Prelude

     Florence, Verona, Venice. Those evocative names have floated through my brain as long as I can remember. Italy, that land of history, culture, romance, knowledge, art, empires, conquests, downfalls, and rebirths. It's one of those countries that needs to be on everyone's bucket list because, let's face it, so much of who we are as a culture, as a world, sprang from it's soil. What would Europe be like without the Roman Empire or the Medici's? Or art without Michelangelo or DaVinci? Or poetry without Dante? You can't not want to see where all that greatness came from. Also, it's really, incredibly beautiful.
     So when Abbie and I decided to take our joint Spring Break trip there, I was so excited. We planned out an itinerary: meeting up in Milan, then three days in Florence, two and a half in Padua, and one and half in Venice. This gave us time to see the cities themselves as well as take day trips, which we figured we'd decide on in the moment. And we went. And it was magical.
     I'm back in Bratislava now, in my own bed, surrounded by the purple walls I've started to call home, at least for now; and I'm so grateful. I miss Abbie. I miss the warmth which is not a part of the Slovak character. I miss not having to think about school. But as I emerged from the train station into the sunlight filtering through the concrete towers of Petrzalka, I let out a sigh of relief. It was wonderful to be on the road, to carry everything I needed on my back, but it was an exhausting trip, and I was ready to cook again. To unpack. To spend more time learning about the country I've chosen as my home this spring.
     Italy took the breath from my lungs, and my heart out of my chest. It surprised me, made me smile, awed me. At times I wanted to throw myself into the Tuscan countryside without a backward glace, to float along a river to the sea. I longed to eat nothing but pasta, pizza, and gelato. I felt like soaring in the clouds with the angels depicted in all those domes. I wanted to be a part of the daily life of the Duomo, to give the smallest part of myself to the stones. So much about Italy enchanted me.
     But Italy was challenging as well. She made me think; about preservation, about truth, and yes, about life. There were moments I wanted to shake her, to make her see what she has turned into. Other times, I wanted to bring the entire country into my embrace, in thanks, appreciation, and in comfort.
     Perhaps most importantly, Italy made me think. I learned so much about it's history, it's culture, it's modernity. And yes, I also learned more about myself. That is what travel is really for, in my opinion: to learn about the world and your place in it.
     And though I know it's impossible to share experiences with anyone else, I'm going to do my best to let you into my head and my shoes as I wandered around the Italian countryside with Abbie. I'll be posting updates as quickly as I can, with one post per city. But in the immortal words of Levar Burton, don't take my word for it. If any of what I say intrigues you, go! If you can't go, read books. Look at pictures. Search for your own answers. Find your inspiration, and chase after it with everything you have.
     Are you ready?