Travel, Shoot, Write
Sometime in 2020, a friend of mine had the crazy idea of walking 50 km to raise money for cancer research in memory of a friend of hers that had passed away from Leukemia the previous year. I decided to join her in honor of all those who had been affected by it. The list … Continue reading Appia Antica
Sometimes I feel the best thing about living in Rome is Castelli Romani, so much so that I’ve even thought about buying a house there. Away from the chaos of the city is this little peaceful oasis made up of small towns on the Alban Hills overlooking Rome. If you’ve ever noticed the nearby hills … Continue reading A Perfect Day in Castelli Romani
“Girls....this place is paradise.” This is what I wrote to my sister and best friend the first time I went to Salento, which is the province of Lecce in the southern tip of Apulia, back in the summer of 2015. I had just spent a summer in the mountains of Switzerland and then travelling through … Continue reading Puglia
Having grown up near the beach, I used to think the idea of going to a lake instead was a bit strange. The first time I thought about this was when I visited Chicago and its great Lake Michigan. Another time I remember thinking this was when an Italian friend of mine took me to … Continue reading Volcanic Lakes of Lazio
One of the great things about living in Rome is the diverse landscape all within two hours from the center. From sandy beaches to volcanic lakes, rolling hills and thermal baths, peaceful countryside and historic medieval hilltop villages to finally rugged mountains and wild national parks. These last ones to be found in neighboring Abruzzo, … Continue reading Wild Abruzzo
A friend of mine quoted this famous line from J.R.R. Tolkien to me years ago when I was traveling in NYC. I really did feel lost at the time though and like I was wandering with no direction, though I did have a purpose. This was back when I knew I had to make some … Continue reading Not all who wander are lost
After two and a half years, a pandemic, a pregnant sister that I never got to see, a new nephew that I hadn’t met yet, two cancelled flights, and three failed attempts, I finally went back to the USA and got back to Rome last week. For the last seven years of living in Italy, … Continue reading Going back home: the differences
Lipari Sicily is hands down one of the most beautiful regions in Italy. A small island that at first glance appears to be easy to explore on one trip, yet so vast in natural features, historical value, and cultural characteristics that I believe it’s better to divide the island up into sections and focus on … Continue reading Sicily: The North Coast
Today while I was at work, I started crying all of a sudden. Shortly before, I read that Italy had reached 15,000 new cases that day and my sister texted me saying that Europe was getting 1 million new ones a week. As the pandemic is starting its second wave across Europe and will soon … Continue reading Positive Effects of this Pandemic
Monica's Travels 