I was working with the photos from my last trip to Venice earlier this week, and came across this image of GROM gelato cups. Not only is it a great repeating pattern in a couple of different ways, it’s a reminder of some of the best gelato in Italy. GROM is a chain, but has very consistent high quality. If you visit Italy and see one of these gelaterias, duck in and try it. My favorite flavors are in-season fruit gelatos, such as apricot and melon. Eating this gelato is like eating the best, ripest, most perfectly tasting fruit you’ve ever had. I don’t know how they do it!
As I was looking at this photo, I was thinking about my transition back. Do I miss gelato? Not so much. I didn’t eat it all of the time. I’ve found that I really miss good parmigiano reggiano cheese, and we had to search for a source of good balsamic vinegar here. The stuff we first bought at the grocery store was horrid, even though it was labeled with the official “Balsamic Vinegar of Modena.” We think they send the worst stuff to the US since we don’t know any better. If you’ve never had it, really good balsamic vinegar is one of the most wonderful flavors. Find yourself a specialty store that imports the good stuff, and try it.
All in all though, the move back has been much easier than I expected. I’m very happy to be back. I think I was worried, by coming back to the same place, I would be coming back to being the person I was two years ago, slipping into the old routines and ways of thinking. It seems silly now, but all of the changes and discoveries and learnings I’ve had are still with me. Of course they are! The only thing I’m doing is learning how to adjust my schedules and balance my time with different demands. But the core of who I am, and how I work creatively, is the same as in Italy.
In a couple of months, when I haven’t travelled to another country in a while, I might feel differently. I did have an overwhelming feeling of strong emotion, maybe yearning, at one point when I was working with my pictures from Venice. We’ll see how that goes.
All in all though, I’m glad to be home.
PS – It’s the last day to register for the July session of Find Your Eye: Starting the Journey. Class starts on Sunday!
I'm so glad the adjustment is going well.
I'm now craving gelato.
I really admire how you handle everything, Kat!
Great picture. I love these repetitive photos.
Just keep on growing Kat, all will turn out well. We have one of the best gelaterias in Australia in my small town. Franco & Camilla are from near Milan and use old family recipes adapted to local produce. They are forever winning prizes for their gelato. Lucky me!!!!
I agree about the balsamic vinegar!
I'm glad that the transition has been much easier than you expected. I guess that the time in Italy has shaped you in a way that touched the "real" Kat deep down, and that's why you're still the same as in Italy. It is YOU!
Ah, gelato di melone! How I'd love a cup right now — it is amazing how they capture the essence of the fruit in the gelato. I'm happy to hear that your transition is going well!