Today was the journey back to the mainland and back to Rome. We hauled our bags up the cliff from our perched villa to the “main street” on Ponza, then drove our Jeep Samurai-Santana back to the harbor. An hour ferry back to the Italian coast, then a quick zip to the beaches of Sperlonga.

The beach was incredible; shallow, sandy, and devoid of crowds. The hilltop town towering in the distance was as picturesque as the villages of Cinque Terre. It was one last magical day in the sun.

I often tell people Italy is my favorite country. This trip reinforced that even more. Rome, Ponza, Sperlonga—amazing places that each captured my heart in unique ways. Europe is a fascinating continent, and our time in Spain, just one week ago, seems like another lifetime.

People on this continent have been perfecting their way of living for centuries. I respect their culture and hope to continue to learn from them. We’ll be back some day, hopefully soon. But now it’s time to make our way back.