As for me Italy is one of the most beautiful and gorgeous countries you can ever visit. There you can mix different travel activities: from a trip by car along the sea and exploring of coastal cozy towns to the luxurious relaxation in a private villa with a sea of champagne! Whatever you choose it is better to keep in mind following for not to be disappointment in case if your expectations would be brighter Italian reality.
High season VS Low season
If you already have an experience in traveling you may know about “High and Low” seasons in warm coastal countries. If no, it means that if your traveling dates are from October to March, you can find most of restaurants and cafes, local souvenir shops and clubs you expected to visit closed. Also the streets of small towns this period of a year look abandoned and you will walk alone.
When I was in Italy in the mid of November, I didn’t expect that ALL restaurants 60 km from Rome were closed. I was so hungry and one kind old cafeteria owner (big thanks to him) treated me with a cup of tea and stale bun.
“Hastily and negligently”
Hastily and negligently, got it? About attitude. To be honest it is not ubiquitous but you should expect it even in an expensive restaurant. I guess it depends on their mood. Surely it can spoil your first impression but you should keep in mind that no need to expect famous “Italian hospitality” if you are in a tourist trap and they can only take you like a wallet with money. So it can be better visiting not only famous and overcrowded places but also small and local with hidden Italian mystery and charm.
Hideous car driving
I just even do not want to recollect. But.. Every day I use the car was totally stressful and life threatening. Even if you try to keep driving safe to the maximum, Italian driving style is aggressive: they can almost sideswipe your car and you should ALWAYS avoid it; they cross prohibition lines just for overtaking someone; they can ignore the red light etc. The high point of my decision never to rent car in Italy again was the moment when someone made “hit and run” while moving. That driver crashed the left mirror of my car while moving towards each other and run. Thanks that there was no head-on crash.
When we talked about Italian driving style with the host of my apartment, she just laughed. It was like a funny stories for her and she said to me that almost every driver there has hideous driving habits..
No Money – No Papa
Huh, unfortunately. But if you want to visit The Holy Vatican City and all its churches – pay. About 55 eur for person. And a looooong loong line in the entrance. That day I decided to go to the cost and take a nice cappuccino away.
I am just sure that if someone (read: government) obliges us to pay for admission to the church (and it is not only in Italy, everywhere!), and citizens also pay taxes in favor of religion – it is some kind of fake worship, sorry.
Garbage = Plague?
While Greta Thunberg is fighting for the introduction of “Greta Tax” against CO2 emissions, Italy is buried in trash. I do not know why. But remember how long and hard Italy was suffering from the Bubonic Plague. According to the scientific researches, rats (namely their fleas) were vectors for the transmission of this disease.
I think living among garbage is just a habit. It was 8 centuries ag0, 100 years ago, it is now and it is OK! Literally, you can walk right in the center of Milan or Rome, turn around the corner and be horrified – a huge pile of garbage can block the whole way. By the way they also pay the trash tax..
