In light of recent events, the women of Travel Italian Style have come together to reflect on the importance of travel and living life to the fullest. We believe travel can change lives and the world. Here are some of our beautiful travel memories that we hope inspire you to take your next adventure!
Cassandra's Story
Enjoying la dolce vita and an amazing view in Positano, Italy
I remember dreaming about visiting Paris. When I got there I did everything I imagined during those dreams, visit the Louvre, share a glass of wine with a local (while picnicking in front of the Eiffel Tower) and even experience the Four Seasons (named one of the most beautiful in the world) . What was even better was visiting again year after year and reliving this experience (I mean seeing the Eiffel Tower and eating macaron's never gets old, right? ). This is travel.
That feeling you get when experiencing a place for the first time or seeing it from a new light. I still feel this same way every time I pass over the Arno River in Florence or walk into a new city in Sicily or Puglia. This is an experience that no one can take from me.
The world is a scary place, especially at this time. But maybe, just maybe for a moment we can remember the strength and happiness that traveling gives us! Nothing in life is certain except one thing: we are here to love, laugh and live. So lets just do that! Remember,
"Traveling is not a seeing of sights, its an idea that goes on deep and permanent in the idea of living."
The breathtaking first sight of the Eiffel Tower in Paris after turning a street corner
Now get out there and make some memories!
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Amanda's Story
Berlin Wall, Germany - promoting peace, love, and freedom through art
Tragedies can sometimes have the beautiful effect of bringing people closer together – this is exactly why that despite the recent attacks in Paris, and the tragedies happening in many other places around the world each day, we must keep traveling. We must keep traveling, we owe it to ourselves as part of our way of choosing to refuse to live in fear. Too many of us spend our time being afraid of the horrors of this world and trying to avoid the uncertainty that comes along with them. Travel allows us to challenge ourselves to overcome our fears, big or small.
Through traveling, we’re able to connect with people we wouldn’t have otherwise met and better understand their cultures, beliefs, values, and lifestyles. When we can better understand one another, we can be kinder to one another, helping to make the world an overall more harmonious place.
During this time, filled with terror attacks and global struggles, it’s more important than ever to continue to push ourselves out of our comfort zones to get out there and see the world.
A street side store on Avenue des Champs-Élysées in Paris, spreading the love for the city
Without seeing the world, we will never completely understand the events, both happy and tragic, that happen in it.
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Sarah's Story
Fear - (noun) An unpleasant emotion caused by the threat of danger, pain, or harm.
Fear is a very real emotion and one of the biggest things that inhibits us from doing what we love, want and yearn to do. Entering into the unknown and out of our comfort zone can be extremely nerve racking.
Looking out to the beauty of Paris alongside the Eiffel Tower
With the recent horrific and unfathomable incidences around the world, I can see how that would add a whole other layer of stress to travel. We are surrounded by the never ending news on TV, on the internet, on Facebook, and on the radio. Sometimes I feel like it’s more of the bad is broadcasted than the joy that’s out there. How can we not get caught up in it? It can be very scary to know what’s happening all around us. I understand it I really do and as a frequent traveler I fall victim to feeling a bit scared too. With that said we can’t live in fear of our own lives. There is so much good in the world. Think of all of the wonderful people you have met while traveling or even on a daily basis. Whether you take a plane ride to a completely different culture or to the next town over, you run into more good people than bad. Wouldn’t you say?
I am living proof that one trip to Italy changed my whole life’s course.
One of the greatest pleasures in life that unites all of us humans is Travel. It opens our minds and expands our thinking about different cultures. Travel gives us the beautiful gift of new experiences, knowledge and a different perspective. You may literally and figuratively find yourself somewhere out in the world where you feel at home or even change the idea of your life direction. I am living proof that one trip to Italy changed my whole life’s course. I continue to live in Italy and I continue to travel on a weekly basis. What good is it if I hole up in my apartment and I don’t experience all of the beauty that surrounds me and the euphoria of life.
Strolling through the Boboli Gardens in Florence, Italy
Don’t stop traveling, and don’t live in fear of the world. Keep on following your travel dreams, because they do not disappoint!
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Linet's Story
As Augustine of Hippo says “The world is a book, and those who don't travel only read one page”.
Exploring Stephansplatz Square in Vienna, Austria
Travel is much more than seeing new places and having a good time. Travel shapes our mind, gives us a perspective of the world, we gain wisdom through our experiences… travel is a way of life.
When there is unrest and chaos reported in one part of the world, it immediately affects everyone, and the one activity that people start reconsidering whether to have is traveling. But we need to understand that all this unrest is caused because of miscommunications and misunderstandings between people of different backgrounds and ideologies. Ignorance is the soul reason of such incidents that lead up to tragedies.
Relaxing afternoon spent by the Danube river in Vienna, Austria
And travel is a fast, efficient, and wonderful way to get to know people, to accept the fact that we are all equal in the eyes of the universe, and learn how to accept, respect, and live with our small differences, and try our best to put an end to all these conflicts once and for all.
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If our words haven't made you feel any better please check out one of our favorite videos of "Matt" traveling all around the world and being welcomed with love and laughter :)