What I'll Miss Most About Italy

I am on Italy withdrawal after our two week family adventure to Rome, Tuscany, and Venice (including a day trip to Pompeii and the Amalfi Coast).  Here is what I am missing already, in no particular order:

* Steamed milk instead of cold cream served with coffee in the morning and fresh squeezed orange juice as the norm

* Watching artisans work in their studios

* Water fountains everywhere (a real treat coming from drought-stricken California)

* Pasta as first course at lunch AND dinner

* Cheese and Tuscan ham as an acceptable appetizer before the pasta (I have never liked cheese but I learned to love pecorino, especially with the right honey)

* The pleasant surprise of stumbling across a beautiful statue or church while strolling narrow cobblestone streets

* Yummy unique pizzas

* Stunning art and architecture

* Lounging around a pool with beautiful views of Tuscan hills, and chatting with families from other parts of Europe. (It's interesting to learn how much is the same no matter what part of the world you are from.)

* Amazing limoncello from the biggest lemons I've ever seen

* And the wine!

Ok, most of these are about food but is that really so surprising? 

Stay tuned for more posts about our amazing Italy adventure.