Mini-Retirement 2025 (Week 1)

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I'll admit something I'm not exactly proud of: despite living in Europe for two years and spending extended time in Europe on four separate occasions since 2018, this is my first time in Italy.

I've been in Italy for just over a week now.

In just a week, I've already traveled to three different destinations.

I landed in Milan, made my way to Como, and I'm currently settling into Bologna, where I'll be spending the next month.

I've discovered a new destination that I absolutely love. I've had one of my favorite life experiences (an unexpected one, at that). And I'm excited to see what Bologna has in store as I take the time to slow down and explore.

Milan

I'll be honest, I didn't know what to expect.

I've heard more negative comments about Milan than positive ones.

But I ended up loving Milan.

The people were incredibly friendly and welcoming.

The city had an energy that made me want to see more of it.

And every bar or café I stepped into?

They served snacks with drinks.

That might seem small, but it added a layer of hospitality that stuck with me.

Granted, I was only there for three days (and it was the first city I landed in), but Milan left a mark.

It's a place I want to return to and explore more deeply.

Como

If I had expectations for Como, they were low.

I was bracing for a tourist-packed town where it would be hard to move, let alone enjoy the moment.

Yes, there were tourists.

But it wasn't nearly as crowded or chaotic as I feared.

And I had one of my favorite life experiences.

On our second morning, we took the funicular to the top of the mountain.

Most people went straight to the restaurants near the funicular station.

But we decided to wander a bit further.

And that's when we stumbled upon it: a tucked-away restaurant with panoramic views of the lake and mountains.

No crowds.

Just quiet, beauty, and great food.

We didn't plan it.

We just found it.

And it reminded me of a simple truth: the best moments are often the ones you don't plan for.

Bologna

We arrived in Bologna this past Saturday, and we're still getting our bearings.

But I can already tell this city will grow on me.

We're staying in an Airbnb with a balcony overlooking the rooftops and the pace of life here feels slower, more deliberate.

The day after we arrived, I was worn out. I needed a full day of rest. So I did nothing.

And I don't feel guilty about it.

That's the beauty of slow travel.

You get to live, not just check boxes.

I'll never understand why people visit Europe and try to cram 6 to 8 cities into 10 or 14 days.

That's not travel. That's a checklist. And you miss so much when you're constantly on the move.

What's the point of all this?

The point is to remind you that some of the best experiences in life aren't the ones you plan.

They're the ones you stumble into when you give yourself time and space to not plan every moment.

To not visit multiple cities over multiple days.

So many people treat travel as a to-do list.

They chase the landmarks, the reviews, the itineraries.

But real transformation happens when you give yourself permission to slow down.

When you give yourself permission to visit and stay in one city.

It happens when you turn left instead of right.

When you sit at the same café twice.

When you rest instead of rush.

This kind of travel (intentional, unhurried, open to discovery) isn't just a better way to see the world.

It's a better way to experience life.

Final Thought

If there's one thing I've learned so far on this trip, it's this:

Don't race through life (or cities).

Slow down.

Stay an extra day. Wander a little further. Leave room in your schedule for surprises.

Because that's where the magic is.

Quote that caught my attention:

“In America, one must be something, but in Italy one can simply be.”

—Pietros Maneos

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