After a long period of several lockdowns and closures of regions; finally, Italy became a yellow zone on the past 30th of April 2021.
It was the perfect moment to travel, and I was excited to visit one of my friends from the Master in Veneto, northern Italy. I heard about this region before, mainly due to Prosecco's production because it's the hometown of the Glera grape. But I was not aware of what was waiting for me.
After a beautiful train journey, I arrived at the Montebelluna train station, and from that moment, I couldn't believe my eyes. I was so surprised by the color of the landscapes, the mountains, and the water. Everything seemed like a dream to me.
The weather was kind of humid, I guess, because we were very close to the mountains. I got off the train, and a
big tight hug from my friend Maddalena was waiting for me. It had been a year since we haven't seen.
Between laughs and tears, we jumped into the car, classic Italian white fiat 500 music, and we headed down to Feltre, a small town surrounded by mountains, the most beautiful mountains covered in snow.
We went straight to a wine bar for a glass of the typical spritz. I love how people from that region are so proud of their "spritz," but it is true! They make the best ones, and the price is much lower than anywhere in Italy!
After a lovely charcuterie board and some aged cheeses, we headed to another wine bar to enjoy their fantastic prosecco. I have never tried something like this. So fresh, so aromatic, refreshing, and unique.
I was daydreaming; everything was perfect. We were in the ideal setting enjoying in the middle of the mountains laughing at our Master's adventures in Barcelona and about how life dramatically changed. It had been a long period since I could not see my loved ones, so that moment was priceless for me.
We are social beings, and after so long of not seeing and being in contact with people, everything felt new to me. It was like a fresh beginning and a deep breath after living one of the most challenging world crisis moments. We enjoyed each other's company.
After that, we visited the largest beer company in Veneto and then had dinner in the most charming Villa in the middle of nature. Oh god, Italians! When it comes to food and wine, you are the king!
The evening was perfect. It was time to go back to sleep to be ready for the following day. We returned home, and to my surprise, the night was not over.
Madalena's mom was hosting a dinner with some friends. It was so amazing to see how easy the life of the locals was, and they were super happy and welcoming to receive me. I was amazed by everything. I felt like a little kid; I was captivated by their stores, accent, lifestyle, and pride in their roots. I had a blast.
The following day we woke up early because my friend's dad was supposed to come to pick us up to drive us around. It was so funny to see how small the town was. At the bar's corner, all the people from the previous night were having breakfast together, and they remembered my name. There is the Mexican! They said, and I told Ciao! with a smile.
"Mau," Madalena's dad drove us to the most beautiful and spectacular mountains I have ever seen in my life. That region in Veneto is famous for its roads and passes plenty of bike races like the Giro di Italia make stages in that area. It was majestic!
He drove us to #Passogiau #lagodimisurina #lagodibraias and the border with Austria. I was speechless.
We drove for around 1 hour and 30 min, stopping at every corner because I couldn't stop screaming with happiness that it was the most beautiful place my eyes had ever seen.
The famous Dolomites, or Dolomiti in Italian, is one of Unesco's heritage and a protected region because its distinctive beauty is insane. Mountains covered in snow, a vast amount of pine trees, and the size of the rocks make this land unbelievable.
And then it got even more exciting. I saw cyclists climbing those mountains; I was living a dream. I was not expecting to see something like this.
We stopped at the top of the mountain to try a glass of the famous "Vin Brulee" hot wine. We were starting to get a little hungry, but they told me to wait, that they had everything set.
We stopped in the middle of the mountain to open the trunk and have a car picnic! I was so happy they were so prepared! I never saw when they packed all of that! Salumi panini, some cheeses, and then we headed to our third stop.
We went down to Cortina d'Ampezzo, the famous place for skiing and where the Olympic games took place. Wow! It was my favorite word that day.
Northern Italy is just splendorous is so rich, so magical, and the perfect place for people who love outdoor sports such as biking, hiking, skiing, and trekking.
Another impressive thing is that regions are so different even though they are so close. We did all of this in just one day! We even went to our final destination, the border of Austria, after visiting the gorgeous Lago di Brais.
After that trip, I remained thoughtful, and I wondered
why do I feel so delighted in Italy?
I guess that Italy is where I find myself, where I can stop and appreciate nature, see the power and beauty in details, and feel loved and appreciated by the people. I'm always fascinated by the culture. I never stop learning how to live in a much simpler and loving way.
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