Do you prefer Italy or France?

Old May 13th, 2008, 06:44 PM
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I think this is just as hard as choosing between your mother and your father or choosing which of your two children you like the best.

Why do you have to choose which is best? If you can only go to one, pick one this time and go to the other next time. I really couldn't say which is my favorite.
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Old May 13th, 2008, 06:46 PM
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Both are beautiful...If I had only one month left on earth, (between Italy and France)... I would choose France, especially, Paris....you could bury me at Pere LaChaise.
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Old May 13th, 2008, 06:46 PM
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There is nothing like sipping champagne in the south of France on a beautiful September afternoon.

Except eating gelato in Florence.

Or an afternoon of people watching in the mall below the Lourve.

Or having pizza in Rome.

Or wine tasting at a local bar in Paris.

So in my opinion both.
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Old May 13th, 2008, 08:58 PM
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Hi

I have not see that much of France but I have been a few times to Italy and that is great. So I would love to go back to Italy. The trip last year to Florence and Tuscany (see my trip report http://gardkarlsen.com/florence_italy_travelogue.htm ) was great and I would love to explore more of Italy.

Regards
Gard
http://gardkarlsen.com - trip reports and pictures
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Old May 13th, 2008, 09:28 PM
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I've always raved about Italy, but, in fact, I've ended up in France about as often. It keeps drawing me back, one way or another. Both countries give such a gratification of the senses for some of the same reasons, like beautiful food and sights, and different reasons, such as personality and style.
You aren't going to lose with either and you'll be much better off with both.
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Old May 14th, 2008, 04:54 AM
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That's like asking which of your children do you love best.

I love both so I alternate between the two. I have been to Paris x 5, The Alsace, Burgundy, Provence, The Languedoc and will be back in Provence/Paris in June. I would say that the Dordogne captured my heart the most for its beautiful villages, historic caves, pristine pastural countryside and tasty food.

In Italy, I've been to the Amalfi Coast and Sicily twice, Rome three times, Venice, Cinque Terre, Umbria,
and several areas of Tuscany. I would say that the area the captured my heart the most was the Val d'Orica for almost the same reasons as the Dordogne...except the caves of course.

You can't go wrong with either choice and there are so many areas in both of those countries to explore. It's kept me busy for many years and I still haven't run out of ideas...but unfortunately I am running short on funds with the high Euro.
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Old May 14th, 2008, 04:57 AM
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Yes I prefer Italy or France
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Old May 14th, 2008, 05:28 AM
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My broken Italian is better than my broken French. Growing up in NY made Italian less "foreign". Italy to me was much more relaxed and homey. France on the other hand is beautiful and I liked the idea that the food culture was more diverse (ie. Veitnamese, Chinese etc.). My next foreign trip is to Italy!
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Old May 14th, 2008, 05:44 AM
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Sassafrass...I share your same emotions about Italy. I've been fortunate to visit 4 times and I've been brought to tears each time. Venice and Florence especially touch me in that way.

Last year we visited Provence first and then Tuscany. Provence was breathtaking and lovlier than I ever dreamed it would be. The people were very pleasant but a tad bit reserved, formal and serious. The difference between the French and the Italians was quite noticeable. There's something about the Italians that reminds me of Texans (of which I am one). They are very open, friendly, outgoing, demonstrative, more casual - I feel more at ease amongst the Italians. So! all that being said - France is incredible but Italy has my "heart".
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Old May 14th, 2008, 06:26 AM
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I've been to France, mostly Paris, a lot of times.

Later this month, Italy for the fourth time. Not a big foodie or oenophile but going to Tuscany and Umbria.

Haven't been to Bordeaux or heavily into the French wine regions though. It seems Italy has hill towns among its wine region while I'm not sure what there is to see in Bordeaux or Burgandy outside of wineries.

Can't think of anything quite like Florence or Venice anywhere else in the world though, and I'm not even that big a fan of Renaissance art and architecture. I like the period but I'm more of an admirer of Modernist art.
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Old May 14th, 2008, 07:16 AM
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Tough choice! I'd choose Italyrance.
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Old May 14th, 2008, 07:22 AM
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mcnyc, see -- there you go proving we all have different tastes. I'd prefer Frataly.
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Old May 14th, 2008, 08:54 AM
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Italy. Second choice, Austria.
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Old May 14th, 2008, 09:17 AM
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France. I love the language, the food, the ambience. Italy was exciting and interesting and there is still a lot of it that I would like to see, and I did love Rome, but if pressed, I would choose France.

I've had a fascination with the French language since I was very small and people told me I said the letter "r" as if I were French. I figured if I lived there I could bypass the years of speech therapy trying to get me to say a proper American "r".
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Old May 14th, 2008, 09:55 AM
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Someone else asked this question some months ago...interesting...Well, although I've been going to France almost annually since the mid 70s, for a 1-2 week vacation, I feel FAR more passionate towards Italy...it gets my pulse and heart beating fast. It's a stylish/classy/passionate place...not that France isn't...it's just different.
So, you probably ask..then why do you spend so much time in France? Well, it's because I'm so comfortable in France... Paris and I have had friends in both Paris and down in the south of France where I was able to stay at the villa of my best friend's uncle. Who could ask for anything more? He left his native California to live there for 25 years...until he died in his sleep at age 80... and the door was always wide open for friends to come. So, a huge villa in Beausoleil overlooking the water.
But, now that one of my best, male friends will retire in a few months, at 55 years old, and move to his new condo outside of Venice...well, I'll be heading there this April 2009. I'm to call Delta, this Friday. and try to cash in the miles. I'll spend 4 days outside of Venice and 4 days in Paris at a French friend's new apartment. Free trip/free accomodations! Smiles! Happy Travels!
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Old May 14th, 2008, 01:13 PM
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NeoPatrick, if it helps any, I do speak Fritalian!
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Old May 15th, 2008, 04:59 AM
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It is extremely difficult to choose - I've been to each country at least six times but if I had to choose, it would be France - there's that undefinable quality of life. Maybe because I love Paris so much (even though the layers of history in Rome and other Italian cities is certainly very attractive to me). If I won the lottery, I would definitely want to move to Paris!
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Old May 15th, 2008, 05:49 AM
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Italy hands down

We wanted to go to Italy but flights were cheaper into Paris so we flew in and out of Paris and did trains to and in Italy. We found it very hard to find food in Paris without speaking French, and we had learned some Italian for Italy but did not need it. We had no trouble communicating in Italy, but it was a major challenge in Paris. So with all the supposedly great food in Paris, instead we had sandwiches that we could point at in the subway stations and McDonald's twice, definitely not what I would have hoped for.
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Old May 15th, 2008, 07:02 AM
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It really depends on what you are looking for. Last summer I flew into Rome and spent a week touring the famous sites. I LOVED the people, the food, the culture. Then I took the train to Florence. After Florence I took the train along the Italian coast into France. Totally worth the 8 hr train ride!! So beautiful! I spend a couple of days in Cannes. I can't go to Europe without visiting Paris, so after Cannes I took the train to Paris. I spent a couple of days eating crossiants along the Sienne and wandering around the Musee De Orsay and Louvre. Oh I want to go back!
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Old May 15th, 2008, 07:13 AM
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France or Italy? Help, please!
We are taking a Mediterranean cruise this winter, then have Dec. 21 to 28 free for a week's holiday of our choosing. But we can't choose. Any advice on winter in Italy or France?
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