Day Trips May Just Change Your Life
Written by Alicia February 14, 2016
Even with horrible weather, the town was still incredible.
Even with horrible weather, the town was beautiful!
On our way to get gelato!
Not a single regret.
Just to see what it's all about!
Want to spend the weekend in Paris? Prague? Barcelona?… Yes, of course! Those are all completely realistic goals here. It is so easy to jump on a plane, train, or bus and make it to any one of those places in a few short hours.
This is, by far and wide, the craziest thing I have ever done. I know it’s not all that unique or even difficult anymore, but to me being an ocean from home: my weekdays passing by studying in a picturesque village in northern Italy while spending my weekends roaming as much of Europe as I possibly can, is the pinnacle of insanity. So, this should be the wall right? The cap? The insanely high ceiling? How could I possibly do more?
“Hey, wanna go to Venice with us for a couple of hours on Thursday?” Really? A bus, a train, and a cab—all on a school night—to see just a few hours of Carnivale? To risk exhaustion, my awful sense of direction in an unfamiliar city, and the dependability of public transportation—all on a whim?
“Sure.”
On the way back from our brief escapade, we got to talking about how successful the trip had been and how we should be looking to do so many more. It was a little bit of a revelation to say the least. If you had asked me to go on a similar excursion a month ago, I would have said ‘no’ in half of a heartbeat. I’d have said no even if it was private transportation in an area I knew well.
One of the few promises that I made myself before traveling began is that I would not go home without having known Italy. It is so convenient to travel to other prominent cities in Europe that it is all too easy to forget the sights that are so close. Fortunately, there are plenty of weekends left, as well as one other thing I hadn’t considered until that Thursday: weeknights.
There are so many unique and interesting cities, ones that I had never even heard of before I lived here. There is the incredibly beautiful Asolo with its rich and diverse history of architecture, wars, and film stars. This tiny village may be one of the most beautiful cities I have ever seen in my entire life: and it is only twenty minutes away by car. There is also Bassano del Grappa with its authentic nightlife, which may go just a bit more smoothly than the last time (considering we actually know how to order now!). Crespano, just a short walk, with delicious deserts and a weekly and local Sunday market that I am anxious to see for myself.
These are only some of the names and experiences I have collected since my time in Paderno del Grappa began. There are so many sights and experiences within our reach, and it would be a shame to miss a single one. The phrase ‘you can sleep when you’re dead’ comes to mind, although in context I suppose I should say you can sleep when you’re back in the U.S. Until then I will keep traveling, running off on school nights (after homework of course!), and learning about Italy from the inside out.
This is the craziest thing I have ever done—and it’s about to get even crazier’
Ciao,
Ali
Blogger: Alicia, Western Michigan University
