24 May Poppi: The Town That Stole My Heart
As we rolled our suitcases through the tired sleepy little town, it felt as if the world could have shattered with the drop of a pin. The rain fell lazily on us as we ascended up the hill, and a few locals began peaking out the window at these tourists that have invaded their private little piece of heaven. While some around me talk of the cold, rain and how much they want to return to Florence, I begin to see the magic of this tired town begin to make an appearance. As we continued up the hill, by breath caught as I saw the castle perched on top. I traveled to many of the castles in England recently, but there was something so special about this one in particular that blew them all away. While it was small and simple It creeped through the mist silently and with immense power.
I new instantly at that moment that this was my place. The place that I would do everything in my power to return back too at some point in my future. The town is small, and the residents spoke almost no English but somehow I felt at home. I could see myself living in this beautiful place. I couldn’t even think straight when I reached the top of the hill and looked out at the valley below. As the clouds began to part and the sun broke through, I was in awe. I have been to the black sand beaches of Hawaii, lounged on the beaches of Dominican, skied the snowy mountains of Utah, travel to the national glaciers of Banff and even explored Windsor castle, but nothing has left me in shock like this view. I could spend days just staring at the mountains and valleys all around and I’m still not sure that would be enough time to capture its beauty.
I couldn’t help but take dozens of pictures of every little detail I saw of the castle, the town and the country side below. I needed to document everything I saw in order to remind myself someday in the future why I would need to return. Although it is disappointing that we will only be spending one night in this quaint little town, it will be that one place in Italy that has truly captured a piece of my heart. A piece that one day I will have to return and claim again, just so it can be lost to the town once more.
