In love with the ancient and natural

by Letícia Ribeiro (Brazil)

A leap into the unknown Italy

I traveled to Italy in 2016 to make an MBA program and looking forward to meet the Assassin's Creed Ezio Trilogy places and cities! But hey, wait there! I was only 18 and I had no idea what I was doing. Back in that time I was having severe panic attacks but anyhow I didn't let them stop me! I did it! I was in the airport, all dressed up as winter was making its harsh cold in South Brazil. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe, Leticia! We're doing this!!! Arrived in Amsterdam, Netherlands to make connections and I was amazed with the view! Little white houses looking all the same with their little red roof and cute little windmills all around. I've fell in love! Finally, Italy. Venice in July 18th 2016. Oh my heart. I've been 6 months studying and preparing for this. You're never ready! - I'll tell you this! Got into a bus and I went to the train station to get to Milan in the first weekend! I've met my future boyfriend there, haha, we were going to the same business college and we've spent quite some time talking in English until we realized we were both Brazilians! I've takrn and adventure in Milan, staying in a male model's apartment which I've met through couchsurfing. I went there to see my best friend, at the time she was living in Milan. I had to join the useful to the comfortable! I visited the Duomo church, oh my breth those architectures!!!!!! I had the opportunity to enter the Sforza Castle that is in the AC Game. I was astonished! Oh my! Met also the 900 museum, the famous gallery aside the Duomo, a fantastic Magnum Store and ate popsicle with Jamaican salt! All new to me! Gosh! At the end of Sunday I planned on going to Altavilla Vicentina - where I was going to study - and after three hours of breathing calmly and admiring tha campsite views I arrived with my nee friend waiting for me at the station. We ate a gelatto! It was amazing, so much better than the copy we have back here in BR. This first week of studies I stayed at the University hotel for €36 per night. We had Nutella for breakfast, can you imagine that??? Amazing professors and the facility was gorgeous on its ancient structure! Modern but with a touch of old. In the second weekend we traveled (me and my friend) to Florence by train. I almost died of panic attacks going inside and untser the huge mountains with the train. Lucky my best friend taught me to have always salt on my purse to save my low pressure and lucky too my friend was with me to hold my hand! Well, moving forward, O M G, we found the Medici's house that today stands as a museum and we explored all the amazing golden halls, bedrooms and living rooms. All filled with Renaissance art walls and enormous and detailed carpets! Not to mention the traditional sculptures and fountains among other things... Ah! We stayed in an AirBNB apartment! It was about €50 the whole weekend. In one of our train connections we stopped in Padova and we saw the Sep 11th monument and we accidentally found a church full off names on the walls of soldiers that died in the war. It was very touching. Well, for the ending weekend we've spent a day in Verona, meeting Juliet's porch where couples write their names on the wall - they say that's for staying together forever-... Yeah, I wrote there. Hehe. And we also saw a huge and marvelous coliseum very looked-alike the one in Rome. It was so pretty. Long story short, I've ate pizza, risotto, pasta and gelatto all the way bc it was cheap and sooooo tasty! (Nop, I even lost some pounds by walking so much around to explore.) My advice: plan in advance! I missed the opportunity to go to Geneva and Paris :( But that's okay, my trip valued my mind and my heart and I fell more and more in love with Europe. PS: Trains are the best! Thanks for reading! Cya! :*