Photobooth Confessionals: Italy
Photos are the best way to keep memories with us forever. So, we took to one of Florence’s iconic photobooths to reminisce about travel (and what inspires us).
There’s something about travel that lingers. Long after you’re home, a good trip sticks with you, popping up in the stories you tell, the foods you crave, and the way that nothing else really compares. For travelers who’ve explored Italy (and the world) with EF Ultimate Break, the memories are endless. But how did they get here?
Finding that travel spark
Let’s be honest, sometimes the urge to travel doesn’t come from some profound place. For Arielle, Ultimate Break’s Associate Director, Social Media, it started with Gossip Girl. Yes, seriously. Watching Blair and Serena jet off to glamorous cities made her want that life, too. Meanwhile, Garrett (our resident Content Producer) had a full-on main character moment in college when he watched The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and promptly booked the cheapest flight to Iceland he could find.
Inspiration doesn’t need to make sense. Sometimes it just needs to be loud enough to make you act on it.
All in the family
Travel isn’t just about where you go, it’s who you carry with you. Kate, a Senior Producer, says “my family definitely is my number one fan when it comes to travel. I wish I could bring them along in my suitcase every time.” For Alex, our Ultimate Intern, it’s her grandfather, a 22-year Army vet who’s lived all over the world and always encouraged her to chase big dreams. And then there’s Arielle’s “Disney family,” who counted Epcot as international travel (no judgement) and inspired her to see the real real world for herself.
What makes a place stick?
We can all take pretty pictures. But it’s the people that make a place unforgettable. Like the winemaker who didn’t just pour Chianti, but told stories that somehow made it taste better. Or the restaurant owner in a tucked-away trattoria who burst into song between bites.
And not every trip goes smoothly, and that’s kind of the point. Garrett once lost his car keys mid-hike—total chaos. But now? It’s his go-to story. Arielle’s favorite moment is reading Happy Place by Emily Henry on the Amalfi Coast and realizing she was in her actual happy place.
That's where the magic is, in the unique moments that turn an everyday experience into something more.
TL;DR: Just go
Book the flight. Take the trip. Make the memories. Whether you’re traveling solo, with your best friends, or with the family group chat cheering you on from home, travel isn’t just a vacation, it’s a turning point.
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