Congratulations to Italy--First Appearance in Top Five

My friends from Italy ranked in the top five countries for visitors today--the first time Italy has appeared in the top five.  I spent some time there a few years back in Rome, Florence and Venice.  Recommend all three but we loved Venice and would go back there in a heartbeat.  Just don't go in the middle of summer when it's hot--the algae accumulates and I'm told the smell is not great.  But any other time--we went in early May and loved it!  Also recommend going to nearby Lido and go to the edge of the Adriatic Sea.  Rome of course is legendary--to think you're walking where Caesar did is pretty humbling.  Definitely take the "Scavi Tour" in the Vatican--very hard to get in but well worth it.  There, you are walking on paths of the 1st century and on the footsteps that St. Peter made.  Florence too has tons of history and is the home of renaissance art.  The Uffizi Gallery and the Academia are superb.  We marveled at the talent displayed before us.  Spend a lot of time observing Michelangelo's masterpiece "David"--the craftsmanship is unparalleled and you're standing before history.  One note of caution:  be aware of the shysters and scammers, especially in Rome and on Trenitalia, the train service within Italy.

Here is the list of Top Five Visitors from today:

1.  United States 57
2.  Denmark 24
3.  Germany 20
4.  Italy 6
4.  United Kingdom 6