Tag Archives: Europe

Lemons to Limoncello: Ten final reflections

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  1. Almost five months might seem like a long time, but it is no time at all. Three months in Italy whizzed by, and there were major parts of the country we avoided all together. Still, we know how lucky we are to have had this amount of time.
  2. With time to reflect, most of all I wax lyrical about Jordan, and Puglia. Jordan for its unknown treasures as well as the rightly famous Petra, and for its friendly people. Puglia for the light, the most picturesque of seaside villages, and the seafood.
  3. We found it is possible to travel both comfortably and relatively cheaply.
  4. Renting apartments and houses gave us stability, space to relax between sightseeing excursions, and gave us an insight into real Italian life.
  5. Travelling off the beaten track – whether it’s to Qatar, in the hills of Molise in Italy, inland from the Dead Sea in Jordan, or in the lake district of Poland – brings unexpected rewards and is always worthwhile.
  6. Even supermarkets give insights into local culture, and provide both amusement and horror.
  7. There are a lot of myths about places and people that shouldn’t be believed.
  8. There is too much waste and litter in this world.
  9. When life gives you lemons, make limoncello.  It really is delicious.
  10. Travelling abroad for an extended period allows you to see with new eyes when you come home. Things, people, places we take for granted, appeared new and fresh on our return, and we were reminded how beautiful our own country is, and what gifts we have here. Maybe that’s the best gift of all?
Limoncello.  Salute!

Limoncello. Salute!

Ciao!