for 4 years in Germany before I met my wife in NC. But for whatever reason, we keep returning to Italy.
I just got back from #8 last month and #9 is schedule for March 2009. I had such a case of the "after the trip blues" when I got home that I booked the next trip the very next day. This one will be Venice only. Can't wait!
Posts: 155 | Location: Renton, Washington | Registered: 06 July 2006
Somewhere between 12 and 15 times. We first went in 1984. And we have been hooked on Italy ever since. Of course, we have also gone elsewhere, like Scandinavia, Holland, France, Costa Rica, etc. But italy is where I keep wanting to go.
Charnee Smit: Italian in a previous life.
Posts: 410 | Location: San Leandro, CA | Registered: 21 September 2007
I can't remember how many times I have been to Italy ( most visits to Venice) but I finally came to the conclusion that Itay for me is not a place to visit but a place I go to. It is my " family summer cottage". A place I return to to relax and rejuvenate.
Posts: 166 | Location: Calgary.Alberta | Registered: 19 November 2002
Circa 25 times. Until 1998 most trips were split between Rome and Florence, and were business trips to which I always tried to add a weekend or week here and there. Since 2001 these became almost annual, all 3-4 week trips, no business, just slow travel
Have been to other countries (Ireland, England, Germany, Eastern Europe, etc. and enjoyed them also) but have traveled to Italy 20 times and next year for our 50th wedding anniversary trip we're going to Ireland and England for my wife's genealogy search and then.....Italy of course. Lucky 21!
Posts: 131 | Location: Walnut Creek, CA | Registered: 18 January 2005
I can't even remember how many times we've visited Italy. I actually lived there for a year back in the late 60's, but those were different times....kind of tough. Anyway, we have tried visiting other countries and then wished we hadn't, because we kept saying, "We miss Italy." We try and visit Italy twice a year, but gave up one trip last year to go back to Paris. We were planning a trip to Provence this Spring, but canceled it after realizing we couldn't go that long without visiting Italy and will visit the Piedmont area for the first time. Italy just sucks you in, in so many ways. The beauty, food, all that history and especially the people.
We've also been asked why we keep going back to Italy and it's really hard explaining to people who have never been or visited for short periods of time while on a cruise and found it old, dirty and too crowded. We just smile and don't even try anymore.
We will keep going back to Italy every year until we can't walk anymore.
Sharon J
Posts: 1149 | Location: Houston, TX USA | Registered: 01 November 2003
We just made what is the 8th trip to Italy for me and 7th for my husband. We've made other trips that we've enjoyed greatly, and there are other places we still want to explore, but often as not we end up having this background feeling of "we could've/should've gone to Italy!"
I made my first one in 1989 for business and had never had a desire to go to Europe, let alone Italy. For the next 12 years, I longed to go back and finally we got back in 2005, 2007 and 2009. (hmmm, what's with the odd years )
I've also been to France, Egypt and China (twice) and want to visit Germany where the other side of me is from. My problem is we enjoy Italy so much and feel so at home... Judith even qualifies for dual citizenship!
No, you're not crazy... just practical!
Doug
Posts: 2262 | Location: Winter Park, FL | Registered: 18 May 2005
I explain it to people like this, "If someone from Europe visits Boston, NYC and DC? Do you think they've seen the country? What if they've seen only Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon and the Painted Dessert? What about San Francisco and LA?" Italy has varied cities and countryside just like we do.
Kim, I love your explanation. I'm using it.
Spring 2009 will be my 5th trip, physically. Mentally, I'm there everyday, especially at night when I dream.
I majored in medieval English literature and loved all my travels in Britain. The first time my (future) wife took me to Italy, I was forced to admit that I had found a better place.
England has a huge repository of great museums, cathedrals, and historical sites, but those of Italy surpass those that I had loved so much.
Throw in the better food, nicer people, and the sun, and I was left to wonder why I had read Chaucer instead of Dante.
We have been to Italy about 22 out of the 25 years we have been together (one year in Russia; one in Nova Scotia...fishing trip with lots of mosquitoes; and one in the American west) and have never run out of things to enjoy.
We are fortunate to have at least 4 weeks of time on each trip, and we often do Italy and "somewhere else" as our itinerary (have started or ended in places like London, Amsterdam, Vienna, Munich, Paris, etc.) The "somewhere else" is always a nice interlude, but it is Italy that is always first on our planning list.
Posts: 724 | Location: Northern Virginia | Registered: 22 May 2006
OK, Jim, I'll give you a few details, but I have been trying to forget.
Everyone experiences lost luggage from time to time, but, although our luggage was deemed lost, it was in the storage room all along. The only reason we were reunited with our luggage was because we physically went back to Fiumicino and searched for it ourselves, in a room where Alitalia personnel were sitting, watching a soccer game, smoking cigarettes, while we found our own luggage, deemed lost. Some of the "lost" luggage had three inches of dust on it and perfectly legible ID tags.
We got a piece of garbage car from an Auto Europe affiliate that the rental agent did not want to exchange. I won't tell you how it broke down one minute, wouldn't start another, because of a stripped starter, had a flat tire, blah, blah, blah. It required an additional trip to the airport and a screaming match in Italian to get a car that was borderline serviceable at a really high rental price.
We went to a little town East of Rome so that I could explore the San Benedetto monasteries. I have a curiosity for these religious locations, but it was freezing...like snowing in October and the innkeeper would only turn on the heat for about two hours in the afternoon. They loaned us additional coats so we wouldn't be cold, but jeez louise, if you can't afford to heat a place you should not be renting rooms. It was difficult to think about showering because I never wanted to get undressed. Enough said about our love life those days. I don't have a problem with the weather being cold, as it's weather after all, but I do have a problem sleeping in a place that feels like a mausoleum.
After that, we drove to Nemi expecting three nights in a little B& B, where despite confirmation by email and telephone from the states, they were not there to receive our call the day we were to arrive. We called all throughout the day and arrived around two to find a pair of ferocious German shepherds, growling and jumping at us at the gate. After many calls I finally got an answer, when I was cursed out repeatedly by the innkeeper for calling late in the day. Let's just say that he was a little disrespectful to the American traveler, yet he expected me to understand all that Italian profanity. Funny thing is I did. After that, he asked me when we were planning on arriving. ummmm...never?
That little fiasco cost us big bucks to find a place at the last minute.
Thank heavens for our friends from Abruzzo who helped us to repair and recoup in the middle and have a nice time.
BUT sad to say, at some point I was exposed to a horrible flu, which ultimately developed into pneumonia, from which I suffered for three months, including pleurisy and a collapsed lung. My recuperation took approx 6 months.
Hey...you asked! Just in case you've been wondering why I haven't been participating! I'm not an inexperienced traveler, I speak pretty good Italian. Our experiences were rude.
Pat
Posts: 1112 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
Hey...you asked! Just in case you've been wondering why I haven't been participating! I'm not an inexperienced traveler, I speak pretty good Italian. Our experiences were rude
Sounds like things couldn't have gone worse for you.....I am sorry about your experience--the trip from hell.
Yes, Jim, the San Benedetto monastery and the one dedicated to his sister Santa Scholastica are in Subiaco. From there, they made a pilgrimage to Tuscany and built another, a beautiful place near Pienza. I don't want to hijack the thread and could talk a little about these things in another thread if anyone is interested.
Now that a year has gone by, I look at it this way. Italy is like an old friend, who treated me badly once. I value the friendship, so I will forgive and forget as best I can, but go about the relationship with eyes open wider.
My husband, OTOH does not share my Italian infatuation and is only "thinking about it."
I'm sure I can get him over to my side again!
Posts: 1112 | Location: Rochester, NY and Bonita Springs, Fl | Registered: 18 September 2002
My wife requested that I amend my post about travels to note that she was there about a dozen times with her parents before she met me. Not sure if there is a hint that she enjoyed those trips more, but the record is corrected.
One other thing that this thread has made me think about is how "limited" our trips have been. Neither one of us has ever been south of the Amalfi coast.....should probably start thinking about making that correction too.
Posts: 724 | Location: Northern Virginia | Registered: 22 May 2006
Seems like I'm always trying to explain to friends and relatives why I keep going to Italy (2, sometimes 3, times a year). No-one quite gets it. It's great to hear from others who do. That's why I love SlowTrav.
First of all to answer your question - 7 times since 1998 for a total of 6 months on the ground in Rome. Talk about limited!!!
But what to say to friends? Simple - Some of us have heart places. Places where we know we belong. Has nothing to do with the scenery, the amenities, even sometimes the people. It is just a place where we take this deep psychological breath and go aaaahhhhh I'm home. I like who I am in Italy. Not just because I am on vacation and therefore relaxed but because there is something there that encourages my curiosity. That stimulates the creative part of me (what little there is and that is as a writer). That makes me more generous in spirit.
Have I had bad experiences? YES!! Heck yes. Start with a month of continuous rain. A bee sting that turned into blood poisoning(my first trip) broken wheelchairs and with flu, etc. But that is life. The same thing happens here. It is a little easier here because I know where to go to get medical care, wheel chair repair, etc..
Maybe I cut Italy a little more slack than the US. No, thinking about it I don't. I still haven't gone back to Venice after my freezer room (Pat you aren't the only one).
So as to travel other places? I'll get there. But so far no other place (except for AZ) has rung my bell like Italy. I was shocked to find that while I found Ireland gorgeous, nothing, nada emotion wise. It's the difference between going to an art gallery and being enthralled by the Monets or Rembrants and going to the Capitoline and standing there crying at the statue of the dying gaul. One intellectually stimulates me and one grabs me by the gut and twists.
Do I want to go other places? Absolutely!! But lacking unlimited funds I NEED the soul change that only Italy gives me. Or maybe as the screen name says.... I might as well face it I'm addicted to Rome.
How many times---not enough! Six so far, the 7th will be this spring. And I haven't even made a dent... Even in Italy, I find it hard to go to new places because I just love going back again and again to the old places (Rome, Venice, how can I ever get enough??)
For our spring trip, we were *this close* to going to Provence instead. And I so wanted to, if only to try somewhere new, and we've never been to France! But in the end the draw of Italy was just too strong...I knew if we didn't go, we'd end up wishing we had.
quote:
Some of us have heart places. Places where we know we belong. Has nothing to do with the scenery, the amenities, even sometimes the people. It is just a place where we take this deep psychological breath and go aaaahhhhh I'm home.
Well said. And I feel similarly about Latin America, which is why we try to split our trips between the two. It doesn't leave enough time for the rest of the world, I know...its just hard to pull away from Italy.
I feel like such a novice! I have only been 4 times. My 5th trip is coming up in Feb.09 (3 weeks in Umbria). I have never been able to figure out why Italy calls me but it does. I love the language (wish I could speak it better), the people, the food, the wine, the cities, the countryside. Heck, I love it all. I have been to many countries in Europe but I always long for Italy.
Originally posted by Eccomi: We went to a little town East of Rome so that I could explore the San Benedetto monasteries. I have a curiosity for these religious locations, but it was freezing...like snowing in October and the innkeeper would only turn on the heat for about two hours in the afternoon.
Pat, once when we were in Italy on a cold day in October (this was outside Venice), the innkeeper told us that she was forbidden by law to turn on the heat before November. I wonder if that could have been true for your hotel, too.
But it does sound like you had a really horrible run of bad luck on that trip.
My wife and I have been to Italia 10 times since 1993. For 2009, we decided to go somewhere different, Sicily! Those friends and family members that tell us to go somewhere different are the first one's to ask us to plan their trips or want to go with us.
Roz, that is the law. But the mayor can order by special decree that you can turn your heat on early if it is an especially cold October -- this happened this year here in Acqui Terme. It is not really enforceable in single family homes, but rather is intended for compliance in condos and apartment buildings. I would imagine that larger hotels are bound by the same laws.
By the way, I have only been to Italy once in recent years. But it's been a really, really, really, really long trip
and one somewhere else. Ah hell, I'd just get to travel .... hey I can dream, can't I?
Maybe the relatives, the gelato, and the wine help!! 
However, I am planning to go to Italy in the fall 2010! 
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