In which there is an arrivederci, a reroute, and a book (and a launch party in Rome!)
It’s been a long time, and so many things have happened (I hope all the good things in your life). I no longer update the Which Way to Rome blog, although I leave it up, because it has lots of useful information and I still love it very much, and it also has work from other writers that I want to honor, and because once in a while someone will reach out to tell me an article was useful for them during their experience falling in love with Rome or Italy, and that gives me lots of not-so-little thrills.
I wanted to reach out one last time for a couple of reasons: first of all, thank you. For reading, for writing, for commenting, for engaging and asking questions and for being here for the Young in Rome that hosted several writers to its move over to Which Way to Rome, to The Italian Aunt that became my first book All the Way to Italy, and everything in between.
If you’d like to keep reading into the next chapter (I’m nothing if not adoring of a terrible pun), please join me over on Homing Signals, a (free, just pop your e-mail in) newsletter on belonging, not-belonging, cross-cultural connections and the places we call home (and how that changes). It’s also an exploration of a meandering traveling path that has led to The Web of Time, a story about portals between three ancient cities, unexpected gods, and memories that both haunt and heal us. At its heart, The Web of Time is a story about the power of voice – human and divine – to shape worlds, bridge divides, and inspire change. WOT is out with Blue House Literary on the 20th of this month and a portion of pre-order sales go to NaTakallam, an amazing language school whose teachers are all from refugee or conflict-affected communities.
I would be thrilled, beyond!, if you would join me for a piece or all of this next journey, whether through Homing Signals, or The Web of Time, or through sharing your own adventures. And if you’re in Rome on Thursday, 29 May, join me at Palazzo Merulana for a launch aperitivo! (I am super excited about this – please do register because we have limited spots, but of course this is a free event!)
By the way: if you’re following the blog on social media, Which Way to Rome’s channels still remain the same, just a little expanded.
I know these are incredibly difficult times. I am a big believer that it’s community that will pull us through these moments, and see us victorious, arms linked, on the other side. And maybe it’s mostly about how we get there, in respect of each other, together.
Wishing you a peaceful rest of 2025, full of joy, loved ones, aperitivo, and watching the sunset drift by.
A presto,
Flavia
