✈️ The First Surprise: An Eight-Hour Adventure

The thing about traveling is, no matter how much you plan, the universe sometimes laughs and throws you a twist—and my recent solo trip proved that the best surprises start before you even land in your planned destination. I started out with visions of neatly ticked-off bucket list moments in Milan and a solo cruise with ocean vistas, but even the plane ride was an adventure.

I was headed to Milan when my seatmate and I started talking the moment she sat down, and I immediately knew she was cool. We talked over dinner, debated the quality of the plane wine (which, let’s be real, doesn’t compare to the wine in Italy!), and wondered why this particular new 787 Dreamliner still didn’t offer Wi-Fi. Yet, we managed to listen to our own music without feeling like we were cutting each other off.

About an hour before we landed, we both needed to use the restroom and went together so the person sitting in the aisle seat only had to get up once. The line for the restrooms was long, and after walking around looking for a shorter line, what should have been a five-minute break turned into thirty minutes of walking from bathroom to bathroom. As the flight descended, we decided to keep in touch via Instagram, but the fun didn’t stop there.

✨ A Simple Act of Kindness (and a Connection)

My new friend assisted me in getting my suitcase off the plane. When the airport’s prearranged wheelchair assistants were nowhere to be found, she didn’t hesitate. She pushed my carry-on into the terminal herself and then went back down the jetway to look for the personnel. I was shocked, but not surprised, because this is something I would have done, and people are often a lot more friendly than we think.

While I waited, another passenger sat down on the same bench, and we started chatting. She had been on the same flight, and when my seatmate arrived with the wheelchair personnel, both women instantly helped me with my luggage. I had just met these ladies, yet they showed me the very best of human kindness.

But here is the best part of this unexpected chain of events: While talking to my seatmate on the plane, I asked her if someone was picking her up, and she said no. She then explained that she wanted to take the train, but her husband told her it would be better if she just took a taxi. The young lady I just met on the bench told me she was taking the train to meet her friend in Milan. Wallah! I introduced them, and as we made our way toward customs, they decided to take the train together. We all followed each other on Instagram, shared a hug, and just like that, two new friends were off on their Milan adventure!

From Milan to the Warm Embrace of Villafranca

The Milan plan was immediately in process after my friends picked me up. We drove to Villafranca, where I met Francesco’s mother and some of her friends. I was a little nervous about being welcomed, but everyone I met greeted me with open arms and kisses on the cheek. The initial relief of arrival was amplified by the warm welcome from everyone I encountered. The hotel I stayed at was lovely, but the real adventure started the next day.

🏔️ The Unexpected Detour to Marble Mountain

We drove toward Pisa, but it was on the way back that Francesco decided to detour to Carrara to show me Marble Mountain. The original plan dissolved, replaced by a sudden opportunity to see something truly unique. While driving around Carrara, we came to a massive processing plant for the famous marble. We saw a mound of marble rocks lying on the ground—pieces that didn’t make the cut (no pun intended!).

We all got out of the car, and I couldn’t believe I was seeing marble in its raw form. I picked up a small rock and held it up as Francesco took pictures, while Juliana, his wife, picked up a piece of her own. Sitting on the back of a truck was a truly colossal brick of marble. I touched it, took pictures, and created videos—a moment of unexpected awe.

Afterward, we went to a small, quaint cafe for lunch. The tables were outside, and the seats themselves were marble bricks—who knew? Over a simple, delicious lunch of meat and cheese, I bought a crucifix souvenir for my sister.

Then came the truly unexpected moment. As we were leaving, I was taking pictures of Marble Mountain when I saw a priest and another gentleman walking up the road. I quietly said to myself, “There is a priest.” Though Francesco was hesitant when I asked if the priest would mind a picture, I waved at the man as he walked closer. When I asked, he smiled and said no, he wouldn’t mind at all.

Francesco took the picture. The priest was tall, and at 5’4″, I did not come up to his shoulder. He was very nice and young. I asked if he played basketball, and he laughed, explaining he had played volleyball in school. His friend chimed in, “He is a priest to you all, but he is my friend!” His friend also asked Francesco to take their picture. Juliana took a picture with him as well. He was from Poland, and though I didn’t get his name, after five minutes of warm conversation, he told me, “God bless you.” We all parted ways, leaving me with a profound sense of human connection.

⛪ The Reveal: My First View of the Duomo

The next day, we drove to Parma, but unfortunately, we were unable to get a taxi because it was Sunday and we hadn’t planned ahead. But it was still fun; we took some pictures and drove back to Milan. I checked into my hotel, the stunning Casa Bagliani, and then we took a cab to downtown Milan to catch the hop-on hop-off bus.

With me in the front seat and Juliana and Francesco in the back, the driver made his way through the streets. As this was my first time in Milan, I wasn’t focusing on where we were but on the sights. With Juliana and Francesco chatting in the back, I was lost in my own world, snapping pictures so I wouldn’t miss a moment.

I felt the car turn left, but I was focused on taking a picture of the building on my right side. As I turned my head to see where we were, the Duomo was suddenly right there in front of my face!

When I saw it, I said, “Wow, wow, wow. Omg, Wow!” “Wow” was the only word I could say as I admired this beautiful art masterpiece. The driver started laughing at my excitement. When I stepped out of the cab, I simply could not stop staring at its beauty. I can still feel the rush of emotions that swept over me.

The Spontaneous Leap into Switzerland

The day after seeing the Duomo, we went to Lake Como, as planned. I can see why people are so attracted to Lake Como; it is absolutely beautiful. But here came the next detour: as we were driving around looking for souvenirs, I saw a sign in Italian that read “Switzerland“ (Svizzera).

It has always been a bucket list dream, so I asked my friends how close we were. When they told me it was about 30 minutes away, I immediately asked if we could go. They were a little hesitant because of obstacles in our way (like time and planning), but we decided to see what would happen. We took the back roads and soon entered Switzerland.

I initially didn’t believe we were actually in Switzerland because the road signs were still in Italian. As it turns out, whatever country Switzerland borders, they keep the road signs in that language. But as we got further into the country, they began to change. I still felt a sense of disbelief—until I got a text message from Verizon saying, “Welcome to Switzerland,” and giving me my data plan details! Then I was 100% for sure I was there.

Unfortunately, Francesco got lost going to Lugano (for some reason, he wasn’t listening to Juliana!), and what should have taken about 30 minutes took us about an hour. I didn’t mind that we were lost, as it gave me more time to take pictures.

Once we arrived in Lugano, I fell in love. The city is absolutely beautiful. The lake is beautiful. The people are nice. The day was absolutely perfect—it was sunny, not hot, the sky was blue, and the lake was clear. I don’t know if it was just the excitement of being in a country that I had wanted to visit for years, or just the ambience of the city I was in.

Lugano was very busy with tourists, and there were a lot of shops and restaurants along the lake. Francesco dropped Juliana and me off, and we walked a little around the lake. I took a lot of pictures. What was unexpected to me was how safe I felt and the overwhelming feeling of being home. While typing this, those same feelings come back, and I cannot wait to go back.

🌟 Conclusion (Part 1: The Adventure Continues)

My time in Italy and the spontaneous trip to Switzerland proved that the best part of traveling isn’t the items on your itinerary, but the kindness of strangers and the willingness to take a spontaneous detour.

Many of you know I am a planner. When I travel, I plan everything from the time I leave to the time I return, and everything in between—I even plan what clothes I am going to wear each day. The original itinerary was simple: Drive to Villafranca on arrival, go to Pisa the next day, Parma on Saturday along with Milan, and Lake Como on Sunday.

I am so glad those plans were changed and detours were added. I loved every place I went, and there is nothing I would change. I loved the spontaneity of the Marble Mountain, getting my picture taken with the priest, and the trip to Switzerland to end my time in Northern Italy before I flew to Rome the next day. I had a plan, but there was clearly another, far better plan set up for me.

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