Reflections on an Adventure

We’ve been back in Valencia for almost two weeks and while it’s nice to be home, our thoughts are often still in Italy and France. Letting these thoughts linger helps to keep the magic of the trip alive and inspire us for future travels. The photo above is our lovely Plaza de la Virgin which is just around the corner from our apartment. This was taken in the early morning. The plaza will soon be filled with lots of people wandering about and sitting at the numerous cafe tables that are set up each day. It’s one of our favorite spots in Valencia.

Bella Italia!

We were sad to leave Italy. It’s such a rich and diverse country with stunning physical beauty, so much history, great food, and amazing people with an infectious passion for life. We will return. We met a German couple in Bologna who live in Cologne but travel to Italy at least 4 to 5 times a year. Then, there was Thomas and Lisbeth, the chef couple from Copenhagen who moved to Umbria 14 years ago. I’m not sure we’ll move to Italy and I’m not sure we’ll make it to Italy 4 or 5 times each year (there are SO many places to go!). But we’re thinking we can commit to at least 2 trips to Italy each year, especially since it’s so close to Valencia. Next year, we hope to visit Sardinia, Sicily, and Puglia. I have not yet figured out how to fit in all the places we are determined to visit again – Bologna, Venice, Turin, Rome, Florence, etc.

A Francophile Among Us

In Lyon, Ed confessed that he feels most comfortable in France. I mentioned the well-deserved stereotype of French snobbishness and he replied, “Yeah, these are my peeps.” It’s that darn French language that has been the problem for him. More than a decade ago, when we were living in Dallas, he agreed to take private French lessons with me. The instructor required an interview before accepting new students and this included reading a paragraph of French just after she’d read it to us. When we completed the interview, she told us that she would accept me as a student, but not Ed. This was big blow to the ego and established a firm conviction on Ed’s part that he was incapable of speaking French. When he reminded me of this during our stay in Lyon, I suggested a second opinion might be in order. We’ll see how that goes.

“France has the only two things towards which we drift as we grow older – intelligence and manners.” 

F. Scott Fitzgerald

Train, Trains, and more Trains

We’re hooked on trains! There’s a lightness in my step (a big deal at my age) and a feeling of excitement as we roll our bags to yet another train station headed for a place we’ve never been or one we’re eager to return to. There’s a sense of adventure as you glide through the countryside, small towns, and cities along the way. The changing landscapes outside the window provide a glimpse into local life and new places to consider visiting. Often, the train station itself is an example of wonderful architecture.

And then there’s the fact that traveling by train is relaxing. The gentle, rhythmic motion lulls you into a state of relaxation. And you can get up, walk about, and visit the cafe car at any time. It’s a great way to travel. We look forward to our train days spending much of our time writing our blog posts. Rather than feeling like a chore, it’s a time to reflect on and discuss our experiences. Plus, writing seems to help us set the memories more solidly in our aging brains.

Trip Take Aways

Living out of a suitcase for 30 days can be tiring. Since we are based in Valencia, we’re considering shorter and more frequent European trips. For example, our next Italy adventure might be 2 weeks in Sardinia, 2 weeks in Sicily, and then 2 weeks in Puglia rather than one 6 weeklong trip to all of the above. The other lesson learned is that we’d prefer to stay longer at each stop. Five to seven days seems about right.

We’re also feeling tour weary and find ourselves resisting structured itineraries and schedules determined by someone else. We most enjoy the days when we set the pace and have the flexibility to linger in a captivating place, or veer off the beaten path to discover a hidden gem.

“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.” 

Lao Tzu

Lifelong Learning

One of the things we love most about travel is how it is a catalyst for lifelong learning. As we plan a trip, we begin to realize how little we know, and our curiosity is sparked which leads to delving deeper into a wide variety of subjects. To support this shared goal of learning, we subscribe to Wondrium, a streaming service that offers “Great Courses” on a variety of subjects. In 2022, we started this with a 24-lecture series on Spanish history. We were hooked. To prepare for our trip to Italy we watched courses on Pompeii and one titled “Understanding Greek and Roman technology.” Of course, one thing leads to another and so far, we’ve completed courses on the Spanish Civil war, Alexander the Great, Napoleon, Leonardo da Vinci and the Italian High Renaissance, and a 36-lecture course on the history of Western civilization. I admit sometimes I doze off and Ed is always good natured about repeating an episode or two.

Our hope is to be curious, adaptable, and open-minded as we continually expand our horizons. Resilience and a deeper understanding of ourselves and others are the qualities we aspire to.

“Travel makes one modest. You see what a tiny place you occupy in the world.” 

Gustav Flaubert

Our New Life

Someone we met in Italy asked if we were on vacation. At first, I wasn’t sure how to respond, but I settled on “No, this is just our life now.” We’re loving it!

Check out the Gallery on our website. We’ve added a dozen or so of our favorite photos for each of our stops.