I wrote this on Sunday, May 31, 2026 in my big notebook that I carried with me to Italy. I did a little writing and drawing in that book to capture pieces of my life on my vacation:
“Most things are closed today, but after a very good day hiking up and down a million steps, my tired feet are happy to just have a quiet morning in this local park.
It’s a dog park, but relatively clean. I can smell cats more than anything else. It’s quieter here, I can actually hear the breeze through the trees.
I am reassured also, because there is a guard walking around - that’s one of the reasons I came here, now that I’m a solo traveller.
I just finished drawing a window that I see - quite badly, LOL! But I am happy with just the process of doing it.
I keep getting the sun on top of my head! Trying to stay out of it a little. My bird app found 2 birds - I haven’t heard that many here, even at the ungodly hour of 5:30. Only motorcycles tearing up the street! It seems I can’t escape my early rise, even on holiday.”
This was certainly not a mind blowing piece of my writing. And I’m certainly not an artist!
It was very hot that day. Naples is another very busy Italian city and I was just looking for someplace quiet. As the morning progressed, I wasn’t the only one there. A young guy was reading a book. Some other men were strolling around. A few young women brought their dogs through for a walk.
When lunch time came, my stomach reminded me and I began to pack up my things. A group of women gathered in the cool space there under the fig tree near me. One had a bag with some fruit in it. Another brought out some Pirri beers and passed them around. They rinsed their fruit in the water spout beside the tree. They sat in the shade and passed around bread and cheese and fruit and drank their beers. It seemed that they had all just come from church and were having some friends/sisters time before heading home to households and husbands.
I stayed there for a little while longer, watching these women laugh and connect, just like my friends and I do. It was so comforting to know that even half way around the world, we are all the same. Sunday in Italy or Sunday in Canada.
Until next time, I hope you find time to slow down and stay awhile.
Shawna