My Italian Escape

Croissants. Cappuccinos. Cathedrals. These were the three C's that defined my Italian adventure. Accompanied by my mother, sister, and uncle, we embarked on a week-long journey across four cities: Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Milan. Armed with two years of Italian lessons and a trusty Google Maps, we navigated the cities and explored their iconic landmarks.

Our journey began on June 3rd with a 10-hour United Airlines flight. As this was only my second time flying, I came prepared

with a sweat set and snacks. Nestled between my mom and the window, we ascended into the clouds. After three rom-coms

and numerous failed attempts to sleep, we finally landed in Rome!

Despite arriving at 8 a.m., it took us until 11 a.m. to clear customs and navigate the taxi line to our Airbnb. Eager to start

exploring, I forced my family to hit the streets immediately. We walked over ten miles, soaking in the Pinterest-worthy sights:

the Spanish Steps, the Trevi Fountain, and my personal favorite, St. Peter’s Basilica. With the sun blazing down, we sought

refuge in cafes featuring croissants and water frizzante- our daily staples.

Day 2 was equally exhilarating. Immediately after getting ready, my sister and I took our ritual Instagram photos on the

balcony and Google Maped ourselves to Feffo Caffe. There, I indulged in my first pistachio croissant, a mochaccino, and a

shared maritozzo. En route to the Colosseum, we passed the Piazza di San Marco and the Roman Forum, which I can say are

absolutely beautiful. My favorite meal from the whole trip was experienced at Ristorante La Nuova Piazzetta where I enjoyed

the Gnocchi con Ragù. My uncle, being an absolute socialite, made friends with every waiter we met. Lucky for me, that

meant dessert on the house! My next dream achieved was riding a red double decker bus through the streets of Europe. City

Seeing Roma made that possible, transporting us from the Colosseum to Vatican City. Getting lost in the Vatican Museums, I

saw beautiful painted ceilings and statues. With the pain of 11.5 miles on my legs, I went to bed with a full stomach and tired eyes.

After a few more gelato runs in Rome, we hopped on a high-speed train taking us to Firenze! Our rooftop deck in our AirBnB showed us the whole city before we even got to explore- the Duomo, the mountains. With only one day in Florence, we hurried to see it all. The Duomo lived up to expectations and the Fountain of Neptune served as a cool escape from the scorching heat. Dinner in the piazza came with beautiful views and we ended the night with gelato and a walk around the town. Next came Bologna and Milan, both filled with more bus tours and endless gelato. Bologna's picturesque landscape was captivating, and we even stumbled upon a music festival. In Milan, we met my uncle’s cousin, who graciously acted as our tour guide. We visited La Scala, the renowned opera house, explored the luxurious Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, and even took an afternoon trip to Lake Como. With the assistance of a small ferry, we rode across the lake, visiting nearby towns and soaking in the beauty of the lake

Going to Italy was my first trip outside the country, an experience I will cherish forever. Each city brought its own food, its own traditions, and its own souvenirs. As we boarded our flight home, I realized that this journey was filled with love and joy, and marked just the start of my travels with my family.