Oh, Europe! Ah, l’Italia!!! Thank you for welcoming me home once again. It’s been waaaaaay too long, 22 years exactly.
While I currently reside in the US, my soul belongs in, or to, Western Europe. If you went by my DNA chart, you’d think I’d be landed somewhere in Deutschland. But that’s not where my heart simultaneously slows down and speeds up: I relax into a less frenetic pace, a deeper and broader view of the world that’s more in accord with my personal culture and practices when I’m in Italy. At the same time, I’m giddy to hear multiple languages as I meander through the streets, eat the best foods, marvel at ancient sites and architecture. It is the sweetest bliss.
During this last trip, I didn’t have the usual opportunity to sit at a café and write my observations and reflections that always stream in during travels.
I did, however, take a small notebook that fit easily into my sling bag, making it simple to whip it out and jot down several gems while on the bus or at the end of my day.
Reading through my travel notes from the October 2021 Italy trip recently, I immediately knew that I wanted to share a few choice ones in this piece.
SOUNDS:
EEEEEE-EWWWWW EEEEEE-EWWWWW EEEEEE-EWWWWW, the unmistakable Polizia siren. The sound of first responder vehicles across Europe is loud & clear!
Soaking in Italian, Russian, German, French, English, Dutch and other languages while walking through big city streets
Mass being sung in Latin inside St. Peter’s Basilica. All of that stone makes for the BEST acoustics!
Altar frontispiece: mosaic made of tiny stone pieces. Zoom in for detail.
TASTES:
First Day in Italy tradition: Sit at an outside café drinking a magnificent coffee along with a baked treat. YUM!
Another First Day in Italy tradition: Slowly delight in and devour a Rocket Salad = arugula and cherry-type tomatoes with a simple olive oil and vinegar dressing
Gelato. Our first gelato spot had 150 flavors!!! Not kidding. (This was an anomaly, however. Most shops have between 5 and 10.) How the heck does one decide? We picked 3 flavors each.
European butter. Enough said.
Whatever the region’s specialty dish is must be sampled.
SIGHTS:
Traffic - LOTS of cars, scooters, pedestrians, bicycles and buses in the bigger cities. As a pedestrian wanting to cross a street, look for an opening in the traffic flow and GO with determination and no hesitation. It’s up to you to cross safely, not the drivers.
Art. Architecture. Antiquities. Oh my!
The sight and comfort of people truly engaging with one another, whether walking arm in arm down the street or sitting at a café with friends. It was so pleasant and welcome to witness folks with a lighter/freer attitude vs. the deep anger and hostility I sense in the US these days.
Trevi Fountain, Rome
From senses to sensibilities, here are a few of my observations and reflections that I noted on this trip, which you may find interesting, helpful for your own travels or just a “quirky Heather thing.”
The best way to learn or remember another language, customs and practices of another culture is to dive in! Always ask for help. Most people love that you want to learn about their language and country.
Complainers abound in the tourist (I call them tourons) crowd. If you want it the way it is at home, stay there and don’t travel.
I love being a curious and considerate traveler! I really dislike being a touron.
When dining in a restaurant, including a simple café, the customer asks for la cuenta (the check) when they are ready to leave. The wait staff will/should NEVER leave a tab on the table, anticipating your departure. This is considered rude behavior. The point is for the customer to luxuriate over their meal, not for the restaurant to maximize the number of times a table is “turned”.
Yes, you can stay fit and healthy during your travels! Part of my daily notes log was writing down how many miles I walked. The first day was 6.2!! A huge highlight of the trip was swimming in the Ligurian Sea. Wow.
I cannot emphasize this last point enough: Getting or staying in good physical shape before traveling is key to maximizing the enjoyment and pleasure one experiences. Good health and stamina mean you can explore more and not be sidelined with feeling funky.
One way I ensure this is by using Fresh Air Fare during air travel and each day I’m “on the road.” It helps boost the immune system and gives a physical barrier to the nasties around us.
No matter where you reside, I hope you make yourself at home in the places you travel to and bask in every experience with your senses and sensibilities.
May your travels be joyful, invigorating, enlightening and healthful!
All photos taken and copyrighted by Heather Michet. ©2022
Heather Michet is an impassioned healing artist, traveler, wellness guide and Ceremonial Songstress who weaves lyrical, a cappella vocals throughout a wide array of ceremonies in a myriad of settings. From weddings in the woods, graveside memorials, and ashes scatterings at the shore, her Celtic style voice embraces the heart and stirs the spirit of all who gather honoring life events. You can connect with Heather and her work in any (or all!) of these ways:
Learn about her wellness tools (including Fresh Air Fare) and services rooted in nature at Iris Healing Arts
Listen to her music on YouTube
Read about her Ceremonial Songstressing at Purple Crow Sings
Facebook – Heather Facebook – Purple Crow Sings Facebook – Iris Healing Arts
Instagram - @heathermichet
5 comments:
Great post, Heather. I agree that slowing down and being a curious and considerate traveler is the way to go.
And gelato is the best!!! :-)
Thank you for reading my piece and for commenting with your kind words!!
Heather, I remember a trip I took to Mexico decades ago. There were a couple of other passengers who complained that they couldn't get a decent hamburger at the restaurant in the hotel. Listening to them complain and demean the staff certainly gave me a greater understanding of "The Ugly American" syndrome. Why travel if you don't want to experience something different?
When I was in Scotland, I even tried Haggis. Perhaps not my favorite but it wasn't "as bad" as I'd imagined. In Croatia, I came to adore the food there. Thanks for sharing your time in Italy with us!
Dear Judith - Thank you for your comments and for sharing some of your experiences while outside your "home turf". We learn and grow from the new things we try, stretching our comfort zone, but absolutely enriching our lives!!
What a lovely post. I was last in Italy as a ten-year old - many, MANY years ago. Loved the photos and the sentiment about traveling and enjoying every minute, instead of expecting to have others cater to you. And being kind ... too little of that these days.
Deb
Post a Comment