Rodolfo's Journal

Rodolfo had always wanted to keep a journal, but he never found the time or the motivation to do so. He was too busy with his work as a lawyer, his family, and his hobbies. He enjoyed reading, playing chess, and collecting antiques. He had a comfortable and successful life, but he felt something was missing.

That's why he was pleasantly surprised when his wife Wilhelmina gave him a Montblanc pen for their 20th anniversary. She knew he loved writing and she wanted him to express himself more. She also gave him a leather-bound notebook with blank pages. She said it was his journal and he could write whatever he wanted in it.

Rodolfo was touched by her gesture and thanked her with a kiss. He decided to start writing that night, after they had celebrated their anniversary with a romantic dinner at their favorite restaurant. He went to their bedroom and sat at the desk by the window. He opened the notebook and uncapped the pen. He felt the smoothness of the paper and the weight of the pen in his hand. He wrote the date on the top of the page: March 26th, 1990.

He paused for a moment, wondering what to write. 

We bought our house 10 years ago. It is a big Victorian house with four bedrooms, three bathrooms, a living room, a dining room, a kitchen, an office, a basement, and an attic. It has a beautiful garden with roses and tulips. We also have a dog named Max and a cat named Luna.

We love traveling and we have visited many places in Europe. We have been to France, Italy, Spain, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, England, Ireland, Scotland, and Greece. We enjoy learning about different cultures and histories. We also like trying new foods and wines.

We are happy and we love each other very much.

Rodolfo looked at what he had written and smiled. He felt proud of his life and his family.

He wondered what else he could write about. He decided to write about some of his memories from their travels.

Rodolfo loved traveling with his family. He felt it was a way to bond with them and to enrich their minds and souls. He had many fond memories from their trips to Europe. He decided to write about some of them in his journal.

He wrote:

One of our most memorable trips was to France. We went there for two weeks in the summer of 1975. We visited Paris, Versailles, Normandy, and Provence. We saw the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Notre Dame, the Arc de Triomphe, and the Champs-Élysées. We also toured the Palace of Versailles and its gardens. We were amazed by the beauty and the history of these places.

We also went to Normandy and visited the D-Day beaches and the American Cemetery. We paid our respects to the soldiers who fought and died there. We learned about the courage and the sacrifice of those who liberated Europe from Nazi tyranny. We felt humbled and grateful.

We also enjoyed the countryside of Provence. We stayed in a charming bed and breakfast in a small village. We explored the lavender fields, the vineyards, the markets, and the medieval towns. We tasted delicious cheeses, breads, pastries, and wines. We relaxed and soaked in the sun.

One of the highlights of our trip was when we celebrated Sofia's 18th birthday in Paris. We took her to a fancy restaurant near the Eiffel Tower. We had a wonderful meal and a cake with candles. We sang happy birthday to her and gave her a necklace with a pendant of the Eiffel Tower. She was so happy and touched. She said it was the best birthday ever.

We had a great time in France. It was one of our favorite destinations.

Rodolfo had a special connection with Italy. His grandparents were Italian immigrants who came to America in the 1950s. They taught him some Italian words and phrases, and shared stories and recipes from their homeland. Rodolfo always wanted to visit Italy and see where his roots came from.

He finally got the chance to do so in the spring of 1985. He and his family went to Italy for three weeks. They visited Rome, Florence, Venice, Naples, and Sicily. They saw the Colosseum, the Vatican, the Trevi Fountain, and the Pantheon. They also visited the Uffizi Gallery, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio, and the Piazza della Signoria. They also took a gondola ride in Venice and saw the Grand Canal, the Rialto Bridge, and the St. Mark's Square. They also explored the ruins of Pompeii and the Mount Vesuvius. They also enjoyed the beaches and the food of Sicily.

They had a wonderful time in Italy. They learned a lot about the art, the culture, and the history of this country. They also experienced the warmth and the hospitality of the Italian people. They felt at home in Italy.

One of the most emotional moments of their trip was when they visited Rodolfo's grandparents' hometown in Sicily. They met some of their distant relatives who still lived there. They welcomed them with open arms and invited them to their house for lunch. They had a feast of pasta, pizza, salad, cheese, bread, wine, and cannoli. They talked and laughed for hours. They exchanged stories and photos of their families. They felt a bond of blood and love.

Rodolfo was moved by this encounter. He felt he had found a part of himself that he had never known before. He thanked his relatives for their kindness and generosity. He promised to keep in touch with them and to visit them again.

He wrote in his journal:

I am so glad I came to Italy. It was a dream come true for me. I feel closer to my grandparents and to my heritage. I feel proud to be Italian-American.

Rodolfo closed his journal and put down his pen. He looked at his watch and realized it was late. He decided to go to bed and continue writing tomorrow.

Rodolfo and his family loved England. They went there for a week in the winter of 2020. They visited London, Oxford, Bath, and Stonehenge. They saw the Big Ben, the Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, and the London Eye. They also visited the British Museum, the National Gallery, and the Westminster Abbey. They also took a day trip to Oxford and saw the university and its colleges. They also visited Bath and saw the Roman baths and the Jane Austen Centre. They also stopped by Stonehenge and marveled at the ancient stones.

They had a lot of fun in England. They enjoyed the sights, the sounds, and the tastes of this country. They liked riding the double-decker buses, taking the tube, and hailing the black cabs. They also liked eating fish and chips, scones with jam and cream, and pies with mash. They also drank tea, ale, and cider.

One of the highlights of their trip was when they watched a play at the Globe Theatre. They saw a performance of Macbeth by William Shakespeare. They were impressed by the actors, the costumes, and the stage. They felt they had traveled back in time to the Elizabethan era.

They also had a chance to meet some famous people in England. They met David Beckham at a soccer game. He was very friendly and signed autographs for them. They also met Emma Watson at a bookstore. She was very sweet and took selfies with them. They also met Benedict Cumberbatch at a coffee shop. He was very charming and chatted with them.

They were starstruck by these encounters. They felt lucky and honored to meet these celebrities.

They wrote in their journal:

We had a blast in England. It was a magical and memorable trip for us. We loved everything about this country.