Today I am happy and honored to feature a guest blog post by a writer who has an unbridled passion for Italy. Like me, Ishita seems to never tire of dreaming and writing about Italy. Please welcome Ishita Sood, a writer from India.
I was always fascinated by Italy even as a young girl, the Colosseum in Rome especially attracted me. I felt a strong pull towards this country of wonderfulness and I knew that someday I would definitely visit Italy.
So in 2013, my friend and I thought of visiting Europe. After setting an ambitious target of wanting to see 5 countries, we narrowed it down to 3 and then finally to two – Italy and Spain. I was sure of one thing – I couldn’t miss Italy for the world!
Landing in Rome on a lovely warm evening in September, just a week before my birthday, little did I know that I would be leaving this country with a heavy heart but wonderful memories for a lifetime. Italy enthralled me, I did not know that a 2 week trip could have that much of an effect on me as Italy did. I felt as if I was in my land, as if I had already visited this place in some other lifetime of mine. It is easier to say that I felt a connection in the first few days of my travel and it was a wonderful feeling. I was ecstatic!
The cobblestoned streets, wonderful piazzas, street side cafes, everything lured me. I had read a lot about Italy from a guidebook of Lonely Planet especially made for the Indian traveller’s taste and palate. I realized how similar our country is to Italy. We Indians are big on food and family values just like the Italians; I couldn’t help but smile as I recalled one of the lines from Gregory David Roberts’s book Shantaram. It said very simply “There is so much Italian in the Indians, and so much Indians in the Italians. They are both people of the Madonna – they demand a goddess, even if the religion does not provide one.” How true!
Italy has been my calling ever since. The hill town of Biasa near the Cinque Terre – where I found the real Italy; Florence where I realized how much I love the land; and Rome – my first Italian city which took a bit of my heart.
For those of you who may be curious, yes I will be visiting Italy again someday soon and this time I will be away from the bigger cities and travel the smaller towns where the real Italy is. Thank you Margie for this wonderful opportunity to write for your blog as a guest blogger, I am thrilled and honoured.
Ishita is an Indian blogger who visited Italy for a couple of weeks and fell in love. Since then, she has been writing, reading and researching on the country. Ishita plans to return to the country soon and visit the unexplored regions. She writes the blog, Italophilia ~ Stories of My Italian Journey & More..! Follow Ishita on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.
Aesha
Loved it,Ishita..!!:) Such an amazing article describing beautifully what a great place Italy is..!! Hope you get to visit it soon 😉
ishitasood
Thank you sweetie! .;) Hope too!
Vino Travels (@VinoTravels21)
Italy steals lots of our hearts and there remains a strong desire to return. Until the next step we dream and write about it and share stories with other fellow lovers of this amazing country!
ishitasood
I second you! It is exactly this. Hope I return soon 😀
bonniegm
Having an Italian grandmother I was surprised that we never even thought of visiting Italy until my younger daughter went there to as part of her college experience. Our first visit of “two days here and two days there” we spent just 24 hrs. in Tuscany and lost our hearts. Since then we have been blessed to have visited on an annual basis, including researching family and visiting towns of our grandparents. (Husband is 100% Italian-American). I know all too well the spell that is cast on so many people during that first visit to Bel Paese!!!
ishitasood
Lucky u Bonnie!! I know the spell that Italy casts is like no other. They have everything there, don’t they? Can’t wait to go back!
Valerie Rice
Perhaps Puglia could be your next trip Ishita!…. I love it! So much so I upped sticks and move from England 4 years ago. It is a lot less touristy than the North. Let me know if you plan a trip here!
ishitasood
Aww Valerie. Yes surely 🙂 thank u! maybe Puglia! I actually want to visit Cental this time. Maybe Puglia for another year 😉
Valerie Rice
OK, when you do decide to venture here, drop me a line, I can certainly recommend a few places of interest 😊
ishitasood
Sure thing I will keep you posted!! 🙂 Thanks much!
imarancher
“Upped sticks”????? I love it. That is my new favorite saying; if you don’t like it here, up sticks Buddy, the world awaits you!
tstaffaroni
What a great post, Ishita! I can definitely relate to each and every word.
ishitasood
Thanks a lot for your kind words 🙂
imarancher
Ishita Sood: great post. You could not have a better friend than Margie. Count on her when you need information, suggestions or just to bounce around ideas. It must be the Italian in her as those people are as special as the country itself.
ishitasood
Thank you so much 🙂 I totally agree. Margie is an angel in my life. God sent for sure!
Diana
Happy to have found Ishita!
ishitasood
Same goes here Diana! Ciao! 🙂
Debra Kolkka
…another Italy lover!
ishitasood
Hello Debra! Thank you for stopping by at margie’s and my post! 🙂
Avinash Gupta
I am sure Italy loves you back.
Beautiful read Ishita 🙂
ishitasood
Thank you Avinash! It better love me LOTS!
Priyanka
Italuy calling is going to be on ur cards soon girl… 🙂 Your craving and love for Italy is well expressed in ur words… 🙂
ishitasood
I agree. Thank you Mahajan!
jencvt2002
Ahhh, another kindred spirit! Ishita, I wish you a speedy return to Italy – to feed your hungry heart!
ishitasood
Thank you so much! I really hope I can soon 😉 🙂