I travel…a lot. But, I hardly ever go on a vacation. Nope, this type A travels on business or in an effort to take care of family or friends. But to just recreate? To relax, reevaluate, and re-commit? I’d rather lose a limb. I am the poster child for the if-you’re-not-moving-forward-they’re-gaining-on-you theory of life. If you want something done yesterday, I’m your gal. I am goaded through life by the reality that, although I work hard, there is always more I could be doing.
But that was before Italy. <sigh>
Actually, I started the trip in Prague, one of Europe’s most beautiful cities. All dressed up for Christmas, this hidden gem was straight out of a fairy tale—a resilient, boisterous city with a horrific history. At the crossroads of Eastern Europe, oppression and war have been ubiquitous in Prague. Heck, this is the place that developed the quaint little ritual of throwing people out of windows to kill them.
I arrived with no expectations and was overwhelmed by the sheer optimism in this country with a population no larger than the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Unburdened from the yoke of Communism, capitalism and a strong sense of pride run free in the Czech Republic. This is the country that talked its way into membership in the EU, signed the papers saying they would adopt the Euro, then promptly ignored that trifling little agreement, sticking resolutely to their own currency. Gotta love it. And I do.
On our last night there, we had the privilege of breaking bread with a prominent local businessman. He had lost a third of his family to the Nazis, then another third to the Communists. Needless to say, he was motivated to help his country chart its own course from this point forward.
HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED FROM PRAGUE:
1. Bend but don’t let life break you.
2. Rebound with a vengeance.
3. Keep believing.
4. Work hard.
5. Reevaluate, reassess, but NEVER give up.
Okay—this gal was good with that.
Next stop, Italy.
To be honest, I’m not sure two countries could be more different. Italy is light and passion, history and pleasure, food and wine… and joy. You’d think this workaholic would’ve been more attached to Prague. But, if the years have taught me anything it’s this: just when you think you’ve got it figured out, life will toss a monkey wrench into the mix just to see what you will do.
Rome—my monkey wrench.
What an amazing city. Layers upon layers of history, passion, art, perseverance…and pleasure. Time is dedicated each day to enjoying food and wine and the company of friends. If the work didn’t get done today? The Italians purse their lips while contemplating this great disaster for a moment, then reach for a bottle of wine, pour you a glass and encourage you to relax. There’s always tomorrow. Nobody seems to care overmuch. And now I fully understand the saying, Rome wasn’t built in a day.
HERE’S WHAT I LEARNED FROM ITALY
- Value where you came from.
- Appreciate where you are.
- Love those who’ve stuck with you through the journey.
- Step off the treadmill to savor life in all its glory.
- You have a head, a heart and a stomach—all three must be fed.
- Live with passion and joy.
There’s this great superstition regarding the Trevi Fountains—my personal spiritual place. If you turn your back to the waters, put a coin in your right hand, and, while tossing it over your left shoulder you make a wish, your wish will come true and, most important, Rome will call you back and you will return.
At four a.m. on the way to the airport, I stopped one last time at Trevi. I was alone. I tossed a coin. 
I’ll be back. But, in the interim, I will try to live a more present life.
Where do you take restorative time? Why?
Add to Google
WOW! Truly beautiful, Deborah. You made me wish I were right there with you!
Next best thing?
ROAD TRIP!
Just sayin’.
Arrivederci, baby!
– Josie
Josie–I LOVE road trips! Time in the car, away from the constant chatter of daily life, to ruminate on stories, life, whatever. Absolute bliss in the constant-contact world. Heading to California next week.
How beautiful! Love your pic of the Trevi fountain. I visited Rome for the first time this spring and was completely amazed. I expected it to be loud, dirty, and crowded. But instead I thought it was captivating. So many intriguing sites around every corner. And the food! It was delicious. The Italians know how to eat.
Rome, it is amazing. And the Italians know how to enjoy life, that’s for sure. I’ve heard Rome can be awful in the summer, hot, humid and crowded. Our guide told us the best time to visit is October “when the light is special.” That alone makes me a shoo-in for an October return visit.
Deborah, what a wonderful trip. Thank you for sharing. I am going to have to go. I need Rome!!!
Yes, everyone needs at least a little bit of Rome….
What a great trip, and life lessons drawn from each city. Terrific post. Plus you look gorgeous!
Personally, I prefer Florence over Rome (or Venice– if you expect Rome to be loud & dirty, Venice is much worse!)… and the train ride through Tuscany to get there is gorgeous! And yes, I can personally say that being in Rome in the middle of a massive summer heat wave is not great fun. But the food is amazing…only the Spaniards trump the Italians when it comes to excellent food. [Not like I'm biased or anything, having lived there for 9 years
]. I’ve yet to make it out to Eastern Europe, but one of these days! Maybe when I finally finish this doctorate and have time for holidaying again, haha.
I’m a lifelong nomad and tend to get restless if I’m in one place for too long, so travelling somewhere is always restorative for me. I’m (in)famous in lab for going halfway ’round the world for only a few days’ holiday or randomly getting on the overnight bus somewhere just for a change of scenery– I think my dissertation advisor wonders about my sanity sometimes, haha. In summer I also unwind blowing bubbles underwater… scuba diving is incredibly relaxing! Even in the murky, cold North Atlantic with so much neoprene on I can barely move. I’m moving somewhere warm and tropical next– anyone want to adopt me? I come fully grown, well-trained by my mum, with a Harvard doctorate, financial investments, a penchant for exercise, and a willingness to travel
.
Chris–a nomad. We are kindred spirits. My family always says there must be some gypsy in my blood–my mother, on the other hand, is not amused by this:) I, too lived in Spain and would agree with your assessment–a wonderful country and warm friendly people.
Nice post! Italy is on our list for someday. Frankly I’m nervous about traveling in countries where English isn’t the primary language. I’d need to go with a tour guide or someone that knows their way. How’d you deal with the language barrier?
The language isn’t as much of a barrier as you might think. People work very hard at trying to understand what you want. And, if you at least try to learn a few key phrases, etc. you have friends for life.
I second that– most of Europe has become very adept at communicating in some form of understandable English [compared to even 5 years ago], so it’s fairly easy to get around even if you don’t speak the language. At least in the bigger cities– go to some tiny town in the hills of, say, Galicia, and you’ll be lucky to find someone who speaks Castilian [what everyone outside of Spain calls Spanish], let alone English.
Want a language barrier in a major metropolis? Go to Tōkyō! Even if rōmaji has become much more prevalent in the last ~15 years, it’s still not easy to manoeuvre as a foreigner. But I kind of enjoy the gaijin space and having no idea what’s going on 90% of the time… brings back memories of growing up European in Asia far from the expat enclaves!
[or go to a supermarket in the Dutch Caribbean... I don't think I've ever wished I could read Dutch quite so strongly before, even when I was in the Netherlands!]
Chris you do love adventures:) I’m not quite as brave. Tokyo was like another planet–and, at the time, they weren’t too happy to see a tall, blond, American woman:) Hong Kong was much more accepting. Never been to the Dutch Caribbean, but did spend some time in Galicia….but I’d been living in Madrid, so my Spanish was up to snuf. But travelling is such grand fun–the people, the places, the adventures…all feed the soul.
I’m petite and brunette, and I still got many sidelong looks. And the aforementioned gaijin space. In Beijing and Kathmandu, random people kept stopping the parents to ask if they could take pictures with me. I was like 11, so I found it hilarious.
I spent about a third of my life growing up in a primarily Chinese neighbourhood in Hong Kong, so I totally felt like I fit in. But I was walking around the old neighbourhood with the sister & mum a few years back when we returned for a visit and had this old man stop and gape at us as we walked past… I guess he hadn’t seen three gweilo walking around in his life!