The Italian Road Trip that Changed Everything (especially my thighs)

See those smiles? Those are the smiles of three people who stuffed their faces with the biggest platter of food known to man.

I could practically feel my thighs expanding as I ate it!

Last week, I reluctantly closed the laptop and took a week off the writing. Turns out, I really needed it.

The boyf and I drove aaaaaaall the way from Utrecht in the Netherlands to Ancona, Italy. A 15-hour car ride no less, for a friend's wedding. Lots of our friends came together to attend, as it was planned for over a year. They mostly chose the more sensible option of transport however, and flew there.

But what is life if you're not a little silly every now and then?

We broke the trip up obviously. And we stopped in a lot of cute places for yummy food. Who doesn't plan trips around what food they're going to eat? It's basically all I do — discover where I'm going, then Google every restaurant in the vicinity until I have a top 10.

The boyf surprised me with the pizza place, though. Tell me this isn't the most delicious frickin' pizza you've ever seen?

I mean....

We stopped in Verona too, which is somewhere I've always wanted to see, no thanks to being obsessed with Romeo and Juliet as a teenager.

Verona was gorgeous, although I didn't manage to see "the balcony." It was hidden in a small closed-off courtyard, and by the time I got there the queue was bigger than the entire works of Shakespeare. It was sadly a case of "shame, but I think I'll just look it up on YouTube later."

A sunset walk was particularly spectacular though. Here is one touristy moment of mine that I don't regret.

Look at that sky!

We tried for a spot in a coveted restaurant overlooking the river, but we weren't too successful with that either, thanks to there being only three or four tables there. 

We enjoyed watching other diners enjoying it instead, before heading up on the funicular for sweeping city views and an overpriced vino blanco.

I have to say, it didn't really matter that we missed out on that restaurant. By the time we settled in another place, we realised it was way less touristy and the food was waaaaaay better.

No one does pasta like Italy.

I'm surprised I still fit into my chosen dress by the time we arrived in Ancona for the wedding. Admittedly it was a bit tight, but I decided not to care. It was worth it. If you can't enjoy food, what the hell's the point of living, I ask you!

Besides, I would have enjoyed this real life Bridgerton moment at the wedding venue anyway — check out this gorgeous chateaux and its gardens.

What a dream!

And what a perfect week. Road trips are the best. We have another one coming up in late July but I'll be saving the pennies till then. Gotta be able to afford more delicious dinners there, after all.

So sad the travelling is over now and it's time to get down to work again. But I have more than enough food for thought after this (and more than enough Italian food in the fridge too!)