With everything that is going on in the world, my heart goes out to everyone who has been affected and are experiencing tough times right now. My heart especially goes out to Italy because they are experiencing the peak of the virus and a complete change of lifestyle that I know is extremely hard to adjust to.
I know I don’t look it considering I am pale and blonde, but I actually am Italian, I grew up with Italian grandparents which meant Sunday dinners, no bread on butter or pasta, and spankings with the wooden spoon. If you don’t know what the wooden spoon is you are lucky.
My relatives are from Naples and I know my Nonna has always wanted to visit because that is where her parents are from, so we booked a two week excursion through Italy starting at the top and traveling down and we were all ecstatic to go. Unfortunately my Nonna can’t walk too well anymore and she was not able to join us which was really upsetting.
However, I truly had the time of my life in Italy, I had never been anywhere like it. I went with my parents and my sister, and I even saw two of my friends from home in Italy, which was a once in a lifetime chance that we were both there at the same time. The drinking age was 16 so I enjoyed lots of wine and wine tasting and some of the best food I have ever had. Venice was by far my favorite spot, I love water and being around water, so Venice was like my ideal city and I did not ever want to leave. Side note, that is part of the reason I hate State College because there is no coast and I feel trapped. Which is also why I spend my summers at the beach in LBI.
Anyway, Italy gave me the travel bug. It opened my eyes to so much and I was absolutely obsessed with everything I had seen. I am a spanish minor so I also want to travel to Spain at some point, and I had a trip planned with me, my mom, her childhood best friend and her daughter, who became my childhood best friend, in May. And now of course.. we cannot go and I am beyond upset about this but I know it is for our safety.