Bella Italia!

Travel, one of the best gifts I keep on giving myself. I am blessed with friendships that have sustained the test of challenges, time and distance. And because I love to travel, I take every opportunity I have – when feasible – to visit the friends I have in different corners of this earth. A few months ago, I had the thought that I wanted/needed to visit my friend Gabriele in Bologna, Italy. I wasn't sure I would be able to do so, but the idea was planted in my head, and, thankfully, the universe made it happen.

Italy is fast becoming a country I want to explore more and more; I went there for the first time back in 2020 to visit Gabriele and his family. I was blown away by the amazing landscapes and, of course, the amazing food. I visited a second time in 2023, this time to visit my friend Matteo, who lives in the South of Italy. Once again, I was taken by the charm of the landscapes and the people. Needless to say, I was very much looking forward to reuniting not only with Gabriele, but also with Marta, who managed – last minute – to come from Croatia (next on the list :D), as well as with Shani, whom I met when we both lived in New York City and now lives in Bologna.

The trip was beautiful, and unfolded easefully. Gabriele is a musician, and he was playing a few gigs with his band Super Cumbia during our visit, so we started the trip in Giardino Parker Lennon, Bologna, where they were playing. I got to explore Bologna thanks to my friend Shani, who is low-key the best tour guide in the world. The entire trip was a great mix of city time and countryside chilling.

I have said it before, and I will keep on saying it and writing it because they are some of the things that bring me so much joy and uplift my spirit when I feel sadness: I am so grateful for all the friendships in my life – the ones here to stay and the ones who were meant to stay for a short while – and for the opportunity to travel.

#travellover #italia #friendships