A snail hiding out in Pompeii.
Italians smoke. A lot. At first it seemed like an unfounded observation, but I've done a bit of Googling on statistics, and apparently in 2011, a survey stated that 17% of Canadians smoked. In Italy, 32% of the male population smokes, and 19% of the female population smokes. I felt like I was constantly walking through clouds of smoke! Didn't they get the memo? Smoking is bad for you!
A cat basking in the sun in Vernazza (Cinque Terre).
Stray or semi-stray cats and dogs were a common sight when we were travelling. We spotted dozens of cats lounging in the sun when we visited Cinque Terre, and saw multiple stray dogs begging for food of visitors in Pompeii. There were even signs within Pompeii warning visitors not to interact with the strays. It made me a bit sad-- especially when it was raining and they were slinking around soaken wet.
Sun setting over the Vatican.
Our rental Volvo.
Many people warned us that Italians are aggressive drivers, and they were correct. However, while North Americans (in general) tend to rely on the rules of the road to keep them safe, Italians seem to rely more on defensive driving. Italian drivers don't follow the rules of the road as stringently, but they are infinitely more aware of what is going on around them. For the most part, Italians seemed to be more courteous and even more forgiving on the road than we are used to.
Mosaic of Poseidon.
I remember being impressed by the intensely and lavishly decorated ancient buildings when we visited in China last year-- and Italy was no different. The paintings, carvings, mosaics and sculptures that define ancient Rome and Italy are truly awe-inspiring.
A collapsed arch in Ostia Antica.
The ingenuity and industriousness of ancient Rome is equally impressive. The structures that they created thousands of years ago are still standing today-- albeit, not totally intact...
Thank you for following, everyone! That's a wrap on Italy.
Grazie!
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