Travelling in Europe

Travelling is one of the most amazing things in the world for many people, me being one of them. Obviously during this unfortunate period,mobility is dramatically limited. It seems so far that time in which I could plan my vacations abroad, spending my free time reading about the places I was going to visit in the future. I have been lucky enough to travel in many European country, falling in love time after time with most of the places I have had the chance to see. Travelling has had an heavy influence during my entire life, as it appears quite evident from my choice to spend this time in Germany for my ESC project, in spite of the pandemic. People say that travelling opens your mind; I couldn't agree more. As a child, during my first vacation abroad, in Spain, I was so fascinated from the places I visited, I was astonished while walking in the beautiful rooms of the Alahambra, in Granada...not to mention the fascination of Spanish language. I will never forget the feeling I have had in this discovery of a “new world” in which people spoke a different language and the food had those weird names I couldn't quite understand. Looking back at this first approach with travels, I am somehow amused , since Spain has perhaps the strongest resemblance to Italian language and culture, but for me it was all new and exciting.

I've looked for and found that excitement in other travels, all around Europe, from Greece to France, from Czech Republic to Norway and others. What I love during my travels is, besides visiting the cities and their main places of tourist and cultural interest, trying the local food and having conversations with whoever of the locals looks in the mood for it. What I have ever loved, is to catch the little and big differences between my culture and language and the ones of the other countries. I consider myself extremely lucky to be born in Europe, to live here and to have the possibility to enjoy travelling in the second smallest continent of the World, which offers the opportunity to listen to a remarkable number of different languages, to see amazing architectures and to be immersed in the history of the many diverses populations of Europe, all being different and close at the same time. It is amazing how in few hours or even less, one can find everything different from his original place.

This picture has been thrown aside from Covid-19. For the first time in decades, in Europe, people can't freely travel from one country to another. Although most people and I myself understand the necessity of this measure, it still sadden me. Nonetheless, I feel somehow blessed to have the opportunity to live, even during a period like this, in a different European country, Germany, and to have the opportunity to be exposed to the language, which is the best way to learn, in my opinion. Of course if I would have lived my ESC experience in another year, things would have been much different; for instance, I could have travelled during the weekends. Sometimes I look on Google maps at all the beautiful cities I could easily visit without this entire, crazy situation. It can be frustrating.

Well, this will pass , somehow, someday... and it will be an immense pleasure for me planning my next travel! I am sure it will be the one I've ever enjoyed the most!