A Summer that changed my life

by Alex Benaud (Australia)

Making a local connection Italy

Italy is one of the most travelled to destinations on the planet, and why wouldn’t it be?! The history, the food, the people and the lifestyle are enviable for even the most adventurous of travellers. I was finally heading to Europe after working my socks off during the long Australian Summer.   I’d chosen Italy as my first destination as I had an ex-work colleague who lived in a tiny town by the name of Saludecio which is located in the North-East in the province of Rimini. I had planned to stay at his home for 2 weeks before jetting off around Europe seeing as many landmarks as possible, as you do on your first European trip.   When I finally arrived in Saludecio after 35 hours of flying and 5 hours of driving I instantly felt at home. The castle of Saludecio sits at the top of the Valconca valley with a view that would leave any beachfront house owner in envy. I was in love already.   My friends family could not have been more welcoming as I was engulfed with antipasto platters, homemade wine and hugs and kisses on arrival to his house. We then jumped on the Vespa as we headed for what I now call the greatest thing to come out of Italy, aperitivo.   On arrival at the local bar, two minutes up the road, I was amazed at how many friends my friend had! I spent the next 30 minutes shaking hands, giving hugs and kisses on both cheeks to people that I’d never met but made it seem like I was their long lost Amico. Finally, my friend Davide introduced me to someone he earlier explained was waiting to meet me, Erica. The definition of Bella I must admit, blond hair, blue eyes and wonderful olive-brown sun-kissed skin. I was in love for the second time in just one day. There was one slight problem with meeting Erica, let’s just say her English was non-existent and my Italian was even worse.   Over the next two weeks, I can honestly say I had the best time of my life exploring Saludecio and it’s surrounds, by day we would be lounging around the beach playing beach volleyball and drinking Aperol Spritz under the 35 degree summer sun and by night we were hopping from disco to disco in groups of 20 or 30 of my new closest friends.   After the 2 weeks had come to an end I don’t think there was a doubt in my mind that I was going to extend my stay. I couldn’t think of any other place on earth that I would rather be, so the Eiffel Tower along with the rest of Europe had to wait.   Erica and I would always search for each other whenever we went out in big groups as our relationship grew stronger, the language barrier was difficult but we used our phones and google translate to communicate which I think helped slow things down and maintain the passion of learning something about each other whenever we were together.   As the days became shorter and the flowers began to lose their petals, my time in Italy was almost expired. The tears, the hugs and the ci vediamo presto’s (see you soon) began to make the rounds, I was distraught, I had never felt so sad about leaving somewhere to go home. Erica and I had said our goodbye’s and exchanged numbers and vowed to keep in touch, but I couldn’t help not thinking about her and what a life-changing experience I had just lived for the last three months.   Five years later I have been back to Italy six times, two of those years I lived permanently in Saludecio and worked in a neighbouring town, I have learned Italian fluently and now work as a part-time translator and interpreter. Erica has since joined me in Australia on a working holiday visa and we are planning to go back to Italy this Summer to spend it with our best friends doing it all over again just like all those years ago.