Nothing in the World is Better Than Travel in Italy

When they were very small, especially, and before school friends and academic life developed their pull, nothing, but nothing in the world was more delightful for our two children than was travelling in Italy.

They came on all of our research trips, this from the time each of them was just a few weeks old.

When they were not traveling, they wanted to pretend they were traveling.  They would make trains for themselves and take off for an Italian destination.  They would, in the world of fantasy, book at restaurants and then arrive, and sit down at tables, and begin to order, and loudly critique the food (“the tagliatelle were too buttery”, “this restaurant does not have a terrace”).  They would pretend to inspect hotels (“the owner is very nice ”, “I am going to find the breakfast room”, “the bathrooms are so big !”, “yes, with a marble shower !”). They would in their world of the imagination take turns being artisans (“this leather maker is excellent, and he does monograms”, “I don’t think the jewelry lady has nice things for girls”). They in the world of play recreated the gelato we had made during a demonstration course in Tuscany.  In the world of make believe they returned to water buffalo farms and produced and then sampled just-made mozzarella (and stroked and made friends with all of the buffalos).

Where to now, children ?

The children are now 16 and 18.

Besides the restrictions of school, Isabel and Nathan, like us all, have their wings clipped right now.  They cannot travel anywhere they wish in Italy

But Isabel is dreaming of hiking in the Alto Adige, and taking friends to Como and Garda.

Nathan wants to kayak and swim in Amalfi and introduce friends who don’t live in Italy to Rome, his Rome, especially to pizza bianca, “which will change their life”.

I want to be in Venice.  And I want to be in Genoa.  I want to be walking, exploring, listening, talking, recording, eating, photographing, taking trains, shaking hands, receiving and giving hugs, and then all of this all over again.

“Bisogna pazientare” (“You must be patient”) tells me the elderly signora who lives in the opposite building, on the ground floor.  “When you are as old as I am, you are better at being patient”.  Still, I am impatient.  The next day, however, she receives her first vaccine and is jubilant.  “Progresso !” she exclaims to me. “How will I ever wait for the second one ?”

We move forward.

Are you looking forward ?  Are you ready to begin to think of Italy ?  Remember that there is complete flexibility with bookings, and we at no charge will cancel all arrangements made and fully reschedule if for any reason COVID-related your initial dates need revision.

May we call you ?   Have you seen our website and newest blogs ?   Please consider completing our no obligation survey for a first set of ideas that we think will delight you.

Avanti !