One must make sacrifices during travel – choosing where, when and how to spend your time and efforts. I went with friends, which requires more compromise, but can provide more strength.

Our two weeks in Italy were devoted mostly to activities – visiting historical sites and museums. The Uffizi Gallery; Tuscany wine; Pompeii; the Vatican; and the Valley of the Temples in Sicily all required several hours of walking. Walking gives the benefit of time to appreciate everything, and the right to eat good food. We sacrificed late night dinners and afternoons in bars, watching the world go by. No regrets.

I studied Italian for a year before the trip, to be able to read signs and menus, understand conversations around me, and speak with the people. They were very gracious about my limited Italian. If my Italian failed me, I would revert to Spanish or a few words of English.

The sight of ancient walls and old churches next to new buildings and other signs of modern life was refreshing. Instead of tearing down everything after a mere 100 years, the people live alongside their culture and history.

Viva l’Italia!