Personal Dork Assistant

Italy Notes

Took the SO for a 11-day trip to Rome, Florence, and Milan after our formal engagement. It was a good excuse to buy a new DSLR camera and associated goodies. Took lots of pictures, some of which even managed to turn out okay.

Random thoughts from the trip:

• Everyone warned us, but I was an idiot and allowed myself to get caught up with a bunch of gypsy kids near the Spanish Steps. As I was walking away, thinking I'd pushed them off, one of the kids came running up with my wallet. "You dropped this," she said. Oh well, gave them an euro tip for "picking it up" and chalked it up as a cheap lesson. It's smart of them this way to get a few bucks each time for harassment without drawing attention from the cops for outright theft.
• Best view: Castel Sant'Angelo's terrace.
• The Prada outlet had way more good stuff than the Gucci outlet, although it was a bit harder to get to. The 50%-off wallets were worth the price of admission alone.
• Get to the Vatican Museum way before it opens to be at the head of the security line, or be prepared for at least an hour wait in the security line winding around the city wall.
• Don't touch soda pop in Europe. At least two euros for a freakin' can.
• On the other hand, sparkling water is the same price as plain bottled water. Drank a lot of San Pellegrino with our meals.
• Florence was way better for knick-knack buying than Rome, with more choices and better prices.
• In the ubiquitous bars, pay first for your coffee and get the ticket then hand it to the bartender. Drink at the bar for the cheap price, about an euro. Paired with a cornetto, it's perfect for a quick and breakfast. The sit-down price is at least twice.
• Real Italians don't go out to eat before 9pm, which leaves us tourists plenty of time for the early reservation. Although popular places get fully booked regardless.
• The ubiquitous water fountains and spouts in Rome are free and fully drinkable. Apparently there's a naturally replenished aquifer under Rome so that water spurts forth with no pumping required.
• It goes against every grain of habit for us Asians, but you really aren't suppose to touch the groceries when browsing the markets.
• Highly recommend the electronic ticketing at Trenitalia for train tickets. Just give the conductor the ticket code on the train. The less you deal with Italian lines, the better.
• When the Italians say al dente they bloody mean it. Couldn't shake the feeling that the pasta was undercooked but if that's the way it's suppose to be done then I'll roll with it.
• It's three-euro more per ticket, but it's probably a good idea to pre-book at the Accademia and Uffizi in Florence, especially if you're there anywhere near high season. Our hotel did it for us for free.
• The Mouth of Truth is really just an old Roman manhole cover set in the porch of a church.
• By the time they finish screwing you with fees and conversion rates, don't expect to see more than a 10% return from your VAT refund.
• Get a guide for the Colosseum, unless you're already a Classics/Archeology double-major. The ruins are totally meaningless unless someone's there to explain the significance.

Of course, the most important thing, as with all travel, is to chill out and take things as they come, even if you're lost in the streets, run into a rude waiter, or face adverse weather. And gelato is always good, even in the face of said adverse weather.