In this concluding episode of my travelogue chronicling my first solo travel trip, I shift gears a little bit and recall a fun night out in Gorizia and Novo Gorica that I had with my conference buddy. We bar hopped, chatted with some young Italians about the impacts of Austerity, and hit up the casino and casino buffet in Slovenia.

I also talk about my day trips to Udine and Trieste and the valuable lessons about going off the beaten and not being afraid to wander. I conclude by talking about a harsh lesson I learned about cultural differences arriving to the Venice International Airport just a few minutes before security locked the doors as well as how my entire first solo trip overseas planted the seeds of the flourishing person I am today.

Content Breakdown

0:00 - A fun night out in Gorizia with my conference buddy

3:17 - My feelings on Slovenian free casino buffets during recessions

5:30 - The Beauty of meeting new people and of random adventures when travelling

10:40 - The inspiring view of the Italian Alps from the middle of a random field in Udine

15:29- Discovering Trieste and the value of veering of the beaten path

17:18 - Full Circle: Returning to where it all began

19:48 - Almost spending the night outside a locked airport in Venice (and other situations my ignorance forced me to quickly troubleshoot)

21:50 -Concluding observations on how my PhD studies and first solo travel adventure made me the person I am today

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