Well Reader, I’m back from a whirlwind 3 weeks in Spain and Italy. Phew!

It’s been pretty non-stop, and as much fun as I had, I’m glad to be home. On our last day in Italy, I told Iñi something I’ve never said before and may never say again: I can’t wait to do laundry. (Though I’ve been home a couple of days and still haven’t done it—maybe today’s the day?)

Here are a few takeaways from my trip:

A mix-and-match wardrobe is WHERE IT’S AT.

Full disclosure: we had one (short) night at home between Spain and Italy to do laundry and repack. But all I did was add a couple of pieces to my Spain wardrobe to extend my options for two weeks in Italy. Easy breezy, AND I had space to bring home a few purchases!

I don’t seem to have a pasta limit

I think I had pasta every day in Italy—and twice a day on a few occasions. And yet, when thinking about grocery shopping yesterday, I still eyed some pasta recipes (but forced myself to take a break).

Miraculously, I think my jeans fit better than before I left, which I’m attributing to bigger-than-usual breakfasts that kept me full and not snacking, and plenty of walking.

Does this mean I can live off pasta from now on?

Local hook-ups are a game-changer

In Granada, we hung out with friends who took us to favorite tapas spots, told us about over-the-top Baroque chapels and secret gardens with Alhambra views, and suggested the best place to get drinks in Sacromonte. I saw a side of the city I hadn’t before, and it cemented my opinion of Granada as a fantastic destination beyond the Alhambra.

For Italy, I essentially arranged one of my full-service trips since we were traveling with my parents, and everyone raved about the experience. Having everything taken care of meant we could just relax and enjoy our time together instead of worrying about how to get from point A to point B or where to find parking (no easy feat in Naples and Sicily!).

Our private guides helped us maximize our time and gave us a much richer experience than we would have had on our own. And we were able to arrange some extra-special exclusive activities as well. It was a truly unforgettable trip.

Posting on Instagram probably isn’t going to happen until I get home

Even when I’m supposed to be on vacation, I tend to fill up my days. It’s hard not to take advantage of the opportunity to check out all the places I’ve researched, arrange hotel walk-throughs, and explore as much as possible. But that means I don’t have a ton of downtime. And when I’m with friends or family, I want to be with them, not on my phone.

The good news for you is that I always come back with lots of fresh firsthand experience, knowledge, and recommendations to pass on, plus about a million photos—and that you have some Sicily and Rome posts to look forward to.

Make sure to stay tuned as I continue to share experiences and insights from my trip over the coming weeks and months!