​Weathering the Storm with the WP#113

I have to say, now that I have arrived back in Rome for the next week and a half and to reflect upon what I have done over the past month here in Europe has been amazing. The people I have met, the foods I have eaten and yes, the many Hard Rocks and the many immersive experiences, and we can’t forget the cruise on the Danube with Rosa, it has been a wonderful month. Now, having reached the final destination for this trip and, of course, what I expect to be my residence in the future, I have to say, that I am a very lucky man indeed. The opportunities, having coming out of the pandemic are so emotive with energies I could not have expected. And this past week has been no different. ​

As you know, I have spent much time in Italy and everyone knows and here in Rome again for the same reasons. However, the last week, I enjoyed some experiences I had never done here in Italy and of course, I wish I had more time, but I expect that I will return to these places. I had been accepted for a conference and trade show in Sestri Levante and this is in Liguria, one of the regions of Italy which also, for the benefit of those who may or may not know, includes the Cinque Terre. After leaving Bucharest, with a very early morning flight via Munich with a 4-hour layover, I arrived in Genoa and was transferred along with a now colleague from Vienna to the conference location. It is a beautiful setting in the water and although we had more time indoors than out, it was a place I would like to return to truly get a feel for the area. It is connected by train, of course by road and I believe there are opportunities from Genoa to get there by boat. Again, more time would have been nice, but I was there for business and so that was accomplished and potential new partnerships were established as many regions of Italy were represented and it opened my eyes up to the possibilities. ​

After the conference, a group of 6 of us, were picked up from our hotel, the Grande Albergo and together, one other American from Chicago, but resides in Rome now, a lady from Marseille, one from Geneva, one from Vienna and a gentleman from Israel and myself, along with our driver, Barbara set off for Brescia, which is one of the two, along with Bergamo, the cultural capitals of Europe for this year. It was about 3-to-4-hour drive through some amazing landscapes across the north of Italy and when arrived, we were in for a treat. As it turns out, none of us foreigners, had ever been to Brescia. It turns out that two of the most visited places in Italy are Milan and Verona and Brescia is equidistant from both, but not even Rosa, when I mentioned I was going to Brescia, had even been, so really, it is a hidden gem. We first enjoyed an amazing lunch upon arrival and when you at in Italy, you don’t go away hungry and some of those pictures were shared on Facebook, of course. Afterwards, and with an afternoon, we walked with our amazing guide Lucia around the city. She said that she is used to German speaking groups, but her English was just fine. We saw the ruins of the Roman theater, the cathedral and many other experiences and the day ended with a tasting menu in town. Our hotel, a Doubletree, by metro, yes Brescia has a one line metro and it is unmanned, takes about 10 minutes to get to the heart of the city. This city does have so much to offer, and we only scratched the surface. Since Rosa has never been, I know we will return there together. ​

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The next day, we continued the journey, about 40 minutes to Lake Garda and checked into our hotel in Sola, and what an amazingly beautiful hotel it was, called Laurin. We then did a walk to experience Gabriele D'Annunzio’s life and his home, sorry no pictures, as they were not allowed inside, but some shared of the outside including some of his things as well as his final resting place. He was a poet and a soldier and a very interesting person who also loved the women and yes had a wife, as well. Again, much of what I experienced in these three or four short days enlightened me, as the characters of history and the region, I knew very little about and as such, I know feel that these areas are such that they need to be included in the places to be seen in Italy. Yes, I have had clients who have experienced Lake Garda and now, I know why. Another highlight of this day was a boat ride on Lake Garda. Something I was very excited about, however, most nervous, given my history of seasickness. The waters weren’t rough and I had not taken Dramamine beforehand, but I did it and it was an amazing hour or so on the lake. At the end I am so glad I did it and if I had never taken that boat ride to catch halibut those so many years ago, in Alaska, and not having caught any fish, due to seasickness, I also would never have seen my first puffin, so I have to continue to try new experiences, no matter what. 
In the end, as I started this post, I left Brescia yesterday and arrived in Rome to be with Rosa until the middle of the month and we have a very little and cozy place for that time. Every time I return to Rome, she asked if I could live here and the answer is an absolute si, si, si, so we continue to work on the process from whatever angle we need to, be it a residency visa, fiancé visa or whatever visa we need for me to be here, so I do not have to keep crossing the pond to be here in Roma with Rosa. I also found out I was accepted to a conference called Buy Tuscany, which will take place in Arezzo in September, and I will be here in Roma, then, so it will be an easy train ride there for the conference. I certainly look forward to that, but more so for the next 12 days here in Roma with Rosa and thank you to my new found friends and colleagues with whom I have spent the last few days enjoying a region of Italy none of us had experienced for the most part. 
As always, stay safe, stay healthy and always look for the best in a situation and be patient as the best things in life are worth waiting for. Thank you as always for your support of my crazy little world and my small business. As always, I look forward to your comments, questions, concerns and continuing the discourse through whichever means you read my posts!!!