I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude as I realize I was lucky enough to visit Italy in all its glory two summers ago. The truth is, it will never be the same. COVID-19 is changing the world as we know it, day by day, minute by minute.
What if the man who owned the restaurant in Rome and made Fettuccini Alfredo just for us after explaining it isn’t actually Italian doesn’t survive?
What if the “hot shot” Italian man who photo bombed my photo doesn’t survive?
What if the waiter who served us chilled white wine, rosé, prosecco, muscles, octopus and the most delicious seafood pasta every single night on the Amalfi Coast doesn’t survive?
What if his sweet mother who gave us a ride in her teeny tiny car, stuffed full of newspapers, when she picked her son up from his shift, doesn’t survive?
What if the sweet Italian man who taught us to make pizza in his beloved wood fired oven as he poured us one shot of Limoncello after the next doesn’t survive?
What if the vibrant woman at the bed and breakfast in Tuscany doesn’t survive?
What if the family who owned our most favorite spot in Florence doesn’t survive?
What if they are forced to permanently close their restaurant, Brandolino?
Florence would never be the same.
Italy would never be the same.
It hurts my heart to think of such a thing.
It hurts my heart to know that everyone who visits Italy post COVID-19 won’t experience the magical place that I did in July of 2018.
Share your favorite place you’ve traveled to in the comments!
Hannah Rene Brown 