Looking for some Italy advice

[August_West]

That is, indeed, a weird thing to observe. Been to Italy multiple times and never once thought, "Where can I get a taco?".

Thing is, Italian food in Italy isn't "Italian" food in the U.S. There are just so many things to eat there that are native that you don't often find in the U.S. So to me, that passes for "variety".

Now, if you're in Belgium, after a few days you're dying for a taco because Belgium only makes like five dishes, lol.

I had a taco in Edinburgh today . Was decent too.

 

[August_West]

In general, the trip was fantastic. A few observations:
The waiter thing was very hard to pin down. We'd get great food and great service, but it sometimes felt like you need to tackle the waiter and put him in a headlock before you got your check.
Venice was my favorite. Yes, it's a little tourist-y, but wandering the streets & canals is dreamlike. You feel like you are in a magical labyrinth. I couldn't stop taking pictures because every step you take, you see a scene that's picture-worthy.
All the food I ate was good, but the best thing I ate was a Porchetta sandwich with crispy pig skin at a festival in the mountain village of Corvara. Sublime.
I put a lot of energy in trying to track down the best Gelato. But, in truth, that's probably unnecessary. I went to at least 10 different places and all of it was excellent.
Rome was great, but I don't think I ever got used to the "head on a constant swivel" mentality you need when u walk around the back streets to avoid getting run over lol.
I will never ever go back to Italy in the Summer. It hit 100 multiple days in Rome. Not fun.
This may be a weird thing to observe, but it was striking how many Italian restaurants there were. It was a very high percentage. Even in the more non-tourist areas. I guess gastronomical variety isn't as important over there for the average Italian?
The people of Italy were just wonderful. They were a pleasure to be around.
Public transportation was good (trains) & fairly easy to figure out for a non-native speaker.
For some reason, Euros have a distinct monopoly-money feel.
I did several "skip-the-line" tours & in all cases, they were totally worth it.
You could not pay me enough, to drive there in the cities. Just madness. Parking was an adventure because you were never entirely sure what a sign meant However, we drove a bit through the countryside and that was fine.

Good you got out before government collapses.
Britain might be next .

 

[storrsroars]

I had a taco in Edinburgh today . Was decent too.

Well, Scotland ain't Italy when it comes to food. Glad to hear theyve got tacos now though. When I was there it was either curry, doner, fish & chips, or something boiled to a 2nd death.

 

[AreBee1969]

Glad to hear your trip was great as well.

All the food I ate was good, but the best thing I ate was a Porchetta sandwich with crispy pig skin at a festival in the mountain village of Corvara. Sublime.

I forgot about the sandwich I had in Lucca (Tuscany). Mortadella and fresh baked bread, nothing else. Ridiculously good. Wife got prosciutto and buffalo mozz and we got a few side dishes of risotto and olives. 13 Euros.

I put a lot of energy in trying to track down the best Gelato. But, in truth, that's probably unnecessary. I went to at least 10 different places and all of it was excellent.

Our tour manager was from Rome but now lives in Australia in the off season. He has his own Gelato shop in Melbourne and was extremely determined that we get the best gelato no matter where we went. He ate three gelato three times a day!

You could not pay me enough, to drive there in the cities. Just madness.

The Amalfi Coast drive and the drive from Capri to Anacapri were absolutely nerve wracking! Narrow roads, hairpin turns, crazy drivers, short guard rails and hundreds of feet to fall. Our min-bus drivers were freaking amazing.

 

[Frank06830]

Nice write up. I got a kick from your comment about Porchetta and Corvara. As you know it is a small hill town in Abruzzo. Not too far from Pietranico another small hill town where my parents were from. Amusing you found porchetta, a rustic, agro based dish so outstanding with all the other Italian dishes. Good taste sir. Porchetta was something my mom Angelina would make a couple times a year. Brought back fond memories They say all of the Pope’s cooks are from Abruzzo . Sorry for TMI. Your trip recap increases my urgency to go back.