BASTA?
“Basta! Enough, don’t worry. It’s okay.”
These were the words of the Italian friends I made when I found myself stranded in Lake Como at night with no way home.
I had set out on my first solo trip filled with excitement and eager to explore. But after an eight-hour train delay, missing the last bus, and making eye contact with the driver only to watch him speed past me, my final hope disappeared into the night and panic set in.
Sitting alone at the stop, unsure of what to do next, I suddenly heard chatter and laughter drifting from a small bar down the street. It was filled with elderly Italian men playing cards, their energy warm and inviting. Desperate, I walked in and, with a mix of broken Italian, Google Translate, and a whole lot of emotion, explained my situation.
They understood immediately. They reassured me, cracked jokes to lighten my fear, and before I knew it, I had a ride home. “Basta, Basta. No tears. You’re safe.” As I thanked them endlessly, they simply waved me off with a smile.
That moment shifted something in me. I had spent so much time worrying about things going wrong, but adventure isn’t about perfect plans, it’s about adapting, trusting, and embracing the unknown.
That’s what Basta means to me now. Enough fear, enough hesitation. Just go! Explore, embrace, and trust the journey. Because in the end, things have a way of working out
ContiTravels 