Arrivederci, Italia: A Bittersweet Goodbye

The day started pretty early - 7am - Venice time on Saturday, June 28. We headed for breakfast and then we would take a private water taxi from the hotel to San Marco airport. This was a 40-minute ride. The waters got pretty rough, but it was a gorgeous ride and gave me time to reflect.

Honestly, if I didn't have to leave, I wouldn't. I would stay in Italy forever. I LOVE it here. Italy will always have my heart...always.

We said our goodbyes to Venice and to Italy, and we were off....

The day ended up being a lot longer than we had anticipated. After our flight from Venice to Philly, which was almost 9 hours, our plane from Philly to Louisville ended up stranded on the tarmac for over 2 hours, it was hot, and I was about to have an actual come apart - like seriously - we didn't get to our home until almost 1:00 in the morning. Exhausted to say the least - but our hearts were full and the feeling of joy of what we just experienced for the past two weeks.

Our trip in summary:

June 14, 2025, through June 28, 2025

Flew into Naples/Rented a car

Drove to Sorrento - stayed in an Airbnb in Massa Lubrense for 4 nights/5 days - visited Capri/Blue Grotto, Amalfi Coast, and Positano.

Drove to Rome - stayed in a hotel called Hotel Antica Locanda for 2 nights/3 days - visited the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, and the Trevi Fountain.

Drove to Montepulciano and stayed in an Airbnb for 3 nights/4 days - visited the De' Ricci Winery.

Drove to Florence - dropped off the car - stayed in a hotel called Hotel Glance for 2 nights/3 days - visited the rooftop pool/bar, the Galleria dell’ Accademia and the Duomo.

Took the train to Venice - stayed in a hotel called Hotel Saturnia & International for 2 nights/3 days - visited the Piazza San Marco, the Basilica, Rialto Bridge, and of course, our gondola ride.

Flew out of Venice to the USA. 

My final thoughts:

Here's the deal, there’s something about stepping outside of your comfort zone that forces you to GROW as a person — quite honestly, whether you’re ready for it or not. Travel isn’t just about checking destinations off a list or getting that perfect photo. Although, it can be. BUT, for me, it’s about who you become in the process and also about taking a million photos. 😁 And if you’re really paying attention, I mean...really paying attention, it changes you in ways you never expected. 💞

It’s in the quiet and sacred moments: when you are totally mesmerized by all the beauty around you, or when you are sitting at a café, where you don’t speak the language, learning to be comfortable in your own company or you just learn to speak with your hands - kinda like charades and sometimes you feel and look like a complete idiot. 

It’s in the chaos: for example, like almost missing a flight and sprinting through the Philly airport with what feels like a 50 lb. weighted vest on your back or being a navigator for my husband while he is driving in unfamiliar streets in Naples, after JUST arriving in Italy (good luck with that!) — and you end up cussing and yelling at each other a bit more than you usually do - but then realizing, "Hey, we got this." 

It’s the unexpected kindness of strangers you meet along the way (people in airports, people you meet on tours that become family, then there is Giovanna, Antonio, Luigi, the guy from the bar in Rome, people you meet in bars - like Georgie, David and Bailey from Australia...etc.), the awkward conversations that become memories, and truly, the joys of discovering something new about a place or even yourself.

You learn patience, humility, and maybe a little confidence along the journey.

But most of all, seriously, listen to me, most of all, you learn how BIG — and how incredibly SMALL the world really is - all at the same time. You also learn how much beauty there is in the differences we share, and how deeply connected we really all are underneath them.

Travel changes your perspective. It makes you softer in ways you never imagined, more curious, more willing to listen and more willing to do something you have never done before. It helps you carry less judgment, way less judgement, and WAY more gratitude, like 100000000% more. 

Personally speaking, I don’t think travel fixes you — but it does force you to look at parts of yourself you didn’t know existed. You know the stuff that matters...deep inside. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. 

That is exactly what I needed. 

And that is why you should book the flight. Eat the pizza. Drink the wine. You just never know how much time you have on this beautiful earth and guess what, life is too short not too. 

So, thanks for following me on this Journey Through the Boot. It has meant so much to me...so much more than you can possibly know. 

Until next time...

Grazie mille - Italia. Grazie mille.

Ciao Bella,

XOXOXOXOXOXO,

Claudine