The Kindness of Strangers: From Tuscan Hot Springs to Seaside Hills
A week of open hearts, olive harvests, and lessons in joy and grace.
#24
Already this slow travel journey has exceeded my joy and expectations a thousandfold over our last six months of travel. Italy is my heart, and at times I have to remind myself to receive the Love this country gives to me. It’s stretching me to open my heart more expansively — to remember that life is here to be enjoyed, appreciated, and lived with excitement and wonder, even in the midst of chaos, breakdowns, and growth.
We as individuals, and as a planet, are shifting and evolving into better versions of ourselves. Our best practice for a higher timeline, both personally and collectively, is to focus on the Light we can bring forward. This is always my guiding principle.
It’s been about a month since I left the lake, and I’ve already slept in seven beds (well, six beds and one couch). In some ways, I feel like I’m floating through time and space. Each morning, I check in to remember where I am — and it’s a surreal, exhilarating feeling.
At the same time, I’m manifesting my next home. I can already feel it: warm and sunny, beside a lake, comfortable and inviting. I know it’s on its way because I can sense the reality of it already here. After years of practice, energy work, and meditation, that’s how I know I’m aligned — when what I desire feels tangible before it even appears. So even though I’m on the slow-travel path, I’m also grounded in the energy of what’s next.
We had a glorious final few days in Tuscany — a day of complete relaxation at La Sovana, a drive into Montepulciano to walk its time-honored streets, and a beautiful trip to Bagni San Filippo, the sulfur hot springs tucked inside a quiet forest. The roads were narrow and winding but well maintained and mostly empty, making the drive its own kind of joy.
One morning at La Sovana, I stumbled upon a family harvesting olives from the property’s trees. The mother and her sons worked in rhythm — laughing, shaking branches, and collecting the fruit. I stood for twenty minutes watching and filming, mesmerized by yet another moment of everyday beauty that felt like a gift. The footage will be part of a longer video I’m creating on Tuscany, but in the meantime, you can find shorter clips on my YouTube channel — the hot springs, Montepulciano, and a drive through the Tuscan countryside.
We finished up the food we’d bought (we’re becoming pros at buying just enough) and said goodbye to the land that has captured millions of hearts — including ours. Heading south on the autostrada, we decided to split the drive into two days and stay overnight in Anagni, a small town about halfway between Tuscany and Campania.
Like Montepulciano, it was movie-scene perfect: cobblestone streets, charming buildings, and impossibly clean. Parking was a little tricky as we couldn’t park right in town, but our hostess at the bed and breakfast was kind and helped us find a spot. The people there were more reserved — polite, but less open than other places. Still, we had a lovely dinner at a family-run trattoria. The mother was initially quiet, but her son, who spoke a bit of English, was warm and friendly. By the end of the meal, she was smiling, and my rabbit cacciatore was delicious.
After a decent night’s sleep, we hit the road early for a three-and-a-half-hour drive to Castellabate in the province of Salerno. Wow. Talk about being on top of the world! The town sits high in the hills above the Mediterranean, and the drive up was breathtaking — and slightly terrifying. Tim is an excellent driver, but we both held our breath a few times before reaching the apartment safely.
He calls it the Hobbit House because of the low ceilings and short doors that make us duck as we walk through. But the view from the expansive deck might be the best I’ve ever experienced in a longer stay. Each evening we sit outside watching the sunset over the sea, grateful and in awe of it all.
The people here couldn’t be more different from Anagni — open, kind, and endlessly friendly. They smile and greet us before we can get the words out, start conversations in Italian without hesitation, and radiate warmth.
Our first angel here was Giovanni. We were completely lost trying to find the apartment (thank you, Google Maps…), and while I was messaging the owner in Rome, who only speaks Italian, Giovanni appeared in a little open-air gardening truck. Tim, with his handful of Italian words, started talking to him. I joined in with my limited vocabulary and had the idea to connect Giovanni and the owner by phone. They chatted easily, even sharing stories about their fathers, and within minutes Giovanni hopped in our car and guided us to the apartment himself. We couldn’t have been more grateful.
That afternoon, we walked up the road for a late lunch at another family-run trattoria. The son translated while the mother cooked: fresh pasta, red wine, and the best bread yet. A short walk afterward offered stunning views of the hills and sea, and it felt like the perfect ending to a very full day.
And then — more moments of joy. Sunday morning, I woke to the sound of a band playing. I threw on shoes and a coat over my pajamas and followed the music up the hill. A twenty-piece marching band, from teenagers to older men, was parading through town for their Festa Patronale, celebrating their Patron Saint Day. The sun was shining, people were laughing, and who did I see at the back of the band but Giovanni! We waved and laughed, greeting each other with ciao! Later that evening, we saw him again, exchanged numbers, and made plans to meet before leaving town.
That afternoon, Tim and I wandered down to the beach in Santa Maria di Castellabate — crystal-clear water, warm sun, the sound of voices and waves. We swam, rested on the sand, and later drove back up the winding roads just in time to watch fireworks from the Festa explode directly above our terrace.
More short videos from these moments — the beach, the band, the fireworks — are now up on YouTube. Subscribe there to travel alongside us in real time.
It’s now early morning here, and I’ve been awake for hours, writing while the world is still quiet. This feels like the perfect place to pause to say good night and good day, and to thank you for coming along for the journey.
If you’re ready to plan your next adventure, I’d love to help you. Travel, whether it’s a weekend getaway, a cruise, or a long-held bucket list trip, can be one of the greatest catalysts for growth and joy. Let’s create that together so you can experience your own unforgettable moments too.
Until then, keep doing your good work for the betterment of all. Shine your Light.
To your highest and best,
Dianna
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