Macross

The damage from that storm was horrific. I would be you on the plane. I will have to look for that set up. Great pictures and glad you got to travel.

KayF

Thanks so much for sharing your trip. The photos are spectacular. We've been to many of the places you visited, so lots of great memories. International borders here in Australia are pretty much closed, certainly for tourism purposes, so no idea when we can get back to Europe. The upside is we have lots of time for planning

russ_in_LA

I’m glad that you enjoyed it. I’ve gotten so much from this form over the years. Hope this will be useful for others. I’ll also be busy planning fantasy trips, until travel gets back to normal some day.

angelabella1038

Thank you for sharing these amazing pictures

russ_in_LA

My pleasure!

Chile_Traveller

Amazing Images from - Italy
When i see them i miss it more

We go there for Camping every year - But the this and last years already Covid

natylou

Russ...this TR feels like a fairy tale right now. When normally I am immersed in travel research, this year has been one of trying to be content with what we are able to do.

Your trip is almost the reverse of one we did a few years back so I have enjoyed all these memories immensely. To see the cinque terre with few tourists...now there is a dream!

Thanks so much for this. As usual, LOVE your photos.

russ_in_LA

Thanks so much! It feels like a dream now looking back on it. Hope this summer things will start approaching some normalcy again!

lugano

Stunning pictures. Thank you for sharing.

Such posts just make my travel itch worse - I'm currently looking at Italy (last went to Naples, Sorrento etc in 2018) but scared to hit the book button on what is available in fear of it being cancelled.

annhig

<<My bad squid ink dish was Venice too! I suspect that some the restaurants in the heavily touristed areas may not use the best quality products. 😉>>

oh no! There are a few shockingly bad places, no doubt about it but also some excellent ones. My hope is that with fewer tourists visiting the dross will change to go out of business.

russ_in_LA

Im a pretty adventurous eater, but it put me off squid ink pasta for years. Maybe I’ll brave it again some day!

geetika

Stunning pictures and narrative russ, but what touched me the most were the memories they evoked. Talk of pre-internet days reminds me of even earlier times, in the early to mid sixties, when my parents toured Europe by train over two months. With my brother and I in tow, 3 and 6 years old. Mom said they’d go to the TI at the station and find a hotel or pension at every place, travelling to 7-8 countries, though of course only the cities. The trip must have been quite successful because they repeated the same formula two years later!

Dad passed away a long time back, but mom loved to travel and my brother and I would take her back to Europe every summer till the end. Precious memories, thanks for sharing them with us!

annhig

<<Im a pretty adventurous eater, but it put me off squid ink pasta for years. Maybe I’ll brave it again some day!>>

I brought back some squid ink pasta from Venice last time I was there. Wonder if that's allowed now! but it was fun, if not vey different from ordinary pasta in taste. I think that it's the use of squid ink in the sauce that really makes the difference, and makes you look like a refugee from a horror movie.

russ_in_LA

🤣

Ive had squid ink in the pasta but not the sauce before, and it was fine. The time I had it in Venice it was in the sauce and it tasted like the squid had been sitting out in the sun for a few days!

annhig

<<Ive had squid ink in the pasta but not the sauce before, and it was fine. The time I had it in Venice it was in the sauce and it tasted like the squid had been sitting out in the sun for a few days!>>

yes, it can be a bit overwhelming. But perhaps it had!

suz1672

Just came across this report. We had to cancel our 2020 Italy trip but are planning our next one for 2023. Thank you for all of your great information and photos!!

russ_in_LA

So glad you are finding it helpful! Have fun in 2023!!

danakowen5601

Russ, thank you so much for your amazing review of your trip through Italy. It was extremely helpful in planning our upcoming trip! Your writing and photography is truly impressive and transported me to that region, providing extremely valuable insights for my planning. It's always great to hear from someone who can convey their experiences in such a captivating way. It's clear that you have a talent and passion for travel and travel writing and photography and are generous enough to take the time to help others. Thank you for sharing your adventures and look forward to your other globe trotting adventures!

russ_in_LA

Thanks, Dana! I’m glad it helped with your planning. Hope you had a fantastic trip!