“Was it amazing?!”
“How was your trip?”
“Tell me all about it!”
These are all questions that I’ve gotten a lot since I’ve been back from my amazing trip throughout Europe. My short answers are: “Oh my gosh…yes!”, “Fantastic and unreal” and …well, the last one has had me stumped. Since it would take me a boringly long amount of time to share “all” about my (nearly) three months in Europe, I have selected the top 10 influential and memorable moments to share with you.
In no particular order (because, honestly…I can’t fathom trying to rank one as more amazing than another), here they are:
1. Malta was by far the most unique pick of the trip, but it was well worth the risk. I actually don’t know anyone that has been to Malta, so I had to do a lot of research before we arrived by ferry from Sicily. However, I hit the jackpot when I found a recommendation for Ta Karolina. Our dinner table was literally on the seawall, we had a bottle of amazing wine, an unreal dinner of rabbit and duck, and a great view for under $60 dollars. You read that right…$60. What topped it off, was that it started pouring at the end of our meal, forcing everyone under a tiny awning where the waiters showed their customer service skills and offered free coffees for us while we waited. To avoid the rain a bit more, we scampered into another bar that had no idea how to make a martini (cocktails aren’t Malta’s specialty). We had a great time teaching the bartender and chatting them up while the rain slowed enough for a taxi to grab us up.
2. I have a huge “company crush” on EatWith, which is a company/app that is revolutionizing how tourists eat and experience a city’s culture. In Venice, I spent the night in a twinkle-light lit courtyard with 12 strangers who were hungry for an authentic Venetian meal in a local’s home, and that is exactly what we got. Click here to read the full story on how this night changed how I will eat forever.
3. Capri’s allure is no secret, but I happened to be there on a weekend where it rained the majority of the time. I know it might not sound like a recipe for a “top 10 moment”, but stay with me here. Luckily for me (and you), there are plenty of spas to duck into to seek refuge when the beaches aren’t “peacocking.” To top it off, I hadn’t slept, I had been suffering a cold, and experienced a cancelled ferry due to weather when I wandered into the Hotel Quisisana and booked a heavenly massage. I ended up spending the morning drinking tea and lounging in their heated mosaic tile chairs while watching the rain fall outside the “relaxation area.” After that, I maximized on the few sunny hours that I had by going to eat at Ristorante Mamma overlooking the rocky coast and met their dynamic concierge who invited me to check out a 5 star hotel for my clients. Since that’s not the kind of invitation you turn down, I spent my afternoon on the heavenly terrace of the Hotel Punta Tragara and drinking a divine Chardonnay in the sunshine. I have never been more relaxed, and I (hands down) know where I will be booking my next stay on Capri!
4. Rome is another spot that gets plenty of attention, but few tourists muster the gusto to hop on a scooter and zig-zag their way into the traffic of this busy city. ScooteRoma gave me one of my favorite moments when I hopped on a scooter with a Roman local and easily zipped around to some of the most incredible spots in the city. It didn’t hurt that my guide also treated me to one of the most amazing cappuccinos of my life at Pasticceria Linari.
5. On one of my last nights in Tuscany, I was invited by one of the ex-pats to go to a 4 course dinner called WineShineDine, which is hosted once a month in Cortona, Italy. For those who love the book/movie “Under the Tuscan Sun,” this is the town that inspired it. Of course, I gladly accepted! I was greeted with a wine tasting in the town square from Chiocciolli Altadonna, then was escorted to the Delbrenna jeweler (which is underground in an old wine cellar!), handed champagne with gold and silver flecks in it while I shopped for something sparkly, and then directed to a dinner full of live music with copious wine pours and 4 courses of heaven on earth. For anyone staying stateside, they have this dinner in Newport Beach, California!
6. It’s not everyday that a best friend meets you across the globe in Greece, but when it does happen, it is bound to be a great time. One of the best meals that I had my ENTIRE trip was spent in the main square of Naxos town with KJ (check this blog out on our trip together) at Scirocco one their last night of the season. We ordered such a large platter that the waiter wouldn’t let us order anything else to go with it. Jokes on him… because we topped it off with dessert crepes from a restaurant on the water after! It wasn’t just the food that made this night great. We laughed, we cried, we laughed until we cried…it was just one of those nights for the books!
Most of these moments take a little bit of backstory, which is why I’ve decided to break this into two parts (so that you aren’t daunted by the length of all 10 at once). I hope you enjoyed recapping some of these memories with me, and I hope that you join in on Part 2 coming tomorrow!
