The Match of the Century

Motivation, reason, gut-feeling, desire, awe... how ever you want to categorize it something is pushing you to visit a certain place. It can change (and often does) with every adventure. The "why" that you can't quite put a word to also guides your trip itinerary because you are pulled towards different aspects of your destination. Identifying what's driving you to travel to a dot on the globe can help shape your trip so you get the most out of it.

If it is to see the stunning artwork; buy an ItaliaRail pass, all of the "skip the line" passes, and guided tours in every major city and museum throughout Italy.

If it is to fill your stomach with happiness and love; rent a car and a place in each of the Italian provinces, stay long enough to sample all of the local products.

If it is to simply be there; buy an ItaliaRail pass, see where your spontaneity urges you to get off.

I always prefer the countryside to a bustling city but knowing I was in the country where I can trace my family tree I was desperate to run to the farthest corners, explore every hillside, and sit in a house to learn about our history.

Italy has always meant something different to me than any other country in the world. Not because of the Nonna's making their sauces, or the many artistic masterpieces, but because I can say with pride that I am Italian. Now, I recognize that I never lived there, I don't speak the language (yet), and I have no actual roots there other than family stories. But of my geographical pie chart it is the biggest chunk, and it is the chunk that connects me to my family.

La famiglia

Holding onto their heritage and knowing where they came from is really important for my grandparents. They still try to connect with relatives when they go to Italy; to hear stories and to strengthen the family tree.

My Papa grows a tremendous garden full of fruits and vegetables because he watched his grandfather, Arcangelo, do it as a reminder of his home once he immigrated to America from Italy. He grew up at the foothills of the Dolomites.

My Mémé learned Italian because she grew up listening to her father speak it with relatives over the phone. She also makes the best homemade pasta sauces with only ingredients that come from their garden.

They have the classic immigrant story; the Mutti family and the Conz family came to America because they were poor farmers who couldn't feed their children much less give them an education. America was their ticket to a better life.

So why does that heartwarming story matter? It matters because that changed the way I traveled. My family was my motivation and the reason I was in Italy.

I was more than happy to explore and experience the architectural and artistic wonders that Italy offers as well as sample the food from every region we went. However, I was most happy when we were the only tourists and we were able to live like the locals. Being there for and with family I just wanted to experience their day-to-day lives; I wanted to dive into what my families' life would have been had they never left.

The culmination of the week was definitely a soccer game where we strategically split the family to make the teams as close in total age as possible. It took a lot of math skills (which I don't have) and people skills (some members were particular about who was on their team and who wasn't), BUT fear not, in the heat of the afternoon the Grinnell family faced off with our fearless captains full of competition.

Fun Fact: we had to teach them how to play ‘Rock, Paper, Scissors’ and this is photographic evidence of their first attempt

We set 15 minute halves while Mémé and Papa set the teams formations. Then with a warning to the teenagers about "friendly competition" the match began. Brothers chased each other around the field, parents yelled that they were open, and a grandmother waited... directly in front of her opponents goal... for the perfect pass... to score on her husband... who commentated on the game constantly.

Meme’s team

Papa’s team

When I visit Italy again my motivation will still be my family but instead of spending time with my immediate one, I want to hike the Dolomites and retrace the steps my great-great-grandfather once took every summer. I want to stay with distant relatives and cook with them and soak up all of the knowledge and stories they can possibly offer.

To my adventurers (and that's all of you because you go on an adventure almost everyday and if you need a reminder go read my last post)

Open those atlases, place your dot, find your motivation, and go for it.