The Italian countryside is one of the most serene and at peace places I have ever come across. Upon our breezy car ride through the vast stretch of open fields and little to no cars on the road, the smell of “farm by the river” as we deemed, it, wafting through the windows, I appreciated the no hustle and bustle about this place.

A reason why I love the Italian countryside: bicycles. It became apparent to me upon arrival to our host, Damiano’s, country abode in Guastalla, about 40 minutes outside of the more well-known Bologna, that Americans do not utilize the bicycle enough for daily activity. Here in Guastalla, residents ride their bicycles to work, to the grocery store, to dinner, everywhere.

For me, riding bikes to the quaint pizzeria eight minutes down the road, and to the local’s favorite gelatoria, I experienced a quiet release of my sense of urgency and anxiety about ‘what to do next,’ daily burdens of the oh-so-American.

Without trying, my senses let go and for the first time in a long while, I was happy just to be in the moment. Away from city noises and city traffic, of loud people and cars, and the constant stream of energy pulsing through any major populated center, my head was clear to focus not on what I needed to do, but what I was doing.

Nowhere were stores or advertisements screaming, “Buy this! Try this! You need this!” There was nothing I could think of that I needed at this time.

No one was pressed to be anywhere in particular on this bright and balmy Thursday evening. Just a stroll through the grass, a bike down the path, or a cold beer down by the lake, these people are happy.