A Weekend Into the Wild

October 21, 2023- October 22, 2o23

This was the most unforgettable experience of my life! A while ago I was given the opportunity to spend a weekend in College Verrico on a small Italian farm called La Casa Rosa with the sweetest family that was kind enough to open their doors for us.

On my first day of the trip our group was welcomed with fresh breakfast that the family had pit together from ingredients from their farm. We had fresh juice, jam, and pastries That was enough to feed way more people than we needed it to. Afterwards, we all ride on the back of a tractor as the family took us to their chestnut tree farm that they have been growing for decades in their family. We learned how to forage for chestnuts and collected enough to bring back home to roast them and make our own fresh jam. We hiked along streams, ancient trees, and eroded pathways that slowly lead us back to their home where we made pizza from scratch for our dinner. The dinner making process was one of my ultimate favorite parts of the trip because everyone was gathered together singing and playing instruments the whole time. Of course the dinner was delicious, how could it not be? Once the sun set, I began walking around the dimly lit little town of Colle Verrico. Upon climbing a hill at the end of the street and looking upward at the sky I could see the entire Milky Way galaxy. Wow. I was simply awestruck and so thankful in that moment for where I was.

The next morning we prepared for our hike into the mountains. It was a long hike, but it consisted of rock climbing, friendly conversations, and a cold plunge into a pond that lied underneath a beautifully flowing waterfall. The views from this hike were magical. We were literally walking among the clouds for the entirety of the day. When we arrived back to the farm we began making crepes from scratch. These were the best crepes I’ve ever had in my life, and eventually I was placed in charge of making the crepes for everyone which I gladly did throughout the night.

When it was time to leave no one wanted to. This experience was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I would’ve regretted not doing. Every person, place, and thing on this trip seemed so special to me, and I hope that one day I will be able to find my way back to this tiny town of 15 people that allowed me to call it home for the weekend.

Check out my YouTube video to see more about the beautiful experience I had on this trip!