Travel isn’t always about the grand sights or ticking off a checklist. Sometimes, it’s about the unexpected places that make you pause, breathe, and feel something you can’t quite put into words. For me, that place was a quiet corner of Rome—a city where every turn feels like stepping into a postcard, but this moment was all mine.
I had arrived in Rome exhausted. The crowds at the Colosseum, the relentless heat, and my carefully planned gluten-free dining spots had me racing through the day with my to-do list in hand. I wanted to love Rome like I’d seen in the movies—romantic, poetic, full of wonder—but I felt like I was chasing something just out of reach.
By mid-afternoon, my feet ached, my stomach grumbled (gluten-free isn’t always easy in Italy), and my camera roll was full, but my heart felt…empty. Frustrated, I ducked down a narrow cobblestone street to escape the crowds. No plan. No destination. Just the need for quiet.
That’s when I found it.The street led me to a tiny square I didn’t know existed—Piazza della Quercia. It wasn’t grand like the Trevi Fountain or charming like Trastevere. It was simple. A worn-down fountain trickled in the center, surrounded by trees that offered just enough shade. A group of kids played soccer in the corner, their laughter echoing against centuries-old walls. I sank onto a bench, too tired to overthink what I was doing there. The air felt still. Warm. Safe. And for the first time that day, I felt present.
I pulled out a journal I’d stuffed in my bag weeks before and began writing. Nothing grand—just thoughts, the kind that usually get buried under notifications, plans, and to-do lists. A woman with a small dog smiled at me as she passed. An elderly couple sat beside me, eating gelato in companionable silence. I remember thinking:
«This is Rome too.»
No crowds. No performance. Just life happening in the quiet corners—unnoticed by most, but perfect for me.
That day, I learned that travel isn’t about seeing everything. It’s about feeling something. It’s about taking a wrong turn and finding exactly what you needed—without knowing you were looking for it.
Rome taught me that. Sitting in Piazza della Quercia, I realized it’s okay to slow down, to wander without purpose, to savor small moments instead of rushing toward the next big thing. I didn’t need to see everything. I just needed to be there.
Now, whenever I travel, I always leave room for those quiet corners. I skip the overpacked itineraries and let myself wander, trusting that I’ll stumble upon something beautiful. Maybe it’s a quiet fountain in Rome, a hidden café in Barcelona, or a sunlit bench overlooking the Seine. Those are the moments I carry home with me—the ones that remind me who I am.
Because sometimes, the best stories don’t come from places on a map. They come from where you least expect to find yourself.
Have you ever found magic in an unexpected place? Share your story in the comments below or join the Stamps & Stories newsletter for more personal travel tales and tips for slow, mindful adventures.
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Stay curious,
Catharina
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