There are some trips you take because you need a vacation. And then there are the trips you take because you deserve la dolce vita. I started my Italian adventure in Rome, where I met up with some of my favorite girlfriends for a few glorious days of eating, exploring, laughing, and generally reminding ourselves that life is meant to be enjoyed beautifully.
And if you're going to do Rome, you might as well do it properly. I stayed in a positively palatial apartment complete with marble floors, carved marble sinks, enough gold leaf to satisfy even my decadent tastes, and exquisite glass chandeliers in every room and hallway. Waking up in a place that belongs to another century, hearing the relaxing sound of the fountain in the square right outside of my window, and being surrounded by endless beauty and craftsmanship was a delicious treat for my senses.
Rome itself was everything I wanted it to be: dramatic, beautiful, ancient, chaotic, and endlessly delicious. We wandered through the city with no particular desire to hurry. We explored gorgeous parks and gardens, stopped to admire breathtaking views, wandered through streets that seemed designed specifically for leisurely afternoons, and took in as many of the famous sights as our feet would allow.
Of course, sightseeing requires fuel, a responsibility we took seriously as one does in Italy: meal after meal of pasta, pizza, cheese, wine, and of course gelato. I’m pretty sure gelato is my kryptonite (much like I am kryptonite for so many of my subs). I really appreciate the Italian adherence to traditional food quality and preparation. Italy has a way of making you forget that you've ever heard the phrase “I'm too full”. No body does it quite like them. And really, when in Rome… eat all the gelato. Honestly, I embraced the assignment.
The Roman summer heat, however, eventually demanded a change of plans. One particularly scorching day, we abandoned our sightseeing itinerary in favor of something much more civilized: a hotel pool. There are few things better than spending a hot afternoon lounging poolside with good friends, cold drinks, sunshine, and absolutely nowhere you need to be. The luxury of allowing the day to unfold in a beautiful setting with absolutely nothing to do but enjoy is one I often indulge in.
Eventually, we said goodbye to Rome and climbed into the car for the drive toward Lanciano. The change of scenery was wonderful. The city gradually gave way to rolling countryside, little towns, green hills, and endless olive groves and grape vineyards. No trip to Italy is complete without some time in the gorgeous countryside, especially if it includes time by the sea.
Lanciano offered exactly the kind of slower, indulgent pace we were looking for after Rome. Days became about sunshine, sea air, beautiful views, leisurely meals, and simply enjoying where we were. Of course we ate incredibly well, because apparently I have no ability whatsoever to visit Italy without turning every day into a culinary event. One of the dishes in particular was a stand-out for me: a simple spaghetti al pomodoro. When you have the freshest, best-tasting ingredients, you really don’t need much to make an amazing meal (but seriously tomatoes actually taste like tomatoes in Italy). Fresh pasta, seafood, pizza, local wines… every meal seemed to provide another reason to sit down, linger, and order one more thing. Life is short. Eat the pasta. Order the dessert. Have another gelato. Take the scenic route. Stay somewhere beautiful. Wear the outfit. Open the bottle of wine. Book the session. Enjoy yourself!
One of the days we took a sunset boat tour that was simply divine. Stopping to swim in the Adriatic, viewing a radiant sunset, and enjoying a glass of Prosecco with dear friends was the perfect end to our time in Lanciano.
I spend plenty of time being the woman who knows exactly what she wants. The woman in control. The woman who expects things done properly. And perhaps that's why I appreciate luxury so much: when I choose to indulge, I want to indulge completely. Italy was a beautiful reminder that pleasure doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it's marble beneath your bare feet in a magnificent Roman apartment. Sometimes it's the perfect scoop of pistachio gelato melting in the summer heat. Sometimes it’s the smell of my armpits after a particularly hot and sweaty day. And sometimes it's simply being with your girlfriends, laughing until your stomach hurts, and realizing that you're exactly where you're supposed to be.
Rome gave me grandeur. Lanciano gave me tranquility. Italy gave me la dolce vita, with plenty of pasta, pizza, gelato, sunshine, and beautiful scenery along the way. And naturally, I've come home with a renewed appreciation for life's finer things and more energy to devote to my fabulous life in NYC. I’m excited to be settled back home, for the cooler weather, deepening my connections to my subs, and forging new connections with those brave enough to reach out. If you’ve been thinking of getting on my calendar, now is the perfect time to reach out. Let’s have some kinky fun this Fall: inquire via my contact form.
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