It seems a bit surreal that I am going as I have barely even had time to think about it since I purchased the tickets a few weeks ago. It’s off to a great start....this morning I volunteered my seat on the first leg of my trip in exchange for a $425 voucher and a chance to still arrive in Frankfurt on time. At this rate, I just may MAKE money on this trip :)
As I cross the ocean I have a million emotions and thoughts crossing my mind. Excitement, joy and confidence as well as a little fear, slight anxiety and uncertainty...am I crazy to follow this path? Is it unrealistic?.....the smile on my face every five minutes, the skip in my step, the calm quiet reflection and the strange subconscious confidence and sureness that overpower the questioning still tell me it’s right. I can’t explain it any better than that.
Do I sleep? (God knows I haven’t been doing much of that since I have been couch surfing for the last two weeks and living out of my car while trying to work on editing our film project before leaving as well as finishing up at my job.) OR - Do I start planning my trip through Italy? The only thing I have done is vaguely map out a little route through Italy and back up to Germany while picking a couple hub cities to make sure I hit on certain dates. I was hoping to get some time to do a little advanced research but with the unsettledness in my unpredictable life and spontaneity in the decision to travel this summer, time got away from me. And although it’s quite an enjoyable read, I’m not sure the first few chapters of "Under the Tuscan Sun" that I read this morning would exactly qualify as advanced research. So with an iPhone Rome Guide App and the Lonely Planet Italy book, I should be able to get started and the rest will be research in the moment.
The responsible, practical part of my brain says I should probably get to booking places to stay and make an agenda but since when has that part of my brain been getting any use; do I really want to start now? It seems to be the spontaneous and whimsical part of my brain and/or the depths of heart that gladly takes over and reassures me it’s all good and it will all fall into place as I go cause this is what I’m meant to do.
This trip has been declared a food tour with the idea of exploring the food culture and documenting it both in writing and in photo, maybe even a little video. I actually went as far as telling the person sitting next to me on the first plane that I was traveling for fun but also as a food and travel writer and owner of a production company creating a film series on food culture. It just sort of came out. It surprised me and caught me a little off guard as it rolled off my tongue with ease and confidence. Felt a little scary for a second but it also felt GREAT! Guess it’s all a part of putting it out there and taking ownership of my vision. This is the beginning of the food and travel journey with high hopes of it becoming my profession one day, somehow.
Although I am looking forward to seeing the tourist sites, art, and architecture, my main interests lie in the local people, home cooking, food markets, street shops, farms, bakeries, gelato shops, and vineyards. As far as the route plan goes, the first couple days I will be in Heidelberg, Germany visiting my dear friend Carolin and of course other friends and family from when I lived there. Then the the train ride begins with the first stop in Rome. I purchased a Eurail pass to get me around while I’m exploring. It’s a great way to travel and is way cheaper than buying separate train tickets if you plan to hop around the country. After a few days in Rome, I will make my way up to Florence for a few days, all the while hoping to explore the surrounding areas as well. After Florence I will maybe hit up another small area and then make my way back to Heidelberg around the 8th or 9th just in time to celebrate my birthday with friends and wrap up my trip in Germany before the return trip back to Chicago and on to Montana.
Enough about the minimal travel plans; lets talk about the main event: FOOD. My first meal of the trip......the in-flight meal. With choices of chicken or pasta, I decided that I better prep myself for Italy with a little pasta. Don’t worry I wasn’t going to even pretend it would stack up to the real thing.
The curly white noodles were soaking in a pesto cream sauce and garnished with a few canned chopped tomatoes; I’m not so sure Italy would have approved. In-flight meals are always a special surprise, aren’t they? You never know what you’re gonna get steaming in those little black plastic hot boxes. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring my usual bag of travel snacks; the fridge in my house (aka: car) was out of order due to summer weather. Setting aside my pride as a nutritionist, I scooped up and stomached a few bites of the soggy pasta before calling it quits and settling for the 4 pieces of romaine lettuce, 1 cherry tomato, 1 slice of cucumber and a soft whole wheat high fructose corn syrup roll with few dips of creamy italian dressing. That should hold me over until I get to Germany where the fun begins.
Destination: Germany and Italy
Mission: Fun, Food, Friends, Wine, and Culture
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