Picture Yourself Here: Summer 2023 Community Trip to Italy & Switzerland
Florence, Lucerne, Venice, Rome, photos courtesy of Canva
When you travel abroad, your soul stirs. Surrounding yourself with people, places and things that are completely new to you somehow leaves you with an undeniable connection to the world around you.
On July 10, 2023, retired world language instructor Lisa Wells will embark on her seventh trip abroad in partnership with an American-based travel company, Passports. The ten-day, two-country tour includes airfare, hotel accommodations, breakfasts and dinners, transportation, excursions and more, all for under $5,000.
“I love planning trips through Passports because I want to see as much of the world as possible, but I don’t have the skillset to plan a trip like this on my own,” Lisa remarked. “The fact that somebody else has planned it, made all of the reservations, and the price is reasonable makes it so we can just enjoy it!”
The trip is open to anyone in the community, a first for Lisa as her previous journeys have consisted of bringing high school students abroad. “I’m really looking forward to traveling with adults. Maybe there are people who have never traveled before and don’t even know where to start, this trip is perfect for that. It takes all the hassle out of planning, and you can truly enjoy your time,” she said.
All you have to do is picture yourself here:
Rome, photo courtesy of Canva
After flying out of Albany, making your connecting flights and swooping down over the Alps, you will arrive in Rome! Over the next two days, you’ll experience ancient history up close and personal, making a wish in the Trevi Fountain, walking in the footsteps of ancient Romans as you enter the Colosseum, standing in awe as you take in the masterpieces held in the Vatican Museums.
On the fourth day, you will board a coach, taking you north to Assisi, where a local guide will educate you on the city’s history and culture, bringing you to the Basilica of St. Francis. Then, you will travel up and over the rolling hills of Tuscany to Florence, the “Jewel of the Renaissance.”
Florence, photo courtesy of Canva
It is here where you will immerse yourself in the works of Michaelangelo, get acquainted with the Medici family, marvel at the Duomo, one of the largest cathedrals in the Christian faith, and explore the rich culture this beautiful city has to offer.
After saying goodbye to Florence, your coach takes you to Venice, the “Pearl of the Adriatic.” There, you will board a water bus to the greatest square in the West, Piazza San Marco, where you will enjoy a walking tour before exploring the city on your own, visiting the quintessential shops, gelato parlors and the natural beauty that surrounds you.
Venice, photo courtesy of Canva
For the final stop on your European vacation, you will travel through the Po Valley and the wine country of northern Italy to Italy’s lake district. After traveling across the Alps by way of a tunnel, you will arrive in the heart of Switzerland - the peaceful lakeside city of Lucerne.
Lucerne, photo courtesy of Canva
After settling into your last hotel room, you will spend the next day and a half exploring the serenity Lucerne has to offer, including an ascent to the summit of Mt. Pilatus via a cable car and an hour-long lake cruise across the “Lake of the Four Forest Cantons,” from Alpnachstad to Lucerne. The trip concludes with a fondue dinner and folklore performance at the Stadtkeller, complete with brightly colored skirts, yodeling, and ten-foot mountain horns!
As you board your flight back to the states in Zurich, you won’t be able to stop smiling. For ten days, you filled your soul with heartwarming experiences, created lifelong memories and strengthened your connections with the people you traveled with.
While traveling is great for expanding your worldview, seeing new sights and learning about other cultures, when you return home, you’ll notice another positive from your journey: the complete and utter love and appreciation you’ll feel for your home.
Long Lake, NY, Adirondack Park, photo courtesy of Canva
There’s something about returning from a different country that allows you to truly appreciate the beauty surrounding you on a daily basis. The warm embrace of a loved one, the wag of your pet’s tail, or the perfect comfort that only your bed can provide. That’s why traveling is good for your soul.
If any of this sounds intriguing to you, if you picture yourself on this spectacular adventure, please join our Bel Viaggio Facebook group, email Lisa Wells directly at lisa.a.h.wells@gmail.com or like the March First Media Facebook page for more details and up-to-date information on this bucket filling journey.
Bel Viaggio!
