I traveled to Italy with my family in August 2023. It was one of the best trips I have ever been on in my life. I had never left the United States before, so I didn’t really know what to expect when I traveled to a different continent. Of course I did research through TikTok and Instagram, but no level of content could prepare me for what I was about to experience.
When I got off the plane, I was truly in a different world. Because my family and I traveled in the summer, it was truly a paradise. Even though it was a very hot summer, it wasn’t too humid or muggy. The sun was out constantly which put me in a really good mood.
Now, Italian food is one of my favorite cuisines of all time. Pizza, pasta, and gelato in Italy? Yes, please. My family and I went to different restaurants every single night for the whole week. The food was absolutely amazing. I could really tell that the products used were very rich and fresh; everything melted in your mouth.
I believe that Italy is very beautiful, and all of the films definitely do the country justice. My sister and I kept telling each other how it felt like we were constantly on a film set. All of the buildings are big and incredible. All of the flowers and green hills were very prominent. What really caught my eye were the oceans. They were so bright and a true blue color. Swimming in the ocean in Italy is definitely a check off of my bucket list. The water was so warm and there were plenty of places to take incredible pictures; my sister and I just could not get enough. One of my favorite memories was when my family and I all went shopping. It was so nice to walk around all of the different outlets. I absolutely love jewelry, and let me tell you, Rome had an entire bridge dedicated to necklaces, rings, bracelets, and earrings. I did not want to leave; it was very beautiful.
For the majority of our trip, my family and I stayed in Florence. Now in Florence, you can literally walk anywhere, and it actually reminded me of Davis a bit; that’s probably because I’m so used to walking from class to class as well as from downtown to campus. My brother, sister and I constantly took walks downtown at night because we really loved seeing all of the lights that many residents had hanging outside of their flats. I truly loved walking everywhere because it was nice to take a breath of fresh air and sightsee.
Taking a trip to this country was truly an unforgettable experience and if I could recommend a place to travel in Europe, it would definitely be Italy. If you’re thinking about taking a much-needed vacation in Rome or Florence, make sure to try all the delectable food, swim in the ocean, and take as many Instagram-worthy pictures as possible. Have fun!