Won’t Stop

     “Unthinkably good things can happen”. This simple quote from Under the Tuscan Sun may just be another cliche movie quote or even a cheesy pickup line for some, but for me, it’s the story of my adventure into an unknown land. It’s the tale of a vivid culture and language that will forever alter my life. It’s my trip into the past where my ancestors once lived and loved. It’s the story of my trip to Italy.

      I may not be the son of a millionaire or a Harvard bound student, but I am my own person. I dream, set goals and try my very best to make those goals become realities. One of my many dreams was to visit Italy, but little did I know that my dream was going to come true this past February. As I packed my bags, I realized that this was going to be an experience that I would always remember. When I look back on high school, and have reunions with my fellow classmates, I’ll always be able to say “Remember when we went to Italy and…”  Something I’m sure not every kid gets to say, but I was very fortunate and would never let myself forget it.

      After a long wait in the Newark airport terminal, my journey began as I boarded my flight to Milan. Over the next ten days, I visited many places in Italy such as Verona, Venice, Sienna, Montecatini, Florence, Sorrento, Naples, Capri, Pompeii, and Rome. However, Venice, Florence, and Rome were my favorite. Our first stop was Venice. As I sailed my way into “The City of Water”, I thought I was dreaming. The Venetian canals, gondolas, and even simple vaporetti were mesmerizing. The architecture was breathtaking as well. I visited the Bridge of Sighs, the Rialto Bridge, St Mark’s Basilica/Square, and the Grande Canal. In Florence, I also saw many beautiful sites such as the Duomo, the David, the Accademia, and The Ponte Vecchio. It was completely unreal to me that I was standing right in the epicenter of the Renaissance.  Even in Rome I saw more artistic masterpieces such as the Sistine Chapel, the Trevi Fountain, the Coliseum, the Vatican, and the Spanish Steps. All of these influential pieces of architecture helped me to see my world on a larger scale. I learned that so many people spend their entire lives worrying, and ultimately miss out on the true beauties of life.

     My trip also had its share of setbacks, yet uncontainable fun. In Capri it unfortunately rained. This was obviously not a laughing matter, but my friends and I made the best out of the situation. We joked in the rain, and even had umbrella sword fights (until we broke them). Other comical highlights were our hilarious tour guide, insane bus driver, the crazy gypsies, and the bargaining with street vendors. On the more challenging side, the hotel food wasn’t very good. However, the Italian gelato was amazing. No matter what life threw at us, we always knew that this was the chance of a lifetime and nothing could ruin it.

     My trip to Italy wasn’t just a field trip or a little vacation. It was an incredible journey that I will always remember. It has opened my horizons and allowed me to see the true beauty of life, especially Italian culture. There will always be a special place in my heart for Italy and I know that this isn’t the last time I’ll visit there. It may be the end of my trip, but for me…it’s the beginning of a wonderful future.