Written by Joey George
A slight wine buzz brings warmth from the Tuscan breeze. I am awed by Salcheto’s sustainable operation, impressed with their eco-friendliness and quality of their products. The quick fifteen minute bus ride to Pienza is jovial, everyone a little looser, cheeks painted Florentine red.
The old church stands quiet, nestled in the curvy city streets. An ocean-level horizon is visible, tints of green instead of blue. I fight my hunger and stray from the group, emboldened by wine’s flavor, chemistry in action. I fumble through ChatGPT and Google Maps, drops of rain visible on Italian trees.
After a quick trek, fiction becomes reality, a poignant frame coming into reference. I follow Maximus’s footsteps, replicating one of the final shots of Gladiator, right where they filmed the scene. The movie was fresh in my mind, something I watched less than twenty-four hours ago, worth the two hours of evening solitude.
The combination of beauty and culture, like Tuscany in its entirety, made quite the impression on me. I appreciate little moments like these, more memorable than grandiosity, a reflection of my aptitude for the countryside, the scenes more elegant than the sights of my rural hometown, both beautiful in indelible ways.
Swanson School of Engineering 