We left Sydney 58 weeks ago on 10 December 2018 to head to Siena in Tuscany for a year of adventure, excitement, relaxation and change.
As we are in our final days of this extraordinary adventure I am reflecting on all the year has offered us and how we took hold of every opportunity that came our way.
So where have we been on this journey??? in Italy alone we have been to 58 cities and loved each and every one of them. We have been to 13 countries in Europe - Italy, England, Greece, Croatia, Denmark, Norway, France, Switzerland, Netherlands, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic & Hungry. We also travelled to Israel and Vietnam.
I had very high hopes for this crazy dream of mine I have been talking about for many years, and when the opportunity arose for us to actually pack up our lives in Sydney for a year and live in Europe, I didn’t think twice. The year has proved more epic than I could have ever imagined and while nothing is ever 100% amazing all the time and we had some set backs along the way, we’ve had some phenomenally good times this year.
Just a few of the MANY highlights that come to mind from the last year are:
Italian Xmas 2018 with friends old and new near Lake Como Italy
The Xmas markets and Husky Sled rides in The Dolomites
learning to Ski for the first time ever, which happened to be in the Italian Alps
Glamping on Elba Island, a gorgeous Island off the coast of Tuscany
A weekend in Rome & Siena with very special friends from the UK
Sunset Donkey rides in Sicily at Mount Etna Volcano
Outdoor yoga class followed by a pasta masterclass and 5 course lunch with wines at Le Tolfe in Tuscany
A magical day on a private boat with lunch and swimming until sunset in Positano, Amalfi Coast
Easter in London & Manchester with friends showing the kids what London has to offer including high tea, seeing Matilda The Musical, Harry Potter World and so much more
Quad biking and riding inflatables on the Greek Islands and the beaches of Greece
Renting scooters and bikes all over Athens, Copenhagen, Paris, Amsterdam, Switzerland & Israel. Amazing way to get around for adults and kids!
A week on a catamaran sailing around the Islands of Croatia
Kayaking wilderness camping adventure on the Fjords and spending time the the small towns of Norway
The sights of Paris including Eiffel Tower, Louvre, Arc de Triumph and the Parisian bistros
Bike riding the Swiss Alps, eating fondue and chocolate making in one of Switzerlands oldest chocolate factories
Camel riding in the Israeli desert, star gazing and jeep riding in the Negev, Tel Aviv food and market scene, experiencing the magic of Jerusalem
Hiring a boat to cruise the canals of Amsterdam, bike riding around Vondelpark in the traditional Dutch bikes with carriages.
Heading to Venice despite the floods to support the city, with gumboots and all!
Spending Xmas in stunning Slovenia.
New Years Eve with new friends in Salzburg, lighting our own fireworks and having traditional raclette for dinner.
Those that know me well know that I really had NO hobbies in the previous years as family, friends and the business was all I had time for over the last decade. However some of the hobbies I discovered this year:
Reading - I’ve read so many books, fiction and non-fiction this year and am loving this escape on my kindle
Puzzles - I find it very meditative to do a large puzzle, walk past, spend an hour or so sorting pieces and then a sense of accomplishment when a piece or two fit
Knitting - so I knitted a scarf over winter, and it’s not my best work but I enjoyed it. My kids call it a Thnead (for those of you who have seen The Lorax)
Bike Riding - I’ve tried to ride around Tuscany as much as I can, up and down hills, sometimes on an ebike depending o the hills but it’s my favourite way to get around
Wondering around Tuscan towns - lots and lots of wondering medieval villages and towns and just taking it all in. At least twice a week with the kids at school until 5pm, Ben and I would do day trips to various cities within 2 hours to see and experience as much as we could of Italy.
Hanging out at Hot Springs all over Tuscany including Rapolano terme, San Giovanni, Saturnia and so many more.
Drinking coffee - for the first time in my life I actually enjoy drinking coffee (still only decaf) but love the experience and feel part of the Italian culture.
Food - from pastries for breakfast to more tuscan meat and cheese platters than I thought humanly possible, the food has been such a highlight. We’ve had local chianti wine with most lunches and dinners this year, and an aperol spritz almost daily. Pizza, Pasta and Gelato have been staples most days and more local foods such an pistachio spread/pesto, taralli, pecorino cheeses, sfogliatta, cantucci, ricciarelli, vin santo, some of the best local olive oils in the world and so much more have all been products I am looking into importing into Australia.
I planned to take the year off from working and have mostly managed to do that but have also had a few opportunities -
Speaking at conferences in Italy, Amsterdam & Austria
Working with the Mayor and a talented group of people on an environmental project for the city of Siena with Be An Icon, and I will stay on as an advisor for this project over the following year
Connecting with a brilliant group of expat women entrepreneurs and forming a support circle for each other with monthly meetings, and I plan to stay in touch will all of these women doing amazing things (if they will have me!)
What I aim to bring back to Australia with me from Italy is the slower pace of life. I love the Italian lifestyle and way of living and its taken me most of the year to slow down. There is not the obsession with devices we have in Australia and most people in cafes are having a coffee, talking to one another, not checking their phones or laptops but just sitting, people watching, chatting to others nearby and never in a hurry. Italians seem to be better at fitting less into every day than in other parts of the world and while at first I could not adapt and would try and make meetings and coffees scheduled 9am, 1030am, 12 noon etc. I soon realised a 9am coffee meeting (social or business) can be 2-3 hours and no one has other meetings planned later that day so there is no feeling of running around and constantly being late trying to catch up.
I’ve loved spending SO much time with Ben and my girls this year and soaking up a year in the kids lives at this age, creating memories and living our dreams. We’ve really connected as a family and the girls have connected with each other in their own way, not knowing anyone else when we first arrived. Seeing this year through their eyes, the exposure to the various cultures, the resilience required to walk into a new school in a new country and make life long friends with kids from all over the world. The girls have all liked different countries, cities and places we’ve been and also been involved in choosing where we go and what we do on our travels. I can’t wait to see how or if this year impacts their lives moving forward and what the next years bring for them all.
We have already talked about another opportunity to head overseas for a year which could be in 6 years when Hayley & Polly are finished school and Audrey will be heading to high school, but who knows what will happen between now and then. I do love to dream and think big and plan for the future so this will keep me going until next time.
While we head back home with a dwindling bank account but so many memories and experiences I have no regrets and would do it all over again if or when I have the next opportunity. Without knowing what tomorrow brings, this experience has been so extraordinary!!!
2020 will be a year of settling back into life in Australia, new opportunities, and getting grounded for the next stage of my journey. I’ll also be ticking off one of my bucket list items towards the end of 2020 and cannot wait!
We arrive back in Sydney tomorrow, so it’s over and out for me on the Siena for Five blog…it’s been a blast and thanks for following along on our journey.
Some of my favourite photo moments below.
Leaving Sydney 10 December 2018
First snow for the girls, Dolomites Xmas 2018
Getting used to our snow gear and staying warm, Italian Dolomites Xmas Markets 2018
First and last day at International School of Siena
Amazing experiencing attending Palio in Siena and rooting for Contrada Aquila.
A week in Positano to start our nine week summer trip. Nothing like the Amalfi Coast in Summer.
Cruising for a week the Croatian Islands, we loved the whole experience!
MANY hours of work for International Day at school - chocolate crackles, lamingtons and homemade tim-tams (SO hard to do…never again!)
The inspiration for my tattoo was this poppy field next to our house we’d pass every day.
Beach days in Cefalu Sicily.
Audrey is pretty used to a deck chair, umbrella and drinks while at the beach now…
Quad biking in Greece was a highlight of the Summer trip
Trampolining in Copenhagen - the most child-friendly city in Europe (they are built in to the pavements)
Polly is her happy place in Copenhagen…with the animals :-)
Norway Fjord wilderness adventure…still can’t believe I survived this one! What a week that was.
Pool fun in the Israeli desert.
Bike riding in Amsterdam like a local.
Bike riding with Hayz in stunning Norway.
Getting my tobogganing on just outside Salzberg…had the best fun!
Snow day in Slovenia with schnitzels, gluwein and hot chocolate breaks.
On the lake in -3 degrees in Slovenia Xmas Eve.
Everywhere we explored (countries in red and cities in yellow)