Day 4- CINQUE TERRE

Lesson: You’re Not As Alone as You Think

On my first full day in Florence, I went on a day trip to Cinque Terre.

The day trip started with a 2-hour bus ride, which took us to a train that went to each of the towns in Cinque Terre. I sat on the bus in silence and was seriously in the worst mood ever. As much as I was enjoying my own company, I had barely spoken to anyone else in 3-days, and I was getting a little lonely. Rome had been a high for me, and my time in Florence felt like a crash.

It was one of those days where my thoughts were just not on my side, and I felt stupid for being on a tourist excursion. Looking back, I want to shake myself!! You’re in Italy, girl!! Logical or not, a bad mood was my reality at the time.

One of the girls on the group asked if she could sit near me when we got on the train, and I reluctantly agreed. I was in one of those bad moods where you literally don’t want to talk to anyone because you want to just sulk in your own misery. I started to realize how flawed my logic was, and I invited in the conversation. Before I knew it, I had made a new friend.

As the day progressed, I opened up to her and shared what I was feeling. I was so excited to be in Italy but I was also starting to feel a little lonely and confused what I was even looking for on this trip. It turned out she was feeling the same way as me! (Solo travel, right?)

By being vulnerable and sharing what I was feeling, I gave her permission to do the same, and this ended up being something we were able to bond over.

Cinque Terre ended up being one of my favorite days on my trip. The towns were adorable, the food was delicious, and I finally had social interaction. My new friend and I grabbed dinner that night and made plans to go out the following night.

Even though I went to Italy by myself, it didn’t mean I needed to spend the entire trip alone. I started to realize that I wanted to be around other people, and I wanted share this experience. I spent the rest of the trip surrounded by friends, new and old. I also accidentally went on a couples wine tour, but that’s a story for tomorrow 😉