Although I had already been to Italy once before, we didn’t travel all that much. Through our travels this time around, we discovered some things about Italy that I didn’t see last time around, and some things I totally forgot about. Here is a list of weird and interesting point about the country shaped like a boot…

• In all major cities graffiti covers almost every building, other then churches. Imagine old, beautiful buildings, with black scribbled paint all over it. Pretty ridiculous. And unlike Vancouver, where city crews or private companies come right away to clean it up or remove it, no one touches it. Pretty buildings turn ghetto very quickly.
• Italy is obsessed with Dogs. While there are a handful of stray dogs in each city, you can tell that they are well fed and somewhat cared for – minus the ones who are obviously sick. Store fronts often leave a small bowl of dog food and water for the strays to nibble on. Adorable!
• Along the lines of being dog obsessed, I think almost everyone in Italy has a dog. There were always people out in the streets walking their dogs. I have never seen so many Italian Beagles in my life! I was highly jealous.

• Do you want your water with gas or without gas? Acqua Naturale o Acqua Frizzante? I forgot all about the fact that waiters try to speak English to you and refer to fizzy water as water with gas. Bahahaha. It’s just so amusing to me.
• I have never seen so many people with dread locks. The youth, especially in the University towns love dread locks. Shaved head with dread locks, long straight hair with one dread lock, random dreadlocks sticking out everywhere. Kind of crazy.
• Speaking about the University towns, everyone is a punk. Everyone has piercings, wears their pants too low and dresses in black. Not what I was expecting!



• In Genoa, if you buy a drink (with alcohol) you will get food for free. This is my dream come true. Bar Berto was my favourite because they served you home made focaccia bread, olives, and french fries. Other places had huge all you can eat buffets, all for the price of a drink (which weren’t even expensive!).
• Auto Grills are your best friends. When driving down the Autostrada, pull over at an Auto Grill and you will find everything you need. Fresh coffee, home made panini, a slice of pizza, bottles of wine for 3 Euro, house hold items on sale, almost EVERYTHING.

• Everyone in Italy smokes. Seriously. It is the most disgusting thing ever. I never realized how good we had it in Vancouver until I was sitting in the Piazza in Florence and I actually had to leave because everyone around me was chain smoking and I couldn’t breath. Ugh. That is one thing Italy really needs to change.
• Stop signs don’t exist in Italy. Well, they might, but I seriously don’t remember ever seeing one. There are lights, but instead of stop signs, they have roundabouts. Every intersection in my Moms town has a roundabout. Roundabouts are the only that keeps traffic flowing. Light cause traffic jams, but roundabouts let everyone just drive.
• The drink of the country is a Spritz. Prosecco, aperitif, and mineral water. It is bitter. I don’t like bitter. However, I thought I would try it, in the heart of Milan. Back in my Moms town, a Spritz will set you back 1.50 Euros. In Milan, try 9 Euros. 9 Euros for a drink I didn’t even enjoy. NICE! Why is Italy obsessed with everything being BITTER!?