I cannot even begin to describe my love for this country + its people. 5 days was not enough to enjoy each city we visited, and frankly, I'm unsure if a lifetime is enough time to really appreciate the Italian culture.
The Italian lifestyle is one filled with incredible scenery, astoundingly beautiful + friendly people, homemade, delectable food, beautiful language, and contagious energy. In fact, in 5 days, we befriended a couple Italians who actually had conversations with us, who wanted to get to know us and even offered to take us out; in comparison, we have yet to befriend a local Londoner or Englander, and we've lived here now for 16 months {yikes!}. Top that off by the beauty all around, where everything looks like a postcard and is oh, so instagrammable, you have yourself a dream life!
Our first stop was Milan, as that was where we flew into. Since it had more of a city feel, Ross and I only wanted to spend a night there as we needed a city break from our every day lives. While we didn't see any of Leonardo Da Vinci's work {"The Last Supper" is housed in Milan}, we did walk around the city enjoying its architecture + vibe. From the quaint side streets to charming canals, we enjoyed Milan {though maybe not as much as the other Italian cities}.
The absolute best part of Milan that separated it from other towns in Italy was the fashion {I wish I creepily took pictures of random people for you guys!}. Everyone was impeccably dressed, even in the downpour, so it was fun to sit outside a cafe and gawk at those walking by. Further, it didn't feel as touristy as the other cities we visited.