Italy Diary

Over February break, four reporters from the Blue Devil Beat traveled with Kenmore West to Northern Italy, visiting various landmarks, meeting new people, and eating good food! To reflect on our trip, we want to share some of our favorite moments with our readers.

Leocadia

The first place that we visited was Venice, where we got to ride on a gondola through the narrow canals of the city. I found this really interesting because I was able to see a different perspective of the scenery and experience the main transportation system, which is very different from the United States. In Venice, they do not use cars and instead travel by boat because of its historical design and abundance of bridges and unusual pathways. When I think of Venice, I think of gondolas so it was cool to experience what I would normally view in a picture. While on the island of Murano, we went to a glass-blowing demonstration which was so cool because Venice is known around the world for this tradition. The Maestro showed us how different items are made with glass and what materials are used. My favorite location of the trip was Florence, where I got to visit different shops and try authentic Italian coffee and food, while also learning about the specialty goods of the city. One of the shops that I visited was owned by a family that designed different glass items, such as plates, utensils, art panels, small characters, etc. I found it refreshing to see so many handmade items all around Florence that I could tell were made with a lot of love and care. The last stop our group made was in Rome, where I saw some of the most world-renowned sites such as the Colosseum and the Vatican City. Seeing these places in person after just seeing pictures of them my entire life was so amazing and beautiful. Overall, the trip was a life-changing experience, and Italy is a place that you need to visit during your lifetime.

Madison

Travelling around Italy was one of the most unique things I have experienced so far in my life. Visiting another country that is all the way across the ocean in a different continent allows you to experience things you would’ve never had the chance to before. One of the first places, and my personal favorite, was an island called Burano. The houses in Burano were like nothing I've seen before. They were all bright and unique colors which are very different compared to the more neutral and duller colors seen almost everywhere else. All the bright and fun colors put me in a good mood while we shopped and got lunch! The next place, Venice, was also very unique compared to other places I’ve seen. Venice is surrounded by water and has canals that people use boats in to travel around instead of cars. We got to ride around in a gondola, and it was a very fun experience. The architecture of everywhere we saw was so pretty and a beautiful sight to see! In addition to all the architecture, we also got to try different Italian dishes as well as learn more about Italian culture. Overall, I would say traveling around Italy was an experience I’ll never forget, and I would highly recommend taking a trip there if you ever have the opportunity. 

Maisy

I have always loved traveling and have held an interest in seeing the world. There have been so many places that I would like to visit, and Italy has always been high on my list. I have been looking forward to this trip ever since I decided to sign up, and Italy did not disappoint! We saw many different cities in Northern Italy, including Venice, Florence, Verona, and the islands of Murano and Burano. It was so difficult to pinpoint a favorite place or moment; however, I loved the cities of Venice and Rome. They both were unlike anything I've ever seen or any place I’ve ever visited, so unique in their own ways, and both so beautiful. It was amazing to see how Venice is surrounded by water and how there is no other place quite like it. Rome has the most incredible architecture and beautiful structures. I loved getting to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa. We learned that the tower leans because of the soil and that everything in Pisa leans. I even saw some street lights leaning while we were in Pisa! I got the opportunity to see my Italian exchange student in Venice, and she showed me and a small group around. The reunion was a great addition to the trip, and it was very cool to have gotten to see her again. I enjoyed seeing differences in Italian lifestyle and culture in comparison to what is typical in my day-to-day life; it really is an eye-opening experience that I would recommend to anyone. 

Claire

Traveling isn’t for everyone. The thought of being away from home for so long, plunged into a completely different area with different people, food, language, and culture can be completely overwhelming, even terrifying to some. This was how I felt. However, over just those seven days, I gained experiences that I never would have found anywhere else. I found myself talking to people I’d never thought of talking to before, and some of these people are now some of my closest friends! But enough about the experience, let’s talk about the trip! The first day, after a long day of traveling, we drove to the beautiful city of Verona, and I was immediately overtaken with the beauty of the country. The next day, we took a boat first to the island of Murano, then Burano, then Venice.

After reading through our highlights, we hope that you consider traveling to Italy sometime to see all of the amazing sights. These landmarks are some that you definitely want to see for yourself in person. Italy is the perfect choice for a vacation due to its rich variety of artistry, cuisine, and landscape, which is certain to keep you interested.