Which Place You Would Never Forget Of Italy?
- Thread starter italiandude
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I don't think I can ever forget any of Italy. I read a post in another thread where someone mentioned Italy is like the heart of Europe and encompasses all of it. Italy has such distinct sites, such as the gorgeous Amalfi Coast, there is the Alps, then Tuscany has its own charm with beautiful vineyards and country sides. Italy's classic architecture alone is amazing. It's cities have so much history and beauty in them. If I had to narrow it down, I think Venice is unforgetable for being a city unlike any other. It is a floating city, with a remarkable culture. The Carnival of Venice is a must see and I recommend for anyone to plan trip around it. It is a lot of fun.
Like Juno, I'd reverse the question and say: I don't know what place I would forget of Italy. Of course, some places are more vivid than others, though. I liked Venice a lot too -- partly because it was one of the last places of a one month guided/student trip through Mediterranea, and it was so different. Once out of the big tourist area, to simply wander in the tiny narrow streets was a very cool experience. Sort of filled with a sense of adventure and romance, I guess. Also, at one corner, there was this very nice aroma of bolognese sauce cooking out of some family's open window. It just -- rounded the experience quite nicely.
The Cinque Terre is a place you cannot forget. There is no where else like it; a combination of nature, history and traditonalism. Most people like to go for the walk, but there is so much more to each village and I can only hope one day I can actually live there or stay there for an extended period. It's still currently my favorite place and it's a hard choice to make and the more I explore Italy, I may find a new favorite spot.
I was about to say Cinque Terre too. To me it's just quintessentially Italian - I have some great memories from visiting there and like you said it's quite the perfect balance of nature and history. I also have fond memories of Milan but that was by consequence of it being close to where my relatives grew up in Italy - I've heard a lot of other people found Milan quite uneventful.
I've been to Milan and while I wouldn't say it was uneventful, it didn't live up to my expectations. To be honest though that's because it tends to be built up as one of the major cities in Europe, and while it is, it just wasn't as special I imagined for me.
I always had high expectations of Milan and while it was interesting, it wasn't quite what I expected. You do need time to explore Milan, and it's more about shopping and you do need money there as you would expect in a city. Personally I prefer places where it is less commercial, but maybe I need to visit Milan again and give it another chance.
That's probably the main thing I noticed to about Milan, it as a reputation for fashion and shopping, and when you go it's as if they are trying to live up to that reputation rather than it really being what the city is about.
There's a lot of materialistic parts to the city that push the real elements of Milan into the shadows.
There's a lot of materialistic parts to the city that push the real elements of Milan into the shadows.
Milan was really too stylish and consume-oriented for me. I mostly forget about it when I speak about my good times in Italy.
What I cannot forget though is they had this pet-shop where they sold squirrels. Also, they sold hamsters and the hamsters were just sleeping behind the plastic glass and there was no tunnel, wheel or little house (hamsters like to hide, especially when they sleep, and they had to sleep in front of the glass). I did not like that much. :/ And squirrels don't belong in pet shops either. Though with this kind of treatment, no animal belonged in that shop.
What I cannot forget though is they had this pet-shop where they sold squirrels. Also, they sold hamsters and the hamsters were just sleeping behind the plastic glass and there was no tunnel, wheel or little house (hamsters like to hide, especially when they sleep, and they had to sleep in front of the glass). I did not like that much. :/ And squirrels don't belong in pet shops either. Though with this kind of treatment, no animal belonged in that shop.
I think consumer orientated is the perfect phrase for Milan, and is what I was meaning in my last post. Like I said its as if it's got a name to live up to, and if your in to the fashion and designer shops you'll love it, otherwise its a bit much.
Similar to New York at Christmas, it's lovely but very commercial and it's as if it's trying to live up to a reputation rather than just being natural...I know what I mean anyway! Haha
Similar to New York at Christmas, it's lovely but very commercial and it's as if it's trying to live up to a reputation rather than just being natural...I know what I mean anyway! Haha
Oh. That sucks. I kind of still had this romantic idea about NY on Christmas / NY -- but since I lived Milan on Christmas and you compare it to that, well, now I think I'll pass on white NY. *sigh*
I've had that experience too with other cities outside Italy! Sometimes I've found that some of the vacations I've enjoyed the most have been ones that I didn't think would wow me as much as they did...I guess that shows the power of expectation management!
Not at all! I've spent thanksgiving and Christmas in New York twice in four years and it IS everything you'd expect and more. Everybody should do it at least once in their life and even for the hardest scrooge, bah humbug! Hearted person, it will bring out your festive spirit and you'll get to love Christmas while your there.
All I meant was sometimes it gets a bit TOO festive, and everywhere you turn you can't have just a normal walk down a street or grab a coffee in a shop without someone jingleing some bells at you or your cup of coffee having I miniature pair of antlers and a red nose on it, ha!
Expectations and anticipation can ruin a lot of destinations if we let them, and even though we read the reviews and get other peoples opinions on a country or city before we go, it's always best to try and go there with an open mind and judge it for ourselves.
I made the mistake with Milan like I said and also Pisa, I had this impression of a bustling little town with lots of sights to see including of course the leaning tower only to get there and be a little underwhelmed to find there's not a great deal there apart from the tower.
If I'd have gone there without expectation then I would have been more impressed by what I did find.
Oh. I actually would love this over the top Christmas spirit! I just... hate to fly to the US (I'm from Canada, and usual destination is Europe). The one stop I had to make in Newark airport was deeply irritating. But maybe next time I'm home in Montreal, I'll try to catch a bus or road trip down (the car customs are probably less annoying than the airport...)
I mean, I really would want to go to Broadway and to off-broadway theater. One day I'm gonna stop being a cheapskate and give myself that
That's the perfect way to describe it, over the top! And like I said, you should experience it, everybody should at least once in their lives, it's pretty much exactly what it's like in the movies, so as far as that's concerned it lives up to expectations at least.
My favorite Christmas movie ever is Miracle on 34th Street, so we will see if I can catch a famous court case about Santa and all that frenzy!
