January 6, 2011 (Updated April 3, 2023)

Hello from Italy!

by Anne Mauney, MPH, RD

38 comments

Good morning from Vicenza, Italy!!!

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Now that my brother has returned from deployment, this is his actual assignment, so he lives here right now! I decided it would be fun to come back with him for a few days before heading home on Saturday 🙂

Check out the fun view of all the rooftops from my his apartment balcony:

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Love it 🙂 So European!

We just had breakfast — look what my brother found at the store for me — Greek yogurt! Yummm.

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I had my yogurt with sliced banana and some granola.

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Delish! When traveling, I always try to keep breakfast healthy. That way I have a little more wiggle room for later on! 🙂 Getting lots of exercise is also key — we’ll be walking ALL day today because…

We’re off to Venice for the day!!

It’s only about 45 minutes away by train and one of my very favorite cities. My brother has never been, but I was in Venice in May 2009 with my college BFF Kris — she came to visit me at the end of my time in Prague and we traveled to Venice, Florence, and Rome. It was wonderful — Venice was the most beautiful and had the best pasta (I LOVE the black squid ink sauce — can’t wait to have it again tonight!), Florence had the best art and gelato, and Rome was cool because of all the crazy old ruins!

Stay tuned — I’ll be back tonight (late afternoon U.S. time) with a recap!

Have you ever been to Italy? Where did you go and what was your favorite place?

Breakfast + Brunch
- anne

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38 comments
  • Sana
    I was in Venice and Ventimeglia this summer. I had a gelato every single day! I hope you have a blast!
    Reply
  • Lauren
    SO jealous!!! Germany, now Italy. I didn't know this was a full European vacation. How wonderful for you.
    Reply
  • Brenna
    Wow that's awesome! WHen I was in Italy I ate gelato appx 2 times per day...I just couldn't get enough!
    Reply
  • Renie
    I have been to Bari, Italy which is located on the upper heel of the boot. Bari is the birthplace of my dear sweet mother who is now deceased. Enjoy your stay. Looking forward to this afternoons post.
    Reply
  • Emily @ For Sweets Sake
    Venice is my favorite spot in Italy too! I've been to Venice, Rome, Florence, Pisa, Verona, everywhere in between :) Not Southern Italy though, that's my next trip ;)
    Reply
  • Heather C
    I want to (WILL) go to Italy SO badly! I was initially an Art History/Architecture major in college, so my heart belongs to those "crazy old ruins" and beautiful structures :) Have fun with the Bro, not a bad assignment to be in Italia!! xo
    Reply
  • Suzette
    Now I am officially jealous!
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  • Katy (The Singing Runner)
    I want to go to Italy like you wouldn't believe. It is on the top of my list of must see places! :) Have fun! :)
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  • Sarah @ See Sarah Graduate
    So jealous! I've never been to Italy... the closest I've gotten was when I flew over it to get to Greece. haha. My bff and I are planning a "backpacking" trip through Europe this summer after we graduate though so are definitely hitting it up!
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  • Tracey @ I'm Not Superhuman
    I traveled Europe after college and three of the places we stopped were Rome, Venice and Florence. (And, incidentally, Prague.) I loved them for the same reasons you did. Though Rome in August was murder. Venice was so small and perfect. Enjoy it!
    Reply
  • Heather
    I would love to go to Italy - it looks amazing! Italy and Turkey are top on my "travel destination" locations. They are so fully of history and look so beautiful!
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  • KatherineC
    I was in Rome in April 2009 and it was an amazing experience. Seeing all the well-known sites was great, but one of my favourite things I did was sit on the street curb with a slice of pizza at lunchtime and watch everyone go about their chic Italian lives : )
    Reply
  • Jenna
    I went to Rome for my honeymoon back in 2009 and had amzing pasta and gelato every day. I loved the city, but can't wait to travel the rest of Italy one day. Have a great time in Venice!
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  • Lindsay
    I looooved Italy when I was there!!! We were all over; Milan, Verona, Venice, Florence, Pisa, Rome, Siena, Assisi, Pompeii, Sorrento, and Capri. All were amazing, but Venice was my favorite. The only downside was that it was a school trip (through EF; I was a chaperone), so I was surrounded by 20 middle schoolers, ha :) Can't wait to see your pics!
    Reply
  • Vanessa
    So jealous!!! I want to go to Italy soo bad!! I heard Venice is amazing!! Have fun!! Can't wait to see all the pictures you take!
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  • Kim Huynh
    No you didn't...go to Italy. Hello, jealous. :)
    Reply
  • DHP
    Wow! Sounds great. Venice is wonderful -- but Florence is my favorite city in Italy. Look forward to the next post!
    Reply
  • Dorry
    I love Italy! Billy and I were just there in September - my favorite place is Lake Como. We had our wedding ceremony at Villa D' Este. It was spectacular. And the food is so amazing.
    Reply
  • Clare @ Fitting It All In
    I think Florence is my favorite city in Italy. It's so beautiful, and one night we got a bottle of cheap wine and went and sat on one of the bridges to drink and watch the city! Have an AWESOME time!!
    Reply
  • Monique Gagnon
    I feel the same way about those cities in Italy as you do!! I did Rome, Florence and Venice in a 10 day trip when I was studying abroad and absolutely loved each and every city for those exact reasons!! Well, the glass blowing and water taxies were pretty freaking cool, too! Enjoy your trip:)
    Reply
  • Emily G
    Thanks for sharing your great trip. My uncle was stationed in Vicenza and my parents and I visited my aunt & uncle there when I was about 1. According to the pictures, I enjoyed my unstable walks along the roads but I remember nothing. Have a great rest of your trip eating delicious Italian food.
    Reply
  • roberta
    My parents are from a small town 45 minutes north of Venice. Your pictures bring back so many happy memories of summers spent there visiting family. Have a wonderful trip.
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  • Pat Elsberry
    Anne, you are in my all time favorite country!! I have been to Rome, Milan, Portofino (love, love, love it there!) and Venice (okay, I love, love, love it there too! :). I could easily live in Portofino! We are headed back in April and will either go to the Amalfi Coast or rent a villa in Tuscany. What a score for your brother to be assigned in Italy! Hope you get to visit often while he is there! I know you love to read and if you haven't done so already pick up/download a copy of Frances Mayes book, Everyday in Tuscany: Seasons of Life. Nice read!
    Reply
  • Anna
    I went backpacking in Italy with some cousins when I was in high school- we zigzagged our way up the country and hit Rome, Latina, Spoleto, Trento (loved!) Milan, Bolzano, and Venice! Have fun!
    Reply
  • Rose
    I honeymooned in Italy. My husband and I agree that Florence was our favorite city, by far. It felt the most like people actually LIVED there. Plus, we had the most amazing bread soup I have ever had in my entire life. I dream of that bread soup.
    Reply
  • Jen
    I'm so excited to see Italy through your camera, Germany was gorgeous ;) Jen
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  • Nicole @ Geek Turned Athlete
    love, love, love Italy. The hubs and I cycled through Tuscany for our honeymoon, and I can honestly say that was the best vacation ever! I do love Venice as well though. The fish was amazing!
    Reply
  • Lara
    hey do you remember in the summer when we were at the pool and you hated your brother's deployment and jenny said, before you know it, you'll be visiting him in italy? :) enjoy!
    Reply
  • Michelle
    My sister did a semester abroad in Venica and I specifically remember her saying the same about the pasta and the black in sauce. I knew you reminded me of someone ;)
    Reply
    • Michelle
      PS I've never had pasta with black ink sauce so I hope you post a picture.
      Reply
  • Ashley
    I lived in Florence for 5 months and traveled all over Italy. It's just an amazing country. I'm going back in February.......So excited!!
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  • JESSICA
    I lived in Italy for 4 years from 96-00. About an hour from where your brother now lives (closer to the beaches) It is absolutely amazing! ENJOY!
    Reply
  • Abby @ Have Dental Floss, Will Travel
    I'm reliving all our trips through your blog this week! My husband and I spent a month backpacking through Italy after we got married - we hit Rome, Florence, and Venice (Rome was my favorite, though I agree - amazing gelato in Florience (did you go to Vivoli?), and I think I would have liked Venice more if it hadn't been July and filled with people), trekked across the Dolomites for eight days, and ended with a week in and around Perugia. Such an amazing country!
    Reply
  • Kris S
    Looks amazing!!! I am insanely jealous! I miss Italy with you!
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  • Kathryn
    I had to check out your favorite posts since you just updated them and was so excited to come across this! I'm studying in Spain for the semester and just got back from a Rome/Florence/Venice trip yesterday- our weather was much better in Venice, but your pics are awesome! And I miss the food already- wish I would've tried some squid ink pasta!
    Reply
    • Anne P
      Mmm I miss squid ink pasta!
      Reply