Okay - what happened was this:
Because we had our wedding in the San Juan Islands, back in our beloved Pacific NW, we had neither the time off from work nor the funds for a honeymoon immediately following our glorious nuptials last summer. I know. Some of you may be shaking your heads, wondering what in farknation is wrong with us, but that’s just the way the shit played out. (Not that our wedding was shit. On the contrary, it was entirely not shit.) The plan was to take the honeymoon this summer or early fall, and now with my acceptance to grad school, we really need to go sometime soon, like in the next few months.
So here is my question, for those of you who have travelled in Europe, more specifically Italy: would it be possible, at this late date, to plan and execute a trip to Italy in June without incurring mountains of debt and a hernia? What I mean is, I wonder if we should go somewhere closer, to save on expense but also on stress. I’ve travelled in Asia, and I know that being out of your element is sometimes hard work, though wonderful, and I just don’t know if trying for this dream of going to Italy is just foolhardy, and like we might have a better and more relaxing time if we did something a little tamer, like Hawaii or something. Yeah, yeah - a very high-class problem to have, and speaking of class - expense is also definitely a factor, what with the dollar limping around the world with a wheezy cough.
What do you guys think?
Filed under: 'Til Death
Well, I haven’t been there in forever, but I did spend a year in Italy, mostly in Rome, after college. Ha! When I was like the age you are now! While I’m sure it’s lots more expensive than it was then (duh) and that whole $ situation sucks, I would say…just do it. It will be worth it, regardless. Take one bag each, eat at local places, get a Eurailpass, stay at pensiones (they are like Mom&Pop, B&B places). Get yourself a good guide book, and uh, there’s the INTERNET now to check out tips. Just go and you will never regret it.
Sooner or later, the rest of your life happens and you will always remember that time as the best time of your life.
Oh, we were talking about YOU, weren’t we?
Wow - a whole year! That’s so cool! Were you just traveling around?
My base was Rome (had a room and all), but I did travel around quite a bit: we had all just graduated from college, so a number of friends passed through on their travels that summer. I offered the best two, or three, or four-day tour of Rome to be found in the city. And my parents came for three weeks, and I traveled around with them (parents’ money!). And I went to Sicily with my Eye-talian boyfriend Gianni for two weeks, and then towards the end of my year my best friend from college came and we hit Germany and France and Switzerland and Austria…oh, and then there was that Canadian dude (hi, Bruce!) I went to Le Mont San Michele with after Carmen headed home….
Go. Just go.