Every summer, I would live out my dreams of finally traveling outside of the borders of The States through the flicks of my friends' social media accounts. Whether they encased the joys of the Almalfi coast or the mouth-watering meals of Mexico, I merely formed a conceptual desire to travel. As the spring of 2020 rolled around, my family finally booked the dream trip to Italy for my junior spring break. Italy was in arms reach right as the daunting news of the beginning of quarantine reached America. Yet another spring and summer season passed by oh so slowly. Being now in the new restrictions and confinement of my bedroom, the dreams of Italy grew exponentially.

Though my first year at UGA was fruitful, the true source of joy was from knowing that the end of the academic year was going to be met with plane tickets to Italy. Growing up Catholic, I knew that the vacation would consist of the typical tours through historic and ruined graves of churches. Yet, I was pleasantly proved wrong. When in Rome, more along the lines of the Vatican City, my family visited the gems of the small country.

From the Sistine Chapel to St. Peter’s Basilica, my family’s religious thirst was satisfied through the grand scale of statues of saints and gold covered walls. As if the interior of the institutions weren’t enough, the 300 steps to the top of the basilica led to the greatest view of them all. Met with the cool summer air, I found myself miles above the Vatican City. Looking out upon the streets and buildings of Rome; my vacation no longer felt like I was on a movie set, but truly placed within the rich history of Italy.

Although the trip came to an end, the first international trip for my family created a snowball effect within my dad. Planning the future train rides throughout Switzerland or stuffing down a German pretzel, Italy was only the beginning.