Every day of my Italian summer adventure, I journaled. Sometimes I put my thoughts into words at night before the memories from the day faded away; other times I typed away at an outdoor cafe with an early morning cappuccino in front of me. Several times, I wrote on trains and, one time, unsuccessfully on a bus. I documented my triumphs and follies, my experiences and my interactions. I recalled the copious amount of historical information that I learned, and jotted it down before it escaped my mind. I made notes about tips and lessons that might assist me on my next Italian holiday, or that would be useful to friends or family in their own travels. The result of my writing is this book. Or is it a journal? A manual? I really don’t know, but here it is. I had reservations about releasing it into the world, when originally it was intended to be a keepsake just for me. It was reinforced throughout my journey that a risk sometimes pays off and sometimes it doesn’t; the only way you can find out is if you take one. It is with sincere humility that I thank you for taking the time to read my thoughts, and about a part of my life that I’ll never forget. I hope you will discover something useful or interesting to you.  

Why did I choose the title Sola, But Not Alone? Throughout my journey, I was often regarded as ‘sola’ by waiters, museum attendants, hotel managers, tour guides, taxi drivers, and even strangers. Despite this label, I rarely felt all alone. Sure, there were times when I lived in my head for too long and grew weary of my own internal dialogue. However, I met and had interactions with many interesting and wonderful people who enhanced my experience in countless ways. My memories of some of them will vanish easily with time, but others will live on as long as I do. I had planned on living sola for two months, and technically I did, but thankfully I was never truly alone.