Travel Inspirations...

It was a long journey home, but we all made it, safe and sound.  The flight westward isn't as bad as the one going east.  Jet lag is easier to manage somehow.  

After a good night's sleep, we start the unpacking process.  Luckily, all of our goodies made the trip back in one piece.  Take a look at what one of our travel companions brought back in her luggage!

 

Take about some creative packing!  

The following days, we will retell our stories to friends and family.   Our excitement will be hard to contain for all the places we went to, the food we ate and the sites we saw.  This is what we do as people, we share our journeys with those around us.  Maybe it will inspire those who long to go, or satisfy curiosity in those who do not.  

The pictures shared here are only a small selection of what we took.  There will be many more pictures we will want to share with those we talk to.  But no matter how many pictures we take, none will compare to actually being there.  There is something about the air and the land that is just different.   The people, their kindness, their way of life is just something we are unable to capture in a photo.  It is a feeling that resides in the heart.  It is the one souvenir that is priceless and unbreakable.  

We hope our trip has inspired you to travel and explore.  Going to Italy was a dream for us as children.  We grew up listening to the stories of the old country, eating traditional foods from our grandparents' childhood and would often visit with relatives that recently arrived or came for a visit to America.  We would sit and listen to the broken English or Italian and knew there was more to learn about who we were as second generation Italian Americans. 

Traveling back to where your ancestors came from, is a humbling experience for Americans.  We are able to put the pieces together about our blended cultures and make sense of our customs.  It helps us realize what it means to be an immigrant and why those brave relatives took that journey across the ocean.  

If you would like to join us on our next trip to Italy, please contact the restaurant and let us know.  We will start our planning process shortly after the winter holidays.  Our trips focus on the origins of Italian cuisine, so be prepared to cook and eat!  We certainly hope you will join us on our next adventure.