Well, I have returned from Italy, the magical land of pasta and gelato! I’m happy to report that I saw many wonders on my vacation, from catacombs to a nativity fountain made of miniatures.
My favorite wonder, though, was a natural one. A place I’d been itching to see for more than 10 years. As you may remember, I studied the Italian language in college. After two years of study, I came away with only a handful of words learned and a dream–to one day see the Blue Grotto in Capri, or Grotta Azzurra, a sea cave filled with ethereal blue light.
I always assumed I’d go to Capri on my honeymoon one day or when I was named some sort of travel ambassador of the U.S. (my main duty would be to visit majestic Mediterranean coastal towns, of course). But, alas, neither of those things happened.
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This year, though, I just felt called to visit Italy and realized that maybe it was time to cross the Blue Grotto off my list. After all, why wait for a honeymoon or the perfect moment to do something when you can do it now? So my sister and I booked our trip and planned to spend time in Rome and Sorrento, near Capri.
The day finally arrived to set sail for Capri. I could hardly contain my excitement as my sister and I boarded the ferry from Sorrento. I wondered if the Blue Grotto would be like one of those things you hype up so much in your head that when you actually see it, you’re kind of like, “This is it?”
We arrived in Capri and hopped on another boat that brought us to the entrance of the Blue Grotto. Then we were transferred to a rowboat. We had to lie flat in the boat to get through the small opening of the cave.
Once inside the Blue Grotto, my sister started snapping photos on her phone. I tried to do the same. But the camera on my phone stopped working the second we entered the cave. It was the weirdest thing! I took it as a sign from God to just sit back in the rowboat, relax and enjoy the place I’d dreamed of visiting for so long.
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It was everything I could’ve hoped it’d be. And I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude to God for creating such a beautiful, heavenly place on earth. I sent up some prayers for my loved ones before we ducked back out of the cave. It wasn’t a church, but it almost felt like a natural cathedral of sorts. I’ll never forget it.
What about you? What wonders have you stumbled upon on your travels near and far? Share your stories and photos below!
