Some of this I have heard before, some is new. Whether I play or not remains to be seen but to finally get to the country that bears my heritage is enough for me. Cannot wait. Thanks for taking the time. Much appreciated all the way around.
Posted By: numpty88
With working in mind, and seeing your profile (very hot!), I'd offer the following additions/clarifications:
American accents can be exotic there, especially in softer volumes and tones
Expect to be flirted with and hit on by lots of men, even those driving past
Have had a friend's wife (blonde) whistled at while walking alone on sidewalks (scared her)
Get blonde highlights and you become even more of an attention magnet
Expect to be out-dressed by lots of people
I've been in Milan during fashion week and while there are lots of models then, it's not fancier than the rest of year
Trim figures like yours will adore shopping (window shop in Milan, buy in Florence)
People watching is a popular pastime, and can be tremendous fun with a flirty date
Venice is a cruise ship hub with LOTS of couples; I've given up trying to find dates there
Milan is a banking hub, lots of providers
Bologna is an education hub, lots of providers
Florence is an artistic hub (due to Renaissance origins) and has a very diverse crowd, smaller selection of providers
Rome is...well, it's Rome. Hard to describe but has an amazing variety of people and activities; lots of providers
Train travel is super simple and low cost if you can book in advance
Local trains are cheaper but stop at every town
Express trains (180mph / 300kph) save you time and stop only at major cities
First class is a nice splurge, but second class arrives at the same time
Will need to notify your bank before purchasing tickets online, otherwise they flag the purchase as fraud
Book a rental car only if you want the freedom to explore or go where trains & buses are too difficult
Avoid city centers in a car - only taxi, bus, or subway should be used (ZTL fines)
Stay at an agritourismo at least once (could be a fun date if you click with the right person)