Rome, Day 6

When we started planning our trip to Italy last year, I had high hopes of learning the language before I left. We found a school, figured out scheduling and cost and I was going to learn Italian. Then, shame on me, I never had or took the time to follow through on that. I wish that I could go back in time and change that because I am kicking myself right now.

So far, I have ordered the wrong kind of pizza at a pasticceria, I have spent 15 minutes trying to figure out which box is laundry detergent (only to come home and realize that I had purchased softener sheets instead) and I met a gentleman who thought I was speaking Spanish to him when I tried to buy makeup.

I can understand a surprising amount of what is spoken but I can't seem to utter more than three or four words in Italian. I feel like my experience of Italy would be significantly richer if I were able to communicate with its people. My recommendation to you, if you ever plan on coming to Italy, is to learn a bit of the language beforehand and not just a few basic words and sentences from a guidebook. The language is so beautiful and I'm so disappointed when Italians realize (veeeeery quickly) that I don't speak it and switch to English to communicate with me. Next time I visit this country, I will go to more areas rural or wherever people don't speak a word of English.

While my man is rightfully interested in Ancient Rome, with its history and monuments, I, on the other hand, apparently take pleasure in finding clothes lines in small neighbourhood alleyways. It seems so old-fashioned and it amused me. I keep waiting to catch an old Italian grandmother peeking out of her window to hang her clothes. I should be so lucky...

Italy Countdown, Day 6

Pizza: 3

Pasta: 4

Gelato: 5