Pistoia Pt. I

On Milan

Milan wasn’t my favorite city thus far. I felt the hostel was too big. One night, people were pounding and slamming doors until 5am. I met a few kind people, but the city was meh.

Much of my time was spent writing – or trying to. I decided to participate in NaNoWriMo this year. My goal is to write 50,000 words but mainly to just finish a story. Milan didn’t vibe with me, and I craved home. I started to feel a disconnect. A short video that talks about travelers having guilt for missing holidays, milestones, and just time with loved ones hit me in Milan. And I missed folks a little more.

Pistoia

But I’m in Pistoia now. Well, I’m on the outskirts of Pistoia. And Pistoia is on the outskirts of Florence. I’m hoping to visit Florence, Rome, and Pompeii. With two weeks, there should be time for all of those places. I’m making friends with some of the locals, one of whom recommended a restaurant “nearby.”

And it was, if I had a car. But I’ve been doing a lot of walking, even more than in other parts of the trip. I walked an hour from the Pistoia train station to the Airbnb. I walked for an hour to this restaurant (3 miles). But it was worth it for the food and also the fresh air. I trekked through downtown up into the mountains. I walked past crumbling walls and into the fields. Finally, I arrived. (December 18, 2025 note: How did I not write the restaurant’s name down?!)

I’m really going to enjoy being in the country. The grocery store is about half a mile away. There is a bar underneath this Airbnb, but that’s about it in a solid radius. This is my first stay outside of the city. It’ll be a breather from that hustle and bustle. I’m looking forward to learning Italian, walking around, and working on my story. Will, my brother, is coming out tomorrow for a while. That’ll be fun.

It’s funny. Below the Airbnb is a bar. And everyone is confused as to why an American would want to spend time in Pistoia. They say, “Rome, Florence, Venice, yes! Pistoia? Why?” And I tell them that I like that it’s not a city, especially where I’m living. They don’t get it. Maybe next time I’ll ask why they’re in Pistoia!