Oh, boy. This one's gonna ruffle some feathers, but I have to be entirely honest, so here it goes: I did not enjoy my time in Italy. Actually, I'm so passionate about how much I never want to go to Italy again, that, that's actually why I created this blog in the first place. I have so many opinions and the majority of them are not good at all. Jarren actually just walked by and I said, "I'm writing my review for Italy," to which he immediately responded, "Uh-oh." Buckle up, because this one's gonna be a ride.

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Italy is extremely overrated and I have to wonder why we, as a society, keep letting them get away with it. My whole life I've been hearing how good the food is in Italy and how you'll never want to go to Olive Garden ever again once you get back. Well, ladies and gents, depending on where you're from, that is one HEFTY lie. Controversial, but I'm just gonna say it: New York Italians do it better. Every forkful of pasta I had in Rome left me yearning for the Italians of Howard Beach and Little Italy. It was painful knowing I'd spent my entire life talking myself into something that would eventually lead to disappointment in the end. Also, what everyone says about American portion sizes being huge in comparison to Italian portion sizes isn't true. They serve you just as much, if not more, on your plate. Your only hope for not packing on pounds is the amount you walk each day, which, ask anyone, is a lot. There was one day that Jarren and I walked 10 whole miles. Anyway, I digress.

 

Here's three things they do get right in Italy, though: cappuccinos, Aperol Spritz, and tiramisu. These are the only three things I had in Italy that I dream of on a daily basis. Aperol Spritz is actually my go-to drink now. I make it at home and when I order it at a bar, I know when they make it wrong. I'm obsessed and I absolutely cannot live without it. Before Italy? Jarren and I barely touched our Nespresso machine. After Italy? I should buy stock in Nespresso with how much money I've been giving them for chiaro pods. Every morning that we don't have to rush out of the house is a cappuccino morning now, but to be honest, we haven't had one like the Italians make since we left. They know what they're doing and I envy them for it. Lastly, the Italian tiramisu. Every single tiramisu I've had since leaving Italy, apart from ONE tiramisu I had at Lunella in Little Italy,  has been a gigantic disappointment. It's like no one knows how to make tiramisu in America. It's a crime, really. I don't know how they do it, but there is not a day that goes by that my heart doesn't yearn for an Italian tiramisu. It has me in a chokehold, it really does.

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Apart from that, Italy is... just not it for me. Rome is an overpriced tourist trap that is overcrowded, dirty, and the food is absolute sh*t (except for one place, which is listed in my visit entry below). I thought New York was dirty, but Rome seriously blows us out of the water in every negative way possible (except for crazies, we do have more of those). Every second I spent in Rome was soul-draining and I never, ever want to be there ever again.

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Venice is beautiful, but be prepared to spend an arm and a leg while you're there. Consider this: one 30 minute gondola ride after 7 PM is €‎100. I will say, for the one night that we were there, I enjoyed Venice, but I don't believe there is much to capture your interest there beyond one or two days.

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Pompeii is Italy's saving grace for me. This was truly the highlight of my trip and I implore everyone to find the time in their schedule to visit, especially if you are a history buff. The fact that the city was left mainly as it was after the eruption, and the fact that you can explore all of it, full immersed, leaves me absolutely enchanted to this day. I wish I'd spent more time there.

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Italy as a whole though, I'd save your money. Of course, my little review isn't going to stop anyone from visiting, nor should it, but in a world of wildly positive reviews, I thought I'd share an honest and negative one. You will never catch me in Italy ever again. I did it, I can say I did it, and that's that. Not. Me. Again.

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If you're still interested in visiting, feel free to peruse my visit entry below!