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Italian Basics

© Roxanne Nelson

Before I went to Italy, several friends asked where I was going and what I intended to see. When I mentioned the length of time that I planned staying in several places, they were more than surprised. And even more shocked by the piddly few areas that I intended on visiting.

But that seems to be the trend that many choose when they travel—spend all your time in transit and rush as much as you can. Most people, I know, don't have the luxury of spending several months exploring the churches of Firenze or the villages of Sicily. They feel that once they're in Europe, they've got to get in as much as possible because they may not be back. And besides, when you look at a map, Europe just looks so small—distances must be close, right?

For Americans who spend two hours a day commuting back and for to work, the distances are rather small. But if you're on vacation, they become immense if you over plan and overextend yourself.

Italy is not an enormous country as far as all around area, but it is dense in culture. There is too much to be missed if you only skim the surface, rushing from the Vatican, to the Uffizi, to Pompeii and then trying to get in time on the island of Capri. Churches will blur, as will art, and you're main memory of Italy will be the blur of countryside as you rush to your next destination.

I spent a week outside of Siena at a writer's conference, which took place at a grand old villa called Spannochia. I then spent some time in Florence—my third visit to this beautiful city—as well as some time in Umbria. And then I headed over to Venice, a city I have never yet made it to. And that's it. I was in Italy for several weeks and took my time. Despite having made a number of visits to this country, I still haven't seen great chunks of it, and I was tempted to do more. But I am so glad I didn't, and even now, I regret not planning to stay longer in Venice, or spend a few more days in Assisi.

This trip to Italy surprised me in two ways. One, I found out that driving is not necessarily a lethal experience. A friend and I drove from Siena to Umbria and back, and the autostrada was quite easy to maneuver and the drivers a lot more polite than they are at home in Seattle. Aggressive yes, but not rude. Of course, I would not dare drive in Rome or any other large city. Besides the traffic, it is often difficult to get around due to the pedestrian and other restricted areas.