There are moments during a long motorhome journey that stay with you far more than famous monuments or spectacular viewpoints. One of those moments came on our very first evening back in Italy.
After weeks on the road through France and Spain, crossing the border into Liguria felt strangely familiar. The scenery had changed once again: colourful houses clinging to the hillsides, the deep blue of the Ligurian Sea and the unmistakable rhythm of Italian towns. It already felt like home.
Rather than rushing to visit another attraction, we decided to do something much simpler. We wanted our first dinner back in Italy to be a proper Italian pizza.
After a little searching, we chose Re Farina in Genoa, a small takeaway pizzeria specialising in authentic Neapolitan pizza. It proved to be the perfect choice to begin the Italian part of our journey. The pizzas arrived with the characteristic soft, airy cornicione, high-quality ingredients and a light, well-fermented dough that immediately reminded us why Neapolitan pizza has become famous throughout the world. Every bite confirmed that we had made the right decision.
It was not an expensive meal, nor was it eaten in a grand restaurant overlooking the sea. Instead, it became memorable because of its simplicity. Sitting together after a long day on the road, finally enjoying an authentic Italian pizza again, gave us the feeling that a new stage of the journey had truly begun.
Travelling by motorhome often teaches that some of the best memories are completely unplanned. They are not always castles, museums or famous viewpoints. Sometimes they are simply the first pizza after crossing a border, the satisfaction of speaking Italian again or the comfort of recognising familiar flavours after thousands of kilometres abroad.
Looking back, that evening at Re Farina became much more than dinner. It marked the moment when our Mediterranean adventure through Spain and southern France gave way to the final part of the journey through Italy. It was a small moment, but one that still makes us smile whenever we think about returning home by road.