Our travel day home went pretty smoothly, despite a very early start and extremely long passport-control lines at Logan. Thanks to the Milan airport, we were finally able to try out an airport lounge! We declined to hit the bar at 8am (though some other people had to compunctions), but we did get a nice breakfast, cappucino, and a relaxing place to sit.
Some last thoughts about Italy. First, a few practicalities:
1. Italy was a good value! From past experience, we expected Europe to be pretty expensive. But that was not the case here. Even though we were staying and eating in the heart of the tourist areas, prices were quite reasonable. We got huge panini on foccacia bread for under $9, and could easily find high-quality pizza and pasta for around $10-$15 — and that included tax and didn’t require a tip.
Hitting the buffet at the airport lounge
Even drinks could be had economically. The house wine was usually a good deal at most restaurants, but it was not unusually to see cocktails for under $10 (again, with no added tax or tip). As an example, we ordered a liter of sangria at a restaurant in the heart of Cinque Terre, sitting on a terrace overlooking the beach near the train station (so, as touristy as you could get), and served with little trays of snacks — and it was about $23 total and served all four of us. Our morning cappucini could be had for 2 euros, if we found the right spot.
2. Getting the Firenze Card, which gives free access to a long list of museums and attractions, was a great deal for us. When it comes to museums, we’re more of a quick-browsing type family rather than a “spend hours studying each painting” type family, so it was great to be able to dip in and out of various places without worrying about the cost. (Psychologically, I also prefer to pay a lump sum in advance and then have everything be “free” rather than paying as I go.) l It was a bit of a hassle for a couple of the major places where we had to make advance reservations by phone, but also allowed us to skip long ticket lines. With the card, we saw the Uffizi, the Gallerie dell’Academia, the Palazzo Vecchio (including climbing the tower), the Galileo science museum, the Bardini Villa & Gardens, Boboli Gardens, and Pitti Palace. Many of these were just quick trips but all were worthwhile. Best of all, Lanie being under 18 meant she was added to our Firenze Card for free.
Getting our inexpensive spritzes to go from one of Nadia’s favorite spots
3. Seventeen is a golden age for visiting Italy. Lanie was young enough to get in to most attractions free or at a reduced price (see above), but old enough that she could order drinks anywhere without any questions.
4. Everyone we came across spoke English. This was the case even when we got away from the prime tourist areas in Milan. Everyone was kind and helpful, and we didn’t encounter any anti-American sentiment. However, everything was also CROWDED, especially in Florence. The major tourist areas around the Uffizi/Palazzo Vecchio (which is where Nadia lives) were jam-packed at all hours.
One of our favorite museum exhibits was fashion through the ages, at Pitti Palace.
5. Trains in Italy were very easy to use, and the train stations were beautiful. As recommended by Nadia, I used the Omio app to purchase our tickets, which were all online. However, bathrooms were very hard to find, and required payment, in both Milan and Florence.
Secondly, I was going to write about each person’s favorite activity, but I encountered a rare unanimity of opinions. All of us counted the hike in Cinque Terre from Monterosso into Vernazza to be a real stand-out. We wished we were able to hike between more of the towns, but were foiled by needing to stay available for Lanie’s suitcase delivery, and a section of trail being closed. In general, we all loved Cinque Terre and would happily return.
Other highlights mentioned included the Uffizi, the Bardini Gardens (site of the Amazing Race), the Iris Garden in Florence (only open 3 weeks of the year; we got lucky!), and our cooking class.