Woo-hoo! Today is the first day of phase 2 in Italy – meaning that the lockdown is being slowly, gradually, cautiously lifted. We are finally allowed to leave our house to go for a solitary walk and to visit our family members.
Up until this point, I had only left the house 3 times in 56 days – twice to walk into town to get money out of the cash point and once to the supermarket. Each of those times felt strange, scary and unfriendly.
But today was a bit different and while it’s not a festive atmosphere and life is not even close to going back to normal, it did feel a little bit lighter on the island. We are a little bit more free.
This morning, I took the longest walk in months. Right before the shut down, I was just started to get back to my pre-surgery self and was able to walk back and forth from town without stopping, but I hadn’t tried to do anything longer than 40 minutes. But today, I walked for an hour and a half without even thinking about whether I physically could do it or not. But I did, I was able to do it!
Here are some pics of my walk around Forio this morning. Instead of walking along the beach road, I took another road to go up the hill and into Monterone and down into Forio center and then back home along the beach road. I was afraid that the roads would be too crowded with people and that I would have to walk back, but it was okay.
There were people out, but everyone kept their distance and wore masks. On a normal walk, I would pass by people and say hello, but this time it was hard to recognize one another. I made eye contact with some people, but we couldn’t see each other smile. We’ll need to learn how to say more with our eyes.
But o, it was so beautiful. The sky was so blue and there was this warm May sunlight and the sea – I could stop and look at the sea. There were glimpses of our old normal life – sounds of hammering and sawing behind the closed doors of restaurants and hotels as they cross their fingers and get ready to open next month, people standing outside the hardware stores waiting their turn to go inside, people waving to one another as they walked by, the rumble of cars and scooters as they start moving again around the island.
And now it’s the late afternoon after lunch and family members are visiting the neighbours all around me and there are voices again and laughter and children playing. I’m almost not used to it and my head keeps lifting up to look around me as I hear people shouting and laughing.
It’ll take a long time before we’ll recognise our old lives again. The number of COVID-19 cases are declining, which is good news, but we have to still be very careful. In the meantime, I’m going to keep recognising the things that I am grateful for. I am especially grateful that I can go for walks again.
Ciao Giovanna,
My husband and I have reservations on Ischia in mid-September. It will be our second trip there as we love the island. I believe this is my 26th annual trip to Italy as I have Italian family in Rome. This trip to Ischia, I planned to utilize your services for something truly unknown to the general traveler, even one like myself, who is a great planner and researcher. The big question…do you believe there is any chance, US citizens will be welcomed in Italy in September?
Hi Kathy, I really really really hope you’ll be able to travel to Ischia this September, as everyone else on the island hopes, too. But it’s still too soon to tell and there hasn’t been any news about when travel will be allowed again. At the moment, Italians are still not allowed to travel outside of their region and all bars and restaurants are closed. They are supposed to open on 1 June if all goes well, but no date has been set yet on when we can travel. It may be that the first few months only Italians will be allowed to travel within Italy and then they will gradually allow people from other countries to enter. But if that is the case, there may be a mandatory quarantine in place for those arriving into Italy. This is all speculation at the moment, and it all depends on how the virus spreads over the next few months. Hope you are safe and well where you are and that you can make your visit this year. xx
Thrilled to hear you and D are allowed out again. Thank you for sharing the Forio pictures. Kiss the sun for me. XO
xxxx Thanks Christa.
Love your commentary and especially the pictures of Forio, where my Italian family lives. Glad you’re safe and healthy.
Thanks so much, Joe! Sending you sunshine from Ischia. xx
Dear Giovanna I am spiritually connected to Ischia. ❤️.You are my link.too ❤️ God blesses you and your husband. Best wishes. Beverley.
Hi Beverly, thank you! I hope you get to make a trip to Ischia again once this is all over. Sending lots of love and sunshine from Ischia. xx
Nice to read thanks. I adore this island. My grandparents come from there. Forio. I was raised in boston but live in frankfurt Germany for 35 years. Am a dancer and artist. I long for ischia. So was nice to read what’s up there. Sending blessings it is soon over and I can jump into the hotvthermal baths I. The ocean. That should kill a virus no?
Hi Tony, thank you! I hope you get a chance to come here soon. I hear the borders are opening up soon, but sadly many of the thermal parks will remain closed this year. That won’t stop you from going to Sorgeto though. xx
Isn’t it liberating to finally be able to get outside and walk around!?!? It must have been much harder for you with having all these beautiful landscapes around you!
It makes such a big difference! How is it going over there? Things are slowly slowly slowly reopening and there is more life on the streets. We’re getting used to this new way of living. xx
Cara Giovanna,
I have just disvovered your site and am very happy to read about ischia.
I am living in monaco di baveria.
Since 15 years i am coming twice a year
for 4 weeks each to Forio.. i am renting a small appartment in.a private home near citara.
Due too corona it was not possible to come yet this year.
I already feel homesick.. so it’s good to see pictures and hear some goof news.
Hopefully i can come in.october.
Please write some more articles.
State sana e auguri
Ciao
Ursula
Hi Ursala, Thank you so much for your kind words. I’m sorry you can’t make it back to Ischia just yet. Life here is continuing and while it’s not back to like the way it was before, things are slowly starting to open up. I hope you can come back soon. All the best, x Giovanna