The Serendipity of Traveling Solo – Or, Why There is No “of course!” in the Italian Language

I won’t gloss it over for you. I will not profess to “love traveling alone” because, at times, frankly, it gets kind of lonesome.  But I will proclaim emphatically that some of my most cherished travel moments have come from doing just that: venturing out on my own.

Felix the heroic city worker in Italica, Spain

“A journey is like marriage. The certain way to be wrong is to think you control it.“ John Steinbeck

In Spain there was the utility worker who, having no one else to share his discovery with, beckoned me over. He beamed as he proudly showed me the birds’ nest with precious blue eggs he had moved from the lamppost he was repairing and into a nearby tree. His name was Felix and he charitably let me practice my “limitado” Spanish with him for half an hour.

The rescued family, safely "nestled" in a tree

An entirely different experience infused my travel memories when two refined and elegantly coiffed Spanish ladies joined in an earnest discussion I was having with the camarero at a tapas bar over the merits of certain slang and cuss words. I learned some choice phrases and insults in Spanish and how so much of the meaning is contained in tone. One can say the same sentence and either spew hatred and disdain or playful affection for a friend. I told them I would safely refrain from putting into play any of their colorful insults/endearments!

The crazy camareros at my favorite bodega in Sevilla (didn't get the elegant ladies)

“One travels more usefully when alone,because he reflects more.” ~ Thomas Jefferson

And then there were the Aussies! I hooked up with them in Seville and they dragged me bar hopping.  Not for sangria or beer, mind you…but for the bold downing of shots of hot, spicy snail juice.  Now I’m fairly certain the Spaniards have a more delicate and appetizing term for the concoction derived from the remainders of all of the tapas servings of caracoles (small snails, or escargot) but I was too inebriated to make note of it. Oh yes, I had been imbibing.  You think I could partake in this crazy ritual without some liquid audacity?  The natural rowdiness of the Aussies helped a bit, too.

Spicy snail juice in Sevilla, Spain - sweet! (not!)

But the most recent, and quite enlightening was when I was enjoying flamenco, of all things, in Venice, Italy. Yes, leave it to me to stumble upon a live performance of one of my favorite dance forms in Italy, rather than in Spain.  I’m certain it was part of the artistic celebration of La Biennale, a celebration of modern art held every two years in this gloriously artful city.

While gawking at the talented performers, I began conversing with two Italian gentlemen at the neighboring table.  Later, whilst composing a tweet, (I know – how very rude!) I wanted to know the Italian translation for the phrase, “of course”. They both shook their heads and said there was not one. I was in disbelief. I said, surely of all languages, the Italian language with all of its effusive verbal swagger, would include many ways of saying “of course”. In Spanish it’s “claro que si”, in French; “bien sur!” I offered, aghast at this glaring linguistic ommission.

Colorful and lively flamenco dancers in Venice, Italy

I will forever remember their illustration of why it is not necessary to have this phraseology in Italian. They gave the example that if you were to observe that, “Venice is beautiful” the proper reply would be “Yes. “ and a shrug… “We know” It must be nice to live in a country where the language reflects the residents’ cool confidence that they live in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” Miriam Beard

Of course (see? It’s so useful a phrase!) they do have “naturalmente” , or naturally, but it does seem to imply a shrug as well.  It’s hard to doubt their assertion of the certainty of the beauty of Venice, as evidenced below…

Beautiful? "of course!"

I have other tales of traveling alone and the serendipitous discoveries to be uncovered by venturing out and being vulnerable, yet open. But they aren’t for here. Did I succeed in piquing your interest? I’ll leave you wondering if I’m glossing over.

For more enchanting Venice, read Venice: A Thing of Beauty – Then and Now

For more Spain bar-hopping, read Spain-i-licious Serendipity: Bar Hopping in Barcelona

All photos by Gina Stark except where she’s in them!