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| men talk |
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| Stephen and I in the future. I loved them. |
While poor sweet Liz was recovering with Corey by her side,
Lauren, Tyler, Stephen, and I went into Lucca for a day of exploring and good eating.
I immediately fell in love with this little town and could see why Lauren had said it was one of her and Tyler's favorite places.
I am sure most of you know this by now,
but I am NOT a big city person.
Yes, I am from LA, but i grew up on the outskirts in quiet suburbia.
I hated driving into hollywood every day for work;
the amount of people, the traffic, the stress...
Obviously big cities in Europe are much more picturesque than LA,
but I have never been fussed about going back to any of them once i've been for a day or two.
It started to get to the point where I was like, "Do I just hate traveling? Maybe Europe isn't for me?"
CRAZY THOUGHTS.
I think this is where I have made some mistakes in traveling over here;
not paying attention to what I am drawn to,
or what I love and enjoy.
Instead of researching and trying a little harder to find places that are more my speed,
I took the easy route and went to the obvious, big cities.
I have no regrets, I am glad I can say I have been to these places, and I am glad I have learned what I like and don't.
Italy has jumped to my favorite Country in Europe (from the limited amount ive seen of it);
I am sure it has to do with being in Tuscany and visiting places like Lucca and Cinque Terre (small, quaint places),
but I also think it has a bit to do with the food (duh) and people.
I have been to some places that I would probably not go back to,
and that is mainly to do with the whole vibe of the city.
I am extremely sensitive to how other people are feeling,
and can easily pick up if someone is "off."
So when I am in a city of hundreds with this "off" vibe,
I am quick to want to leave.
I am extremely sensitive to how other people are feeling,
and can easily pick up if someone is "off."
So when I am in a city of hundreds with this "off" vibe,
I am quick to want to leave.
I have never felt more comfortable or happy in a place than I have in Italy (and Ireland too)
Everyone seems to be smiling,
enjoying good food, drinks, friends and family.
Every Sunday evening families leave their houses/apartments and go for a Sunday walk together before dinner.
I just loved this.
I could obviously go on forever.
My mom is now sold and will be going next summer right after our wedding.
She's excited.
And Stephen and I are thinking about making it a short pit stop on our honeymoon
(not with my mom....that would be awkward).
Any Italy spot recommendations for honeymooners for just a few days?
We have so far been told Siena by an italian guy S knows,
and of course the famous Positano.
Any Italy spot recommendations for honeymooners for just a few days?
We have so far been told Siena by an italian guy S knows,
and of course the famous Positano.
So...
In summation...
In summation...
I guess Italy is okay.
*sorry for the long winded post
Yes Sienna is gorgeous, that was one of my favourite places in Italy! Cortona is also really cool, as is Arezzo (where they filmed Life is Beautiful). My fiance is half Italian, and his family are from Sardinia (which is also supposed to be divine). We're hoping to head over there next year!
ReplyDeleteI am italian so your post made me giddy!
ReplyDeleteI must say I am more of a big city girl, but Rome has a slower pace than most big cities, people stop and enjoy life and food!
I would definitely recommend Siena, or you could do the whole Amalfi coast (Amalfi, Sorrento, Positano) and if you rent a car I strongly recommend you sleep outside of these little towns, just in the hills above all the intense tourists, like in Pimonte. You should also definitely go to Capri! Quick boat ride from Sorrento and sooo beautiful. I hope you like lemons, that's where they grow and they make great deserts and limoncello!
Let me know if I can be of more help.
Your pictures are lovely! I love the shot of the older couple ;) it's great to find places we love, and I'm totally jealous now. I want to go!!!
ReplyDeleteI love your pictures, they make me want to go back. I visited Italy earlier this year and loved it but wasn't a fan of Rome. I know everyone always says that Rome is wonderful, but I think my dislike had to do with the "off vibes" you mentioned. A friend of mine honeymooned along the Amalfi coast and highly recommends it!
ReplyDeleteSuch a cool way to put it - talking about the "vibe" of a country/place. That's really intuitive and now that I think about it, I completely agree!
ReplyDeleteLOVE Italy! My hubby and I are planning a little jaunt over there as we speak. err type. These pictures are gorgeous!
ReplyDeletePS - Just hired Bobbi to a revamping of my little bloggy! Found her through you :)
I love these!!!! I want to insert myself inbetween you and Lauren. And those of you and Stephen are preccioussss.
ReplyDeleteLoved your thoughts on italia. Couldnt agree more. I badly want to move back.
Old couple = adorable! So amazing that you were able to capture that moment on camera :)
ReplyDeleteGlad you found a European city that spoke to you! I've never been to Italy, but it's high on my list!
xxx
Jenna
i want to go to lucca. and italy in general. dammmmmnn. these posts are too much for my stay at home mom heart.
ReplyDeletemy fave places when i went were CT which youve already done, and positano. sooooo positano clearly. it's the best.
i spent 9 weeks traveling italy after college. my favorite small intimate places were cinque terre (which you already mentioned)and cortona. cortona is where under the tuscan sun takes place. we stayed in a room that had THE MOST COMFORTABLE BED IN EUROPE! maybe it is just me, but the US has wayyyy better beds that other countries and this bed was crazy comfy! and it had an AMERICAN SHOWER!! the town is amazing!! check it out :)
ReplyDeleteoh ya and Taormina but that is on Sicily.
I know exactly what you mean about knowing how to travel and finding places that are more "you". I like big cities but in America- I love New York and L.A. but when it goes to traveling overseas I don't like them. For example I loathed Barcelona but fell in love with Basque country! Each their own I guess! Glad to hear you loved italy- I hope to make it there one day.
ReplyDeleteok now I want to hop on the next flight to Italy....
ReplyDeleteHaving lived in Italy for awhile in college and grad school, it's so hard to pick a spot that's my favorite. I loved Rome, but it might not be your thing if you're not about big cities (though really it doesn't feel like a big city at all). The place I'm dying to go back to with my boyfriend (I went with friends the last time) was Capri. I think that's the absolute PERFECT Italian honeymoon spot, and how can you go wrong spending time in a place where their claim to fame is putting mozarella and tomatoes together in a salad?? You could couple that with a trip down along the coast through Sorrento, though you'll want to avoid Naples for any time other than what you need to pick up the ferry to Capri.
ReplyDeleteHi threre!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to say that I totally get you... I'm not a big city person either.
I've only been to San Remo in Italy, but my sister traveled around the country and fell in love with Florence. She said she could easily live there for the rest of her life.
I visited some small towns in France that I guess would be just your style: Avignon, Roussillon, Gordes, Bonnieux and Lourmarin. They're all beautiful if you havent't checked them out yet :)
italy is indeed the best country in the world. i am sure of it! and now, i must get myself to lucca.
ReplyDeleteand you know where i'm gonna say you pit stop it - positano.
Siena is incredible, and you really don't need much time there to enjoy it. I'm sure any of the hill towns would be enjoyable. My husband and I took a day trip from Siena to Montalcino, and we loved it. I would love to visit any of the hill towns though! Cinque Terre was my favorite place we visited in Italy. I want to go back so badly and visit all the other towns everyone else is always raving about. I can't wait to hear about where you decide and what you love!
ReplyDeleteWe're headed to the Amalfi coast next year - Positano and Capri. Might be awkward to hangout while you're on your honeymoon though. :)
ReplyDeleteyou know, you're just like me. For the longest time I was forcing myself to believe that I wanted to live in New York City, but the truth is that I prefer smaller cities/towns with a lot of personality. I don't know. Big cities freak me out.
ReplyDeleteI had no clue Lauren is so tall! I'm glad you decided not to take your mother with you on your honeymoon. Whew! (Heh)
ReplyDeleteGosh you make it sound heavenly and I think Italy has just moved up on my list of places to experience.
ReplyDeleteI agree about finding what works for you when traveling. I spend hours and hours pouring over travel books, blogs and the internet in general trying to find what works for me in a place I want to visit. I put in over 200 research hours when planning my Ireland trip and I don't regret a moment of it because the trip was amazing and I did everything I wanted to do and I saw all the places I had dreamed of seeing.
I did NOT however pick up a man with an Irish accent. Clearly I have a lot to learn from you!!
I spent 6 months in Italy and absolutely loved it! Totally with you on the small city thing. I would suggest checking out Orvieto (its tiny but sits on top of a cliff and is so picturesque), Assisi, Siena, and Positano... if I absolutely had to pick. Have fun! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Megan! Love your blog and have been really jealous over the fab hen do you had. So fun! I would really recommend the Amalfi coast (Positano, Amalfi, Ravello) but would recommend staying in one of the smaller, less famous towns. We always stay in Praiano at a little hotel called the Tramanto D'Oro. It's owned by a sweet family who has had it for YEARS...the matriarch is your stereotypical sweet Italian grandma who gives you a hug each day and makes sure you eat enough (which is definitely NOT hard there!). I would also highly recommend Capri, in particular Anacapri. It's a honeymooners dream. Congrats on your upcoming wedding!!
ReplyDeletehow LOVELY! i'm sold, too.
ReplyDeletei can completely relate to you- i can "sense" things and "feel" energies (not in some professor trelawney way or anything bat-shit crazy like that), and i immediately can sense when people are off or down or simply NOT enjoying themselves. and then it affects me, even though i try hard for it not to. whatever. it does.
i blame being an airy, gemini sign on this one....
I'm originally from the Emilia-Romagna region so I'm pretty biased when I say that Italy is the best European country. Granted, I've never traveled elsewhere since whenever we do go over there it's to visit the ever-expanding number of relatives I have.
ReplyDeleteSiena is beautiful for sure and a great choice. I honestly suck at giving recommendations because I love all the places I've been in Italy - North towards the Alps is absolutely breath-taking. But if you're wanting a more beachy-feel than Capri is stunning but the Amalfi Coast is stunning as well (I fear saying this but...similar towns-on-coast as Cinque Terre).
Ok I'm done. Can't wait to see what you decide! In my opinion, anywhere will be absolutely amazing :)
i've been debating a rather expensive trip to tuscany next march. you've sold me. i'm going.
ReplyDeleteI'm so jealous of your European adventures. Looks like you and Lauren had quite the trip!
ReplyDelete"...not paying attention to what ::I:: am drawn to, or what ::I:: love and enjoy" is great advice! I've never thought about it like that, but when you said that the skies seemed to have opened up.
ReplyDeleteLove Lauren and now I'm introduced to you! Fun fun!
{heatheringheights.com}
Ummm...Sienna is really great but smaller and can be quickly walked around and all taken in. Positano is amazing and was my favorite experience in Italy. Le Sirenuse hotel is to-die-for but worth the splurge on your honeymoon when you will only get one shot at it. Their staff is unbelievable sweet and helpful.
ReplyDeleteThose are my thoughts!
xo
These photos are so beautiful. I am so happy I found your blog - it's like I get to take an internet vacation every day!
ReplyDeleteThese photos are so beautiful. I am so happy I found your blog - it's like I get to take an internet vacation every day!
ReplyDeleteLucca is one of my favorites, too! I have a soft spot in my heart for Florence because that's where I studied abroad, fell in love with my [American] husband, and also where we got engaged (in Piazzale Michaelangelo actually!). But since you've already been there, Capri would be my next rec for places to honeymoon! If you go, Da Luigi is a fabulous beach club on the island, and Sorrento is an adorable gem of a town on the mainland (just a 20-min ferry ride away) where hotels are cheaper and views are amazing. Sorrento is also home to one of the most gorgeous beaches I've ever been -- I Bagni Regina Giovane. It's a little hard to get to, but there are no tourists and there are even a couple Roman ruins just chillin' in the water! You should totally go :)
ReplyDeletePositano! We have family friends there & my parents go yearly (rough being retired). Its absolutely gorgeous and still retains a small town feel even though tourists flock to it. Its one of the most amazing places I've been. I can give you recommendations- the family friends own a restaurant and a small hotel. Helpful friends!
ReplyDeleteWords cannot express how much I miss Europe! I love all of these pictures and can't wait to get to Italy eventually. I will live vicariously though you for now.
ReplyDelete@angie- thanks for the recommendations!
ReplyDelete@Chiara-I am seeing a lot of capri in these comments!! I am going to look into it!
@Lyndsay- you are the first person to say you arnt a rome fan, but i think i would probably be with you on that.
@Kallah- i never realized how much it affected me on a bigger scale until i started traveling to different places
@Denise- Bobbi is THE BEST EVER!!
@Lindsay- i think im getting sold on capri here..
@Camila- THANK YOU. I actually am wanting to plan a france trip, to im going to look at all of those places now!
@Betsy- I want to go back to Cinque Terre as well..i feel like i didnt get enough of it! I think im going to take my mom there next summer. I know she would lOVE it
Hannah-same
mbdebaere-Thank you!
Holly*-OMG THAT PLACE SOUNDS AMAZING! I am going to look into that right now!
Faye- DO IT.
Ashley- Capri is currently at the top according to everyone..going to look into it! thank you!!
I can so relate to your feelings on big cities, and vibes. I lived in LA for six years and became so overwhelmed with the traffic, the rude people, the craziness! I'm a small town girl though and through. I love discovering the lesser known places when traveling, because the big cities are always a little disappointing to me. I hear the Emilia Romagnia region of Italy is fantastical!
ReplyDeleteI mean, Emilia Romagna, oops, typo! :)
ReplyDeleteHi Megan, I love your blog and congrats on your engagement! There are quite a few recommendations for Capri; however, my one caveat is that it is incredibly small, expensive, and kind of a pain to get to. That being said, it is beautiful but if you are headed to the Amalfi coast you will basically get the same experience. I lived in Bologna for a year and loved it! It is a beautiful, smaller city that had a very youthful vibe because of the University. You will also eat the best food there! Also, the Emilia Romagna countryside can rival Tuscany, I have a great agriturismo recommendation if you're interested right ourside of the city. I also would recommend Modena and Parma in the region. Heading north you should try the Piemonte region, Alba is gorgeous and the wine is amazing! Happy planning!
ReplyDeleteLucca is one of my absolutely favorite places in Italy. Plus, it has serious sentimental value to me b/c it's where the bf and I first said I love you. I would seriously consider naming my future child after that town.
ReplyDeleteBut ... for honeymooning, I highly recommend the Veneto area, specifically Asolo and Bassano del Grappa. Especially for someone who loves small towns over cities. Asolo was one of the most beautiful, peaceful, and serene places I've ever visited. I want to go back and spend a whole week just in that town. Bassano is another cool, beautiful town with lots of shops and history. Both are in the foothills of the Italian Alps and close enough to Venice that you could easily make a day trip there. If you want more deets, just let me know. The bf lived in that region for 3 years and still has friends and family there.
We're heading to Vernazza in November, and I would love your take on it! Recommendations? Thoughts? Your posts are a makin' me ancy!!!
ReplyDeletexo Caitlin
I lived in Siena (yes, it's Siena, not Sienna) for a semester and I miss it so much! It is definitely a small, quiet town with so much history, but lots of fun day trip activities in the surrounding villages. Personally, I would avoid it in the summer because it gets super hot and crowded. My favorite time was around Christmas. All the churches in town have decorations, there are tons of Christmas trees, and people roasting chestnuts on the corner...There's nothing else like it!
ReplyDeletehow about verona? Loved italy as well,and heard great things of sienna, too..
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures! I know the coast is just amazing, but the lakes up North are incredible as well! Lake Como is just breath taking!!
ReplyDeleteLooks gorgeous and always love your pictures! Glad you're enjoying the beautiful sites of Italy!
ReplyDeleteYou are a teeny tiny little person!
ReplyDeleteI've not been to Italy yet, figured I'd save that for a romaaaantic trip instead of a grungy, hostel filled college experience. And that hen-do video killed me. So sweet!
Gosh Italy is AMAZING!! I want, scratch that, need to go back. Now.
ReplyDeleteOh...LA traffic, people, stimulation. AH. So exhausting! These pictures are beautiful...glad you had so much fun! I hope I can get to Italy some day!
ReplyDeleteThis makes me super excited for studying there this summer!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! I've only been to Positano in the summer, when it was super crowded and not so fun. The whole Amalfi coast is spectacular, though, so I'd definitely recommend it!
ReplyDeletei was going to say capri but everyone has beat me to it. sorrento is also crazy beautiful as is lake garda in the north of italy.
ReplyDeletethat is all my italian knowledge for you, although i loved rome, it didn't feel like a really big city to me. but then i might just be looking back fondly--i have a habit of doing that.
Italy is the tits. Yeah, I said it. The tits.
ReplyDeleteI love being an expat in Italy. It's great here and I'm so glad you guys loved it. Sienna is beautiful. Anywhere in the Tuscany region is quaint and lovely. Positano (Amalfi Coast) is great if you love picturesque ocean views and just want to hike, walk, and relax.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite cities are Cinque Terre and Florence. Obviously, I can't even pick one place, haha.
i'm thinking you would LOVE the south of Spain... so when are you coming? :)
ReplyDeleteMy suggestion...Montepulciano!! Incredibly enchanting beautiful town. It's my favorite SMALL town that I've visited, so far, in Italy (and I've seen many - Lucca, Pisa, Siena, Pienza, Castiglione di Garfagnana...to name a few.) But wherever you choose, it will be brilliant...it's Italy!!) Enjoy!
ReplyDeleteWant to know how we're even more meant to be? Lauren and I went to the same high school. Her sister graduated with me.
ReplyDeleteBAM!
ahhhh... I cant wait to see these places.. Glad you enjoyed yourself!! Is this place you visited more in country side?
ReplyDeletebtw Love the word summation as well. It actually just topped the whole post off for me personally.
you educated model you...
♥CheChe
oh my goodness! those old farts! future stephen and meg just turned my cold heart into molten love lava. they are preciouuuuus!
ReplyDeletealso, present-day meg and stephen are pretty presh themselves!
This post makes me want to get on the next plane to Italy. I totally know what you mean about picking up on other people's vibes. I don't hate big cities because I've mostly spent time/grew up just outside of one that had really GREAT vibes. That's part of the reason I want to visit Italy, the culture and lifestyle seem really unique and amazing.
ReplyDelete