If I had to be honest, I’d tell you that this trip nearly didn’t happen. Mac suggested going to Italy earlier in the year, however, I didn’t think it was the right time as we’ve been trying to save for so many future goals. I didn’t see how travelling could fit into the picture. Fortunately for us, Nicole – my brother’s girlfriend – was able to convince me to go. Sure, Nicole may have presented the exact same argument for travelling to Italy like Mac did, however, I’ll also admit that sometimes it takes me some warming up to an idea. Let’s just say Nicole caught me on a day that I was a little bit more malleable.
The trip was absolutely everything I wanted and more. It was our first international trip since covid, and our first big trip together. I’d been to Italy once, when I was 17, but things always look a little different with age and so I’d always vowed to make my way back. I just didn’t have the chance to do so in my twenties.
On the evening the day before we were scheduled to leave, Ale, Blanca and Pablo came over to Valeria and Luca’s place for dinner and an evening of Catan. Mac and I made the requested egg and bacon sandwiches and it was a hit! Blanca told us that it reminded her of a sandwich from Spain – guess we didn’t do too badly! What a relief!
Espresso con Panna and possibly the most intense, savage and chaotic game of Catan followed. The household was rather multi-lingual by this point as: on one side of the table, Mac and I were speaking English as we tried to barter our “goods”, the other side of the table had Blanca speaking Spanish as things intensified (she’s originally from Spain) and everywhere else, you could hear Italian being spoken at a rapid pace. This quickly became one of my favourite moments of the trip! A solid two hours later and Blanca proved to be the winner. After, we had said our good byes and Mac and I were able to sneak in two hours of sleep before our journey home began at 330 am.
We had a 30 hour travel day scheduled ahead of us. It would begin in Ascoli, with a four hour bus ride to Rome. From there, we had a four hour wait before our eight and a half hour flight to Newark, New York. The end stretch of our journey had an almost three hour buffer before our connecting flight to YVR.
Our first flight out of Rome was possibly one of the worst flights I’ve experienced. Mac and I had decided to upgrade to emergency seats as this would allow us more leg space. Unfortunately, this also meant that I was seated close to the toilets with people lining up to use the washroom throughout the trip. My seat mates behind me were big standers as well, and were constantly yanking on my chair to get up to stand in front of me throughout the flight. In addition to that, my leg space was cut short by the number of times the family in the middle aisle stood to walk their toddler and infant. It was astounding to see the stupidity of some people while travelling, as an example, the family with the toddler and infant seemed to believe that despite the seatbelt sign being lit up, it would be safe to walk their child around.
The entitlement on the flight was rather shocking. I was seated beside an elderly Caucasian couple who, judging by the fact that they stared at me rather than say hello, appeared shocked at the sight of seeing either a) an Asian woman, b) a woman who appeared to be travelling on her own – Mac and I were separated by this point as the emergency seats only had one vacant seat per aisle – or c) both. I think it was c. Turns out they were from Florida.
During meal service, the entitlement was obvious and painful to watch. The elderly gentleman, seated beside me, was a larger man; as could be seen by the fact that his tray table could not lie flat down due to his stature. After finishing lunch, the elderly gentleman lay the tray down on the floor and when the flight attendant came to collect all the food trays, he gestured to the floor that that was where his food tray was. The flight attendant asked the customer if the customer was going to make him bend down to pick up the tray to which the customer replied “well I could get it for you if you wanted..” but made no attempts to get up to do so.
At the end of the flight, the same couple had a conversation with the same flight attendant in which the flight attendant had to try and explain why it was necessary to leave the terminal by speaking with immigration officers and why they had to go through security again for a connecting flight. Despite him explaining that it was a security measure, all the elderly couple could muster was that it was an inconvenience for them. A reminder that 9/11 occurred due to lax security didn’t appear to faze the customers.
Despite the less than ideal flight home, there were so many wonderful memories and experiences on our trip that it’s difficult for me to name my favourite one. A snapshot of it all seems to be the best way to showcase the trip, below is a set of photos that have not been published in other entries. This may be the best way to explain all the memories and experiences Mac and I had.
A large part of why we went to Italy now was because of Paula – Mac’s mom. She passed away last December from pancreatic cancer and Mac had always wanted to take her to Italy. There were many moments throughout the trip where we thought of her and whether or not she would have liked the experiences of our trip. We both concluded that yes, she would have. This past year has been a difficult one and I think this trip was a helpful and sunny reminder in that despite the grey days, there’s sunshine to be found.
The journey of grief and of being with someone going through the process, as well as experiencing it, has helped with changing my outlook on life in general. I think for me, too often it was easy to get wrapped up on some of the things that maybe didn’t matter. It really is about remembering to live life to the fullest, to be bold, fearless and to live outside your comfort zone. Or as Paula would say being outside the comfort zone is where you grow! Mac had told me that Paula had said that she always felt like she really lived life. Italy was a great place to travel as we were able to just live life – we saw so many beautiful things – whether it be buildings, food, or people
Valeria, Luca and their families were all incredibly kind and generous throughout our stay. I think that’s also what made this trip so special – to be able to spend so much time with them and, for me, to get to know them better.
For the last couple of years, with the pandemic in full blast and our lives on hold, I’d forgotten what it was like to travel. I’d forgotten what freedom and child like wonder I would be filled with when getting on an airplane, meeting new people and attempting to converse with them in broken English or – in this case – broken Italian; or how it would feel to see wondrous new things, to experience the kindness of people – that the world isn’t as scary as we make it out to be sometimes and to fill all my senses with magic – differing landscapes, temperatures, delicious fragrant foods and new experiences. This trip has re-woken a hunger to travel and see the world. It’s also been a trip in providing the perspective that I needed: life is short, make it magical. All those things you worried about maybe won’t matter down the line.
For now, we say ciao ciao to Italy. Thank you for the most amazing time. Mac and I have plans to be back in Italy and in Europe in a couple of years. For now, we head back home.
For me, I’ll be taking off sooner than expected in October, as I’ll (potentially) be going to the Philipines, pending whether or not I’ll be able to get certain vaccines. This idea came around prior to me leaving for Italy. One of my best friends, Nat, had put the idea out and originally I was quick to say no. The thought of leaving again for somewhere international, right as I’d just come home seemed like too much. I didn’t want to leave for another trip and seemingly, “forget” about the amazing time I just had.
What changed? As Italy was closer in time difference to Australia, I was able to talk to my other best friend, Kayla. I got a better idea of what they were thinking about. Years ago, they had gone on a South East Asia trip – one in which I declined going on because I was in school. What I realized was that in some ways I was making up reasons to not go. I wasn’t entirely comfortable with going to South East Asia. But this meant I’d miss on out another friends trip and – if we’re being realistic, I’m no longer twenty and unsure how much more time I’d have to “just drop everything and go”. If I’d learn anything from my trip to Italy, it was that there are some things that can’t be replaced, money can’t buy these things. So I’m choosing the experience of travelling with my best friends from highschool. I can only hope that I’m not too late in getting the vaccines I need. Either way – if the Philipines work out or not – I know that travelling will be an important part of my life. Thanks to Italy for breathing life back into me and for reminding me what I really discovered at twenty – three: travelling makes you richer.
Trulli in Alberobello
the lone traveller 
Looks like a fun trip! How great that you were able to travel around a bit as well 😄
All the best from Strasbourg, France
Stephanie and Jerome
Strafari
It was wonderful, much needed after the last couple of years we’ve all had!
Cheers!
Celina from Canada!
Thank you for sharing your travels and thoughts. Can’t wait to be a part of your next adventure (vicariously)!