[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Our Story Section” _builder_version=”3.22″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”60px||5px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”-32px|||||” custom_padding=”4px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
The Trip Over
Buongiorno, and welcome to my first trip to Italy.
In hindsight, I know this is where my move here all began, and it was a fluke.
Italy wasn’t a travel destination for me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a beautiful country, and I like the idea of traveling far and wide, but I’m a homebody. My travel dreams were limited to a few trips focused on nature and animals like whales, moose, bear in Alaska, and elephants in Africa. Or, I’d occasionally dream about a trip to Ireland where my grandmother and ancestors lived. In reality, these were passing thoughts and something to talk about because I actually dreaded the thought of traveling as far as Africa or Ireland. Alaska was a potential destination because it was close at a quick six-hour flight. Now, Alaska is too far from Italy. That’s funny!
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”|auto|7px|auto||” custom_padding=”0px||0px|||”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Its-a-party.jpg” title_text=”It’s a party” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”385px” custom_padding=”74px|||||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”5px||||false|false” custom_padding=”3px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]However, I have used Google Earth to travel all over the world. It’s fun to fly around the globe and check out different areas, countries, cities and towns. That’s some good armchair traveling right there! The satellite photos are remarkably clear, and they are usually current. I even used it when I was looking for land in California.
(In the last couple of years on my farm, Google has updated the satellite images three times. It’s great to track the progress on my property.)
But it never really occurred to me to visit Italy.
And then, like millions of people, I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook. This friend, Vicky, just happened to be living in Italy. She and I go as far back as elementary and high school. It turns out she has lived in Italy for 30 years and has a busy private business translating Italian and English. She invited me to join a cooking page started by two Brits living in Italy. (Sarah Topps, please check out her vacation accommodations, The Hideaway. And Giselle Strafford, please visit her wine tours at Gusto Wine Tours.)
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px||32px||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” text_orientation=”justified” custom_margin=”5px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]Eventually, I became an administrator of that page and made new friends and acquaintances that all lived in Italy. And so off I went.
The planning stage took a few months. (Planning is half the fun for me!) I talked to everyone, and anyone, about the pending trip. People were so happy and excited for me. It was at this point I learned visiting or living in Italy is a dream for many people. Italy is the 5th most visited country with 62+ million visitors annually, and those numbers have been steadily increasing.
It was a long trip and took 30 hours from door to door. Typically, it’s not that long of a journey, but a delay added about seven hours. Because of a painful hip and my fear of flying, I sprung for business class. My budget doesn’t include flying around the world upfront, but I pulled together the funds and made it happen. And I’m glad I did.
Disclaimer: Business class is not worth the price difference from coach or premium coach. However, it does reduce the fear by about 30%, and the Bloody Marys take care of another 30%. The remaining fear is manageable at that point.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”0px|auto||auto|false|false”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-aperitif.jpg” title_text=”The aperitif” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”450px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/The-gift-toiletry-bag-and-a-place-to-put-my-feet.jpg” title_text=”The gift toiletry bag and a place to put my feet” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”400px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/My-own-little-room…with-a-view.jpg” title_text=”My own little room…with a view” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”450px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”55px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
The food you see here was all served on a plane. It was very good but all this food but no way to walk it off. We started with an aperitif including a Spritz and two nice bites of cheese. Next came the fish and marinated veggies. It was very good, this was followed by the pasta. Now it was getting to be a bit much but it was delicious. They finished the inflight feast with a butterscotch pie.
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Despite my fear of flying, I love looking down at the glorious earth. It’s incredible to see the vast land, winding rivers, and beautiful mountains. I’ve flown over the Sierras (the mountain range from my youth), Rockies, and the Appalachian mountains. Those are majestic mountains, but on this trip, we flew over the Alps. Breathtaking! As far as you could see in every direction, there were snow-covered mountains. We were flying at 400+ mph, and they just kept coming.
[/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Mountains-Forever.jpg” title_text=”Mountains Forever” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”450px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_margin=”5px||||false|false” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Pasta-of-course.jpg” title_text=”Pasta, of course” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”450px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Fish-and-marinated-veggies.jpg” title_text=”Fish and marinated veggies” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”450px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”55px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”](Left) Pasta, (Top) Fish and Marinated Veggies
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”0px|||||”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Dessert.jpg” title_text=”Dessert” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” max_height=”400px” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Manrope|300|||||||” text_font_size=”16px” text_letter_spacing=”1px” text_line_height=”1.6em” header_2_font=”Manrope|700|||||||” header_2_text_align=”center” header_2_text_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.55)” header_2_letter_spacing=”2px” custom_margin=”27px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”0px|||||” header_2_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ header_2_text_shadow_color=”rgba(0,0,0,0.1)”]
By the time I arrived at my accommodations, I was exhausted, went straight to bed, and slept 12 hours straight.
It was an exciting trip over, and even with some challenges, I enjoyed the whole thing. I was lucky to have flown the “friendly skies” that were actually friendly.
These photos are about the business class. I’m dreaming of doing it again one day.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”35px||||false|false”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.8.2″ _module_preset=”default”][et_pb_image src=”https://kathysfarm.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/6000-miles.jpg” title_text=”6,000 miles” align=”center” force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”30px||3px|||” border_radii=”on|12px|12px|12px|12px” box_shadow_style=”preset3″][/et_pb_image][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]