Where it all began...

It all started at a time of difficulty and important choices, when, at the age of 26, I decided to leave my job to take time for myself. I chose to move to the mountains for three months, to a small village in Valle d'Aosta, Valtournenche, where I used to spend my winter holidays with my family as a child. It is a magical place, both for the beauty of the landscapes and the quality of the people.

Over the last two years, I have been able to integrate, make new acquaintances, make friends and discover the area better. But, above all, I have been able to devote myself to what I love most in life: sport. Valtournenche is the ideal place for those who like to be active, a paradise for sportsmen, where you can practise your passions in both seasons.

Winter is perfect for those who want to ski, ski mountaineer or even just snowshoe. Summer, on the other hand, offers wonderful opportunities for trail running, climbing or hiking. Personally, I particularly appreciated the presence of a sports centre with a gym and swimming pool, an element that made my stay even more special. After giving up competitive swimming and water polo, this was the place where I was able to rediscover my passion for swimming, just like I used to. And the convenience? Everything is a maximum 15-minute walk away, perfect for those who, like me, don't have a car. Of course, with snow or a bum ankle, maybe the time is extended to 20 or 30 minutes... but I assure you: it's still fun!

The magic of this place allowed me to reflect and work out ideas for my future. Between days dedicated mostly to sport and evenings spent in the company of friends, I always found a moment to plan my life. This, after all, was my main goal.

Life up there was ‘terribly, terribly messy’. At the end of August, I felt I had experienced an extraordinary time, but also the most complex time of my life.

Then, in September, I went on a trip to Turkey with my mum. This experience awakened the nomadic spirit in me, the desire to always be on the move. I realised that, at least in part, my life had to be dedicated to exploration. So I began to imagine new experiences.

At the end of September, I came across an advertisement for scholarships for international cooperation trips to Africa/India. Initially, I said to myself, ‘No, Marti... forget it, you have to work and you don't have time for that.’ I thought this could be the right opportunity, a new experience to put myself on the line and to relise a dream.

With this conviction, and the determination that often characterises me, I sent in my application for the scholarship. Despite my innate optimism, this time I was sceptical and convinced that I would never get it.

Instead, on 15 October, the call came. The person in charge of Humana, the organisation I was leaving with, informed me that I had obtained the scholarship. From that moment on, the idea of creating this blog was born. Given the curiosity of friends and acquaintances as to how I would share my experiences, I decided to tell about my passions, my travels and my life here, in a simple and unpretentious way as a professional writer. In January, then, I'm off! In the next post, ‘A journey coming up: from January’, I will tell you more about this adventure.

Martina