ITALY...Really Unforgettable for me!!! Throwback to my first time travelling to another country in 2009!!! Part ONE!

progressivechef (76)in Italy • 4 years ago

I took quite a long time to write my first post in this beautiful community...and why that!?

Let me explain!

Once I discovered the Italy Community, I subscribed that day itself as this country means a lot to me! But I wanted to make my first post with photos that I took back in 2009...

And the laptop where I saved those photos was near-dead!!! But managed to retrieve maximum of data over there, thanks god!

Then I got busy with Steemit Iron Chef contest...and like this so many days passed!

But anyway...here I am today, with my photos of this beautiful country...(Apologies for the quality...these were taken back in September 2009 with an Iphone 3 if i'm not mistaken!!!

My first time traveling and alone!

In September 2009, I got a free culinary training at The Hilton Rome Cavalieri, a top luxury hotel! for a period of One month! The training included some days at the famous La Pergola Restaurant which was already a 3 Michelin Stars back then!

Without hesitation I got ready and packed my bags for Rome...and it was my first time ever traveling!

I must say...I made it through quite smoothly and I really enjoyed each day that I spent on the Italian soil!

My first time seeing trains...in real!!

The most memorable...Visiting The Vatican City!!!

A colleague from the hotel helped me out to discover Rome to the max I can during that one month!

We were going out nearly everyday after working hours to show me around and the one I enjoyed the most was the visit of the Vatican!

I was just out of words when I was walking around all these immense buildings, churches, structures...

Simply breathtaking...

At some moments I was even saying to myself...how lucky I am to be able to live this... Not everyone can have that chance!

This is the 'small' me...I was about 26yrs old...and I was working as Sous Chef for the Fine Dining restaurant in Hilton Mauritius!

Walking near to these guards...hmmm you feel very different! I don't know why! They are so serious and always concentrating!

Impressive!

As it was my first time entering the Holy City...to visit , I did not know that it was not allowed to bring cameras/phones while visiting inside the Churches...I already took many photos before that one man told me to keep my camera away!

I will share those photos in another post!

If you are staying in Italy...or around Rome, you definitely have to visit The Vatican City! It is once in a lifetime experience for me!

I am not sure if I'll be able to visit Italy again soon...well I can if only Steem moons and makes up all super rich!

Zoom on the Swiss Guard!

And this is the hotel I was working for the training purpose I received - The Hilton Cavalieri!

During that one month I spent in Italy, despite the cold weather, I used maximum of my free time to roam around and discover many things and trying many things for the first time too...well that's another topic!Lol!

This post will be too long if I keep on writing...I just can't do the other way round, as Italy is really unforgettable for me!

Thanks to my stay over there, I got an exposure to another level in the culinary world and this has helped me grow quickly in my career once I was back in Mauritius!

I used everything I learned in Italy and put in place the best practices...and the results were simply oustanding!

My first time in the Rome Metro!