Sometimes, the most meaningful part of your journey is not the destination, but it’s the people you meet along the way.
One of our travelers, Anne Scarazzo, took a solo trip to Italy with Cloverdale Travel, and it became much more than a long-awaited adventure. On the June 2026 “Return to Italy: Villa Life & Holy Holiday with Fr. Zachary Navit” pilgrimage, Anne returned home with something she never expected: 19 new friends.
“I traveled solo on the June 2026 ‘Return to Italy: Villa Life & Holy Holiday with Fr. Zachary Navit.’ I had always wanted to go to Italy and thought to myself, ‘why not?’” Anne shared. “I knew Fr. Navit for MANY YEARS (fun fact: we were high school classmates) and I knew it would be an amazing trip. What I did not expect was that I would come home with 19 new friends as an added bonus!!”
Traveling Solo, Never Feeling Alone
Traveling solo, especially internationally, by yourself can feel very intimidating, especially when you are joining a large group of people you have never met before. But for Anne, Cloverdale made the experience easy from the very beginning.
“I am not a shy person at all, but it was a bit intimidating at first traveling to Europe as a one woman show. Cloverdale made it so easy.”, said Anne.
From the accommodations and meals to the tours and group experience, she found herself surrounded by welcoming people and memorable experiences.
“Our accommodations were first class, the meals were delicious, and the tours were simply AMAZING!” she recalled. “The people I met were warm and welcoming.”
From Fellow Travelers to Lifelong Friends
One of the unexpected joys of traveling with a group is the opportunity to connect with people who quickly become more than fellow travelers.
During free time throughout the trip, she found herself joining different smaller groups and spending time with people who shared her love of adventure, laughter, and exploring Italy.
“Whenever we had free time, I had several smaller groups during the trip I would join up with who were all fun loving, great people,” she said.
And those friendships did not end when the plane landed back home.
“Several of us just ‘clicked’ to the point that we still text, Facebook each other and even meet up occasionally. What an extra bonus!!”
Anne still occasionally meets up with her group of friends for dinner to catch up!
In fact, the friendships became such an important part of the experience that the group is already looking ahead to their next adventure together.
“We are even all planning our next Cloverdale adventure for 2027!!”
More Than a Trip
A pilgrimage can take you to incredible places, introduce you to new cultures, and create memories that last a lifetime. But sometimes, the greatest souvenirs are the people you meet along the way.
For this traveler, what began as a solo journey to Italy became an experience shared with 19 new friends—and friendships that continued long after returning home.
Your next adventure could be more than a trip. It could be the beginning of lifelong friendships.
Join Cloverdale Travel on a future pilgrimage and discover where the journey—and the people you meet along the way—can take you.