In Austria with Italians. Normal.

Naturally the first thing we did when we left Italy was find and an Italian ice cream shop and buy Italian gelatos. I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Best gelato of my life.

Being an American tourist with Italian tourists in Austria was a funny experience. A man at our hotel asked me if I studied at an English University, because my English is great! To be mistaken for an Italian was the highest compliment.

First we drove to Innsbruck. That’s where we got the gelatos. We saw the little golden roof, a famous spot in the city.

We also visited Salzburg, where The Sound of Music was filmed. We walked through beautiful gardens, saw the “duomo” cathedral, and gathered the family for pictures at every spot you’d imagine tourists would stop to take pictures. Everyone would crowd together in front of whatever picturesque corner was found and smile as the appointed photographer or selfie-taker said, “Cheeeese!!”
Yes, they really say cheese! Sometimes they would jokingly say, “Forrr-maa-giiiooo!”

My favorite part of Salzburg was the castle. The castle on top of the hill. Sound like a fairytale? It felt like one. We hiked up the steep cobblestone streets to the castle gate. Walking inside had me fantasizing all afternoon about queens and witches, knights in shining armor on horses, dragons and mermaids, potions and fairies. Regina (Queen) Emma and I aren’t all that different. The four-year-old inside me was also squealing with delight. But the history is real. Once upon a time, someone really did live in these stone walls. The castle has seen the rise and fall of generations, power, wars, and cultures. Now it is a sort of museum, telling a portion of its story to fascinated travelers like me.

Austria was gorgeous. Its castles, lakes, towns, and people. The German language and German food were a fun change of pace. But we were all happy to come home to Italy. There were audible sighs of relief as we pulled onto our street. You know the feeling of coming back after a journey. Home sweet home! I chuckled to myself, “Home sweet someone-else’s-home!” I guess you could say I came back to my Italian home with my Italian family.

I don’t like to “travel.” Airplanes bouncing through time zones like a skipping rock on the pond of blue sky makes my head hurt. I don’t care for going places, but the getting there I love. I love being in a place far far away, becoming familiar with the unfamiliar. Tasting and hearing, smelling and seeing things I’d never imagined possible. I love that. I yearn for it.

Seeing the world is a fresh taste I will always crave. There are still so many places to see and experience. My heart calls for India, Paraguay, Ireland, the Philippines, Egypt, Thailand, England, Chile, Jerusalem, New Zealand, Ecuador, Samoa, Vietnam. There are worlds within this beautiful world.
But there will always be that pull for home. The tension between coming and going. The tug that brings be back to my roots, back to the best snow on earth and red rocks, back to family, back to love… and to that hope I will find a love that makes me want to settle and build my own micro-culture in a place to call home. That is a place worth visiting and staying.

I am proud to be an American. I’m also proud to be a Utahn. I even feel pride for Southern Utah where the rocks are red. Because of my mission, y’all best believe I have Texas pride. The Faccioli family agrees that Italy is the best place on earth, and I think they are right. It is the best place because for this family, Nogaredo is home. Home is always the best.