When I was 13, there was a school holiday to Florence in Italy
It was a long way to go on a coach, but Florence is a wonderful place
As part of the holiday was a day trip to Rome
Again, another long trip on a coach
We took in Colosseum and the Vatican
The Vatican left two impressions on me
- It was vast, after all it is a country within a country
- The endless catacombs were creepy
I’ve been back to Rome since and Tuscany many times
(I’m a fan of Sienna)
But that first trip, at 13, planted a seed
It opened my eyes to the scale of history, the beauty of architecture, and how travel can shape your sense of wonder
It’s funny how some places stay with you, not just in photos or postcards, but in how they shift your perspective
I still think about those winding Tuscan roads, the golden hue of Siena’s buildings, and the (creepy) quiet echo of the Vatican’s halls
Travel like that, especially when you're young, becomes a part of your story
And I’m grateful that mine started with a coach ride through Italy
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