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I went out of the hotel room and took a deep breath. Blinding sunlight, so bright, abounding and overflowing, has hurt my eyes. It took only three hours to get from the buried in snow, cold and indifferent megapolis right to the caressing warmth of the welcoming ancient Italian city. Finally. My one and only thought back then was to cherish and savor each moment of that brief yet so desired trip. I took my first step to get to know Bologna better, the city I’ve been dreaming of over the past 4 years. *** The array of emotions and myriad of thoughts have carried me away. The blood was coursing through my veins so fast and my heart was beating unevenly expecting the forthcoming meeting with the city that breathes with history. I couldn’t help but notice that the corners of my mouth have lifted deliberately. A simple thought has crossed my mind «Isn’t this a lovely day?» *** I squinted my eyes from dazzling beams and kept walking throughout the town to discover its centuries-old secrets that were hiding in the playing shadows. The translucent morning air was filled with the lingering scent of coffee and resounding tramping of busy citizens hurrying to start another day. The city fascinated me with stunning views and richness of the architecture. However, It was not the splendor of streets and coziness of alleys that won over my heart. Details. They create our life. So small and, sometimes, even invisible, they complement, add charm, make the picture more interesting, more vivid. If you only take your time and look up to notice it. Notice and appreciate. A tiny local coffee place with ivy covering the wall. An old bike with a basket left on the roadside by his owner. Children messing around the square. Loud laughter made by a crowd of friends. An old welcoming lady selling bunches of flowers on the narrow cozy street. An open window with washing hangs on the line. The savory smell of fresh-baked pizza from a local parlor. There is nothing more special and memorable about a city than such details. You will never remember it but you will certainly take back home the soothing feeling it evoked in your heart. And in a moment of sadness, despair or fatigue to muffle yourself in these memories and feel better. Suddenly, like snapping out of a reverie, I woke up to reality. A complete stranger has looked right into my eyes and said «Buongiorno Bella» and laughed loudly. A kindly smile has appeared on my face. A smile of a person who belongs. A smile of a person who feels at home. A smile of a person who’s home is the whole world. *** Each trip for me is a new life to live. It’s a chance to get a unique experience and grow from it. Travels always give an enormous feeling of inner freedom that makes me complete. It changes me each time I step in an airplane. It alters me with each city explored, with each local dish eaten, with each museum visited, with each picture taken, with each stranger I had the chance to chat. And I want it to keep changing me over and over again.