In this month’s photo journal I share photos from my recent summer travel to the States. I hadn’t been back in five years. Technically my husband and I were there in August 2020 but our time was spent in a full two week quarantine upon arrival (remember those?) and we only saw family through windows and later at a distance in the yard for the rest of our short visit. Italy had just opened up borders and the US allowed citizens into the country - very briefly - so we jumped on a plane to see our adult son and my parents for a sliver of time before returning to the next round of Italian lockdowns. This was all before vaccines of course and it seems like ancient history. So this summer I spent nearly the whole season there, visiting family, traveling around, and reconnecting with dear friends - old and new alike. I loved every minute of it, and I hugged everyone extra hard because this time I could.
While at first I hesitated compiling this entry for you because it isn’t Italy related content, it is however a peek into my life and what inspires me beyond Rome. I think that through the seven photo collages that follow you will recognize the common thread that runs through all of my writing and photography: nature, art & architecture, and little moments that capture a world of wonder, no matter where I find myself. If Rome has taught me anything it is to be in a perpetual state of curiosity. Living here I have learned how to take time to pause and look all around me, to be curious about my surroundings, to truly see all the beauty around me. You don’t need to live in Rome to see the beauty in every moment.
Summer mornings started with a walk to the pond.
Having flown out of Rome in between two historic heat waves and a massive transportation sciopero or strike I was perfectly happy to stay indoors during an