Warning: While my experience in Perugia did not include swimming with mutant sharks or riding a firecracker in Moscow, I offer this information so anyone who needs a real vacation, or a stop off during a long trip. Perugia is a step back in time with the best everything. Enjoy!

Perugia is my favorite place on the globe. I studied there in college and returned on my post-college trip. It is a beautiful old town on top of a big hill (you can even take an escalator to get to the top!) with views of the well known town of Assisi. It is in central Italy in Umbria (next to Tuscany) and is between Rome and Florence on the train.

The food is so amazing- go to Parma (when you are facing central fountain and famous steps hang a left under the arch and head down about 100 meters) and ask the men behind the desk to make you a panino. They'll let you pick the bread, cheese, meats, spreads, and fresh veggies. Don't forget to take a big whiff - the grocery stores in Italy have an aroma that will take your breath away.

Perugia is THE Italian college town. It is a quite and peaceful town which comes alive at night when all the students from the local universities congregate on the main steps in the center of town to hang out, juggle, and mingle. If you like hippies you will like this crowd. There are also bars on the street.

As for when to go, Perugia is a pleasure any time of year- it is very hot in the summer and snows in the winter. In the summer you can catch the Umbria Jazz festival when the town erupts with music and also the Chocolate festival. The Chocolate festival is a source of pride for the townspeople because Perugia is home to Baci Perugina chocolates. You can even take a tour of the factory. I never did but I imagine it to be like Carlie and the Chocolate Factory.

Stay at Hotel Morlacci- a family run low cost hotel with comfy rooms. It is right by Plaza Morlacci and Cafe Morlacci where you can go to be hip and laugh with smart well-dressed Italians. Finally, don't be afraid of the meandering street people- they own the town and are weirdly beloved.