It Always Works Out

It is funny how the old saying "it always works out" really is true. After a hurried and emotional goodbye to my friend in Maastricht, I rushed to catch the early morning bus to get to the airport on time only to find out that the bus I needed wasn't running. Thankfully though "it always works out". While I was sitting at the bus stop trying to figure out how not to miss my flight to Pisa, a man came up to me in the same predicament. We ended up sharing the cost of a taxi (which in Europe are either Mercedes, BMW, or Audi) and made it to the airport with plenty of time. Ends up that he was also going to Florence from Pisa and had lived in Florence for about four years so he guided me on the right train and gave me some travel tips. How convenient, huh! I arrived in Florence, Italy on a Sunday afternoon, settled in to my super cool hostel which even had a sauna and pool, and then went out to explore the city. My mind couldn't stop repeating the same thing..."I am in Italy, I am in Italy, I am in Italy". It felt so amazing to be there although it seemed like a dream. As I explored, I walked by apricot and gold buildings with the paint chipped off, peered up at the screen less windows decorated with rustic shutters and the occasional laundry line filled with clothes drying, heard those sensual Italian words "Ciao Bella", and passed by more gelaterias than I could possibly have imagined. I decided that my goal for Italy was to try a new flavor of gelato every day, so my first flavor was pistacchio. Oh my goodness...it was truly heaven. Yes, I still love ice cream, but this was even more delectable. And I was walking around eating it in Italy! Next, I stumbled across a completely line free entrance to the Accademia Museum, home of Michelangelo's David. I flirted with the security guys, laughed my way in and turned the first corner only to look up and have chills run through me. There was David, towering in the distance with his perfectly sculpted naked body. Wow. It truly is the most beautiful sculpture I have ever seen and I think ever will see. Words really can't describe how amazing this sculpture is in real life, but let's just say that I was in complete awe. And this was basically the state I lived in during my short but sweet time in Italy.
I spent three and a half days in Florence meeting some super cool people at the hostel and partying with them, eating gelato and every other imaginable Italian food, flirting with the Italians, and smiling. Spent an afternoon in the Tuscan hillside sampling wine and eating a family style Italian lunch in the villa of a Lord, took a day trip to the lovely little town of Siena, and splurged on a fabulous meal at a traditional Italian restaurant with one of my new friends. Interesting how I was so nervous to travel on my own, but rarely was actually on my own, because "it always works out." I was planning on visiting the Cinque Terre next but got an invite from two new friends to join them in Venice, and as I was debating whether to go to Venice I thought about going to Nice with another friend. Decisions, decisions...but I decided that this trip was all about me and I needed to continue on my own so I stuck with the original plan and headed to the Cinque Terre (close to the Italian Riviera). Upon arriving I was greeted by turquoise seas, massive sea cliffs with vineyards dotted along their sides, and a quaint typical Italian seaside village. Ahhhh, heaven. Walked and took the train between all 5 towns and was awestruck by the beauty of the place. This area is typically visited by honeymooners and couples, and there is a tale that if you close a lock on the Lovers Walk and throw away the keys then you will have everlasting love. Well since I was alone I was not a part of that tale, but as the universe likes to play interesting tricks on me it happened that I lost the keys to my luggage lock. Yep, I locked myself out of my luggage. To look at the positive side of the situation, I laughed and thought, this is symbolic of my everlasting love to the divine and ultimately myself, as that is one of the most important loves of all. Then I smiled and thought again "really, it always works out." Italy was a splurge for my senses, a treat for my mind, and total joy for my spirit. Couldn't have been more thankful for that funny little phrase and for the crazy events in my life that have lead me to where I am as "it always works out."