Italy, June 2010

Our wanderlust brought us to southern Europe this year, to the land of pasta and pizza for 12 days. It was also our 'real' honeymoon, so to speak. Why just Italy, you ask, and god forbid, why go during summer?! Heh.

Hey, if we survived 46 deg C in Dubai, what is a mere 30 deg? Plus, summer days are long and this gives us the perfect opportunity to enjoy the sights at a leisurely pace. Scrambling to outrun the sun setting at 3.00pm (eek!) is no fun at all.

Our itinerary was rather unique, that we started at the north in Milano and worked our way down to the south that is Roma.

During our journey, we were treated to soaring hills near the Swiss Alps, quaint islets on misty lake, Renaissance artistry that left us in awe that we stopped snapping photos of it because it just doesn't do the details justice, sea breeze that caressed our faces while we listened to the sound of waters lapping on banks of centuries old palazzo and piazzas, the marvels of ancient Roman civilisation that is so lovingly preserved...

The Pantheon

Rilek..

Piazza Navona at dusk

Colosseum and the Arch of Constantine

Blue Grotto, Capri

Pinocchio was a Florentine

Piazza Del Campo at Siena

Look ma, I'm not that short ain't I?

Summery blooms and bees hard at work at Como

Life is.. sitting at an alfresco pizzeria and grimacing at the price tag!

10 things I learned about Italy

The country is full of Jose Mourinho look-a-likes (fine, he's not Italian but you get the drift).

The country is full of lao chios that look like Sophia Loren.

It's a hell lot sexier to pronounce places names in Italian: Milano, Firenze, Roma, Lago Maggiore, Fontana di Trevi, Toscana etc.

There is NO free public toilet in this country. The most expensive was 1 euro and cheapest was 0.30 cents euro.

If you're travelling with a toddler, DO NOT, under any circumstances use the baby stroller on the cobble stone paths. Your kid will thank you for this.

Chinese food is way cheaper than the national grub of pizzas and paninis.

Forget Prada. Lug home Carpisa by the bulk instead ;p

Romans cringe before shaking their heads piteously when they hear you take cappuccino with your American breakfast (they're thinking "bloody Americans!" in their head)

Roma has more genuine Egyptian obelisks than Egypt itself

Starbucks does not exist here, to my utter dismay!