Lessons learned in Italy:

1) Italy is a stunning country.

2) Everyone should find some way to travel if at all possible. We all need to see that other people in the world live very differently from us, and our way is not the only way....by a long shot.

3) I will never go on a group tour again. I want to set my own list of things to see, places to go and what pace to do it all at.

4) Never travel during the summer, unless it's to Iceland. Sweating through your vacation is not pleasant and makes for unattractive travel photos.

5) Running shoes are literal lifesavers. They may not be cute, but neither are bandaid covered feet.

6) If you walk enough, you can eat absolutely anything on a trip and not gain an ounce! Yay!! (Though I'm not sure if unlimited gelato, tiramisu and bread helped the prediabetes situation a lot...but screw it, I was on vacation!)