Ciaooo!

I wanted to be writing from a new spot in Italy, but alas, I made a rookie mistake and booked this trip during Ferragosto, a national holiday which meant public transport was not running at full speed so it was almost impossible to get to. I’m still a little hesitant to rent a car here since a piece of my tire cracked off in Amalfi and my niece and I had to be driven last minute to the airport by a lemon farmer whose Fiat was hanging on for dear life (traveling with me never has a dull moment). So I stayed in my usual area, jumping between airbnbs that are both amazingly decorated and have amazing terraces…two things very important to me. The location is a bit out of the way but I can navigate that and you meet more people when you aren’t near tourists (pro tip). BUT I still wanted to see something new so I went on a day trip to a little island that is known for it’s pastels - Procida. 

Have you ever seen a more “Erika” place?! Although you feel like you're on fire here from heat, I hiked to the lookout where I could stand and stare for hours! When you’re wandering alone everyone asks you to take their photo - so I basically did an hours worth of mini sessions before going try the famous Insulate di Limoni. Which was basically lemons in a bowl with olive oil, mint, onion, chili flakes and salt and pepper. I really tried... but I couldn’t stomach it…I told the waitress how full I was and then went and found some french fries. Which are oddly good here?! 
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I risked being stuck on the island because there was only ONE ferry back due to the holiday, but a risk I was willing to take. The worst thing that could happen is I was stuck on an Italian island for a night. Worse things have definitely happened to me (refer back to lemon farmer story), but I made the ferry back to Sorrento and made it home after a taxi driver literally told me “no! traffic!”.  After a lot of delayed trains, walking out of my way and the biggest blisters you’ve ever seen I wandered in to finally glance at the photographs from my new “travel” camera, photos both from the island and Sorrento. 

This is my tenth time in Italy. Not every trip has been as great as this one as traveling alone comes with its ups and downs, but this might be one of my favorites so far. From meeting new people on an airplane and getting in trouble for talking too much, to being invited to random places many don't know of yet, to hearing people on the street who now remember me saying “CiaoEDIKA! You are back!” So to remember this time in my life of unknowing and confusion yet being completely convicted that I’m doing the right thing I wanted something to remember it by; a piece of jewelry, some sort of trinket.. I don’t know. I went shopping and nothing stood out, I thought of getting another tattoo, but when mentioning it SB told me “don’t do stupid things” - Italians are so honest! …. and what I was going to get was a little stupid. So I put it aside and decided that I’ll know it when I see it. 

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I had the most gorgeous view the last few days of the sea and Mt.Vesuvius, and the apartment next to mine had the cutest little terrace that belonged to this absolutely stunning Italian lady. At night she would yell “EDIKAAAA” and we would chat about everything from how Madonna was in town for her birthday, to how gross hot dogs are, to how she chose to live a life of freedom, and how happy she is. My little Italian, her little English. We made it happen. But on my last day  I was feeling a little bummed to be leaving that town, and I knew I would be alone and homeless most of the day until my next airbnb allowed me to check in. As I was packing up I heard “EDIKAAA, I have a surprise for you!” I ran to the terrace and there was my new little Italian friend. Her hair was perfectly placed, her makeup done beautifully and her sweet smile ready to make sure I wouldn’t be alone. 
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She brought me up to her private terrace which was INCREDIBLE!!  I immediately took out my camera and was completely speechless. We ate little chocolate cakes, took photos of each other (her dad was a photographer) and I showed her my instagram so she could see what I do for work. After some time on the terrace she took me around town to buy some new make up and “coco” and then we went to the mini food market to meet someone new.

I’ve purchased coke at this market many times, and had small talk with the owner, so when I walked in it was like we had already known each other but now I was on a new level of knowing… like Rose Prosecco out of mini plastic cups at 9:45am knowing. I photographed the shop, we had a lot of laughs, they showed me a book of photos of their town because they know I’m a photographer and as we left the shop “CIAO EDIKA” could be heard for blocks. 

I said my goodbyes, we made plans for my next trip and in her best English she wished me well. A few hours later, I noticed she joined instagram :)

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​I was then homeless for a couple short hours and as I sat there just thinking about how my morning went from something I was thinking was going to be lonely and boring to one of the most interesting and fun mornings I've had in quite awhile, I considered how there is no material thing that could commemorate this. Material things seem to mean less and less to me these days and choosing to invest in whatever I’m doing here has been the most incredible gift I could have ever gifted myself. I don’t need a piece of jewelry or to mark my body; the people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had are all stored in my heart, and when I start to forget, I always have my photographs. 
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Oddly enough the next day I was waiting to get on the train to go to my first Italian lunch at my friend’s family home and I was in a little market just looking at little souvenirs. Someone stopped me to ask me where I’m from as they often do, always guessing Irish (nope!). He asked if I would be back and why I was there and I took the time to talk. We shook hands and I started to go on my way. But then he called me back - “Hey Chicago!” I looked back and he ran to me and told me he had a little gift for me. “For you” He said, "I hope you know you are a limited edition.” I looked down at what he gave me….I finally got my little trinket… and then an orange juice, because it’s just amazing here! 
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