Missing Italy

Post-vacation blues is a totally natural reaction to a wonderful trip. My advice is to try not to compare with "everything here in the US" because it sets you up for disappointment. Just appreciate each place for what it is and live in the moment wherever you are, even if it happens to be back home. Once you return from somewhere, just getting back in your usual routine helps a lot. Exercise helps a whole lot by stirring up the endorphins. I try to stretch my vacations as long as I can by editing trip photos, reading my notebook entries, writing some more (if I want to retain something from the trip before I forget it). The photos are my best memories and I look at them often - I take a lot of photos, so I can transport myself back virtually just about anywhere (even trips from many, many years ago).

I've been 3 times the last 18 months before the 1st time 15 years had past. I just go back if and when we have the time and means; it is that simple; but not just limited to Italy. But your perspective may depend on where you live in the US. You have to put your life in position where you can travel more if possible.

I kind of had that reaction on my first real trip to Europe, when I fell in love with Paris. I seriously wanted to move there! Now when I get home from Europe I'm actually kind of glad to be home, even if I had a great time on my trip. I keep going back to Europe, so that says something...

I call it Returner's Remorse. I start planning the next trip as soon as I get home. Editing photos is good, too.

Now you have some tools and info that will help other travelers, so stay on this forum!

And, write a trip report.

The funny thing is we live just outside New Haven CT which has a large Italian population and many, many Italian food stores and restaurants not to mention our famous pizza which is the only thing that really is better in New Haven than any we ate in Italy. Maybe it's having so many little reminders of Italy around us that has made me miss it so much. Best antidote I think is to get our album done and start planning our next visit! At least I know this post-trip sadness is the sign of a terrific trip!

Pizza is just a matter of how your own perception of how it should be shaped by eating it in the USA all your life.

Didn't mean to denigrate the pizza in Italy or get into a pizza debate! It's just that we are lucky to be near a city that really is famous for its pizza - thin crust or thick. It's so good that Bill Clinton used to have it flown to the White House!

hward335, I felt the same way after I returned from my first trip to Italy. What was most surprising to me was that I resisted travel to Italy for years. I just did not think I would enjoy the country. However, I just fell in love with Italy. I have gone back the last 5 yrs. Many on this website encourage travel to countries one has yet to visit but I find myself needing to return to Italy. I'll be adding to the countries I have visited but Italy will always be a destination for me.

I try to mix seeing new places and old - or at least new places in familiar countries. In May, I went back to Italy for the fourth time. I spent a night in Venice where I had been a few times before, but I also visited Trieste (never been). And I spent three nights on the Italian Riviera in Camogli, which I absolutely hated to leave - just loved it. I had been to the Cinque Terre before so knew I'd probably love somewhere else in the riviera, and I sure did. There are a lot of towns to explore up and down the riviera, so now I have plenty of excuses to go back and explore new towns in a region I love!

Congratulations on your first Italian adventure! I hope it's the start of many more for you.

I totally agree that things are different here than they are elsewhere. I think it's one of the most amazing parts about travel. My very first trip to Italy taught me to enjoy life at a different pace.

What I do when I return from a trip is similar to what others have said above. I also like to bring back something that I can use up, but while I'm using the item it's a tangible reminder of my vacation. I've brought back wine, olive oil, soap, spices, etc. For me that's a way of extending my trip just a little longer once I'm back at home!

Completely normal. Just start planning the next visit. I did the photo thing too. Then I started planning the next trip which we did last April. I love shopping and recently found my favorite Italian shops updated their online sites. The shopping has helped a bit as I get a box from Italy at my door. I am starting to plan a trip for next year, though its still uncertain if we will do it. This time Spain has our interest but I am having a hard time planning without wanting to put Italy in the mix too. With 2 weeks we can only do so much. I am learning to keep the cost down so we can go again.

Even after living there for almost 5 years, we miss it! We just wrapped up three weeks in Italy and were wistful. It will always have a place in our hearts and we'll go back next year, too.

Great thread. Looking back, it seems almost blasphemous that being of Italian descent I didn't visit Europe or Italy until seven years ago, in my early 50's. Certainly, life gets in the way, but with each successive trip--a total of three now, more to come--it feels more like home each time.

And we've made strides to achieve that feeling, I guess. We've never been ones for tours, or even seeing that many attractions with throngs of tourists. But the last two trips, we've eschewed hotels except when necessary and have opted instead for apartments or B&B's. I thought our small apartment two years ago overlooking Piazza Santa Maria Novella in Florence was nirvana until I experienced a tinier place this past March, a 2nd-floor flat at Rome's Campo de' Fiori.

Gosh, I loved the routine. We were there for a week but I said to myself, let me act like I'm here for a month. Up early, out the window I could hear the sounds of the marketeers setting up their daily wares. Out for a brisk walk down & along the Tiber River, then back to piazza dei Librai for a quick caffe--the barrister spoke no English but asked me my name the 2nd day--then to the bakery for a couple pastries, then back to the market--now open--for fruits for our breakfast. And the day was only starting!

I've said this before about Rome, but I was very impressed--especially traveling off-season--with the ease, acceptance and non-over-the-top attitudes Roman residents have for tourists to the Eternal City. They were funny, helpful, somewhat amused, and took it all in stride. I really dug the overall vibe.

I don't know if this will always be the case, but because of a disdain for crowds and heat, we will probably always avoid high season. Haven't yet been to the north along the Dolomites, and then the east coast around Bari, so that might be next on our every-other-year agenda. Visit other countries? Maybe--two years ago we started out in Paris & Lucerne before riding across the Alps and down to Florence. But I think we'll always end up in Italy--I'd pretty much guarantee it.

Ciao ciao,

Jay

Italy? Doggone it, I don't know whether to bless or curse her for scampering off with my heart, and smashing it to pieces every time I have to leave her.

Welcome to the club, hward335!

I just reminded my husband the other day that it's been 3 YEARS since we've been to Italy (we did UK/France and a NL/BE/France/UK trips since). And we won't be going back until 2019 (UK/Scotland next year). Like losing someone, it'll get easier (lol) as time goes by, until you go back and have to start the grieving process all over again.

Looking at your travel photos can help - as well as sharing and helping people on this forum who have upcoming trips.

Thanks everyone for your good advice! Kathy, your post was the best - made me laugh. Almost afraid to go back and have to feel this pain all over again! I guess I am not alone in my infatuation with the place and thinking about how we can incorporate some of what I loved here. I find myself asking why in a crowded train station like the one we have here in New Haven we don't have a civilized coffee bar with cups and saucers (and those little spoons!) instead of a Dunkin Donuts, Subway and Sbarro's!!!!

Thanks everyone for your good advice! Kathy, your post was the best - made me laugh. Almost afraid to go back and have to feel this pain all over again! I guess I am not alone in my infatuation with the place and thinking about how we can incorporate some of what I loved here. I find myself asking why in a crowded train station like the one we have here in New Haven we don't have a civilized coffee bar with cups and saucers (and those little spoons!) instead of a Dunkin Donuts, Subway and Sbarro's!!!!

Almost afraid to go back and have to feel this pain all over again!

Alas, it's a sickness. You've caught it.
The bad news is that there is no known cure aside from returning to the origin of the malady.

The good news is that the initial wailing and gnashing of teeth eventually subsides to occasional whimpering in the pasta aisle at the market.

LOL! A chronic disease I'll have to live with.