Ciao from Lake Como!
Hi friends!
Can you believe it? We left the U.S. on May 29th, and now here we are—a week and a day later—soaking in the beauty of Lake Como. What a journey it’s been already.
Just last week I was writing to you while sitting outside the Prado Museum in Madrid, completely jetlagged and waiting for the doors to open. Once inside, it felt like the calmest, coolest nap I never got to take! 😂 The museum was peaceful (until the crowd rolled in around 10:30), and I wanted nothing more than to curl up under a painting and snooze. But adventure called!
Madrid had that big-city energy—reminding me of New York in so many ways. It was buzzing with people from all walks of life. Yes, we stayed alert thanks to friendly warnings about pickpockets, but thankfully no incidents. It’s fascinating how these European cities feel so familiar... maybe because many of our ancestors arrived in America from places just like this.
One of the highlights? A Flamenco show! The rhythm, the passion, the music—unforgettable! It felt like a true taste of Spain’s heart and soul.
From there, we trained to Barcelona—and WOW. I absolutely adored where we stayed. Our hotel was tucked inside the ancient walls of the Cathedral Barcelona. Picture cobblestone alleys, slate roads, thick stone walls, and charming little shops. One in particular stole my heart: La Arca. I’ve linked it here. It’s where I met Nina, the sweetest shop owner, and her lovely assistant studying to be a jewelry designer. Fun fact—they made the Princess of Spain’s wedding dress and outfitted the movie Titanic! Talk about history and fashion colliding!
Needless to say, Barcelona was a hit. The architecture, the people, the paella—we can’t wait to go back.
From there, we flew to Milan and made our way to Varenna on Lake Como. Our Airbnb? Just a short stroll from the lake. The weather? Cloudy, chilly, and honestly… cozy. Jeans and sweaters have made a comeback, and we’re kind of loving it.
Spiritually, this trip has been just as enriching. I’ve been doing the St. Joseph challenge on the Hallow App with Father Mike Schmitz and Sister Miriam. It’s been so powerful. Learning about St. Joseph—his humility, his love for Mary, and his quiet strength—has been deeply moving. He loved Jesus as his own and stood by Mary without hesitation. What a model of faith and love.
One nudge from the challenge has been to go to confession. But here’s the twist—I don’t speak Spanish or Italian. Yet guess what? Our Airbnb is next to a beautiful old Catholic church. I walked in, attended Mass (in Italian), and then met with the priest for confession. Despite the language barrier, his message was clear: “It is time for freedom. Let the past go. God has forgiven you.”
Isn’t that a message we all need to hear?
So here’s my encouragement to you: don’t carry your past on your back. Let it go. Step into grace. And if you can—go to confession. You’ll feel lighter, I promise.
That’s all for now! We’ve got reels going up daily on Instagram—come along with us. There’s so much more joy to share.
Sending sunshine, love, and blessings from Italy.
With all my heart,
XOXO, Bizzy
Host of Conversations with Bizzy 🎙️
