Lessons learned in Italy

I don't know about you guys, but this is my first ever time traveling outside of the North American continent (Hawaii doesn't count). I am learning so much - about people, traveling, communicating w/o knowing the language, myself, history, buses, backpacks, timing, God, my husband. Can I share some lessons with you?

-Even though I am eating croissants smothered in nutella for breakfast, chunks of salomi and cheese for lunch, pasta and pizza for dinner, and gelatto for dessert (every.day.), I still think I'm going to lose weight on this trip, rather than gain it due to the enormous amounts of walking we do everyday (like, miiiiles).

- Meals are an entire even in Italy. You are expected to buy a first course before the pasta - an antipasta. This is typically a plate of fried vegetables or even ham and cheese. Then the meat comes after the pasta - the 3rd course. But that is not as expected as the first and second course. The waiters will not bother you once you get your food unless you ask for them - they want you to enjoy your meal. Same goes with the check - they will not both you with it until you ask for it. Usually the tip is included in the meal. Tips are not as expected/normal in Italy as they are in the States. If you are unsure if it's included or not, 10% is customary. 

- Everything is expensive. Like more than the US. If they can charge you for it, they will. Water, the bathroom, a reservation (which means having a Eurail pass doesn't automatically get you on the trains for free. Many trains require a reservation, which costs anywhere from 3-10 euros and some local trains don't except a Eurail pass as a ticket), a congestion fee on the road, etc.  

- Not every train runs everyday. You need to double check if its Monday-Friday or just Saturday/Sunday. Learned this one the hard way.

- Italy is extremely crowded. It's about the size of Arizonia, and it is second only to China as the most densely populated country. I'm here before tourist season starts and it is crazy crowded.

-This is the perfect time of year to be traveling. The weather in Italy is amazing right now - sunny with a nice breeze; summers are way too hot and even more busy than it already is.

-Even though its crowded, Italy has a pretty relaxed attitude - kind of like Hawaii. When I went through their border patrol, they didn't even look at me as they barely glanced at my passport, smoked a cigarette, and chatted with their neighbor. You can't always count on things arriving on time or starting on time or opening on time. They have a 3 to 5 hour break in the middle of the day where everything shuts down for siesta time. The piaza's (plazas) were built specifically for people to just hang out and chat at the end of the day - talk story together, relaxing in the evening. Italians know how to "do nothing," 

il dolce far niente - "the sweetness of doing nothing"

-Because of this, everyone has a different story. Ask multiple sources if you aren't positive.

-Everyone smokes here.

- If I would do this again, I would pack even lighter than I did. Adam bought me a side-slinging camera bag and that is soo perfect for a day pack. The train stations have a "left baggage" department where you can keep your bag there for the day - it's pretty safe, they take your passport and give you a ticket to pick up your bag so no one else can get it from them, and they charge you about 4 euros for half the day. Or, if you have a hotel room, obviously you can keep your backpack in the room and only take a smaller day pack.

-The differences between 1st and 2nd class on the trains are this (as far as I can tell): 2nd class seats are little narrower, there is no air conditioning (which could be a bother in the summer but is fine now), and sometimes (only sometimes) 1st class gets complimentary beverages and snacks (like airplane snacks is all). No biggie.

-This was a big one for me: dealing with people in the cities. I'm pretty paranoid - thanks to my mom - every guy I encounter is a potential rapist (I know thats terrible but it's true) or thief (a little more probable but still kinda crazy) and every woman is trying to con me into buying something. The buses are the most cramped area of space I have ever squeezed into (especially in Rome); it's impossible to know if someone just stole something out of your bag or if they just bumped into on accident. For this reason, I have locks on my zippers. It gives me a lot more comfort than trying to swing my bag around to the front when I'm crowded on all sides. 

And people do have a lot of tricky tactics to get you to pay them: they will hand the lady a rose, telling them how beautiful they are, no charge for them, have it, and then they rush to the man they are traveling with and demand money from him (happened to me; I was standing there looking pathetic with a wilting rose in my hand as the little man followed my dad down an entire block. I was trying to say take it back, and he just kept saying no, you so beautiful. Liar.) Or, they will see you looking confused and trying to figure something out and they will say, Let me help. They will look at your ticket and your map with you and will either snatch something from you while you are distracted, or expect money for helping you. I just had to learn to walk away from anyone approaching me pretty much and say no, grazie. I felt so rude at first, but then I had to remind myself that I am one tourist in millions and they pull this on everyone so don't feel bad. 

-The biggest lesson I've learned in the first week?

I'm never traveling without my husband again. <3