American Safari

- TRIP LENGTH: 17 days - TOTAL SPENT: 1900 EUROS - COUNTRIES VISITED: NEW YORK AND COLORADO - EXCHANGE RATE: averaging the fluctuations, about 1.5 - FLIGHTS: from Italy, Eurofly Bologna-JFK (non-stop) € 642.82 from NY to Denver (Colorado), Frontier Airlines (non-stop) € 211.88 - CAR RENTAL for 6 DAYS unlimited km 240 euros - MILES COVERED FROM ELDORADO SPRINGS VIA GLEENWOOD, ASPEND, BUENA VISTA, COLORADO SPRINGS, DENVER about 1200 - ACCOMMODATION: Eve's B&B Brooklyn € 38 per night per person AmericInn Glenwood Springs (CO) € 40 per night Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort Nathrop (CO) € 32 per night per person

GHOST TOWNS VISITED IN COLORADO: Ashcroft and Independence SPORTS: Rafting on the Colorado at Glenwood Springs Western horseback riding in the Rocky Mountains NATIONAL PARKS: Rocky Mountains and Garden of the Gods

A TRULY DEEPLY FELT REFLECTION: Immense sadness in my heart for the Indians.. in Colorado the presence of the Ute tribe, the so-called "Black Men", is everywhere, of whom nothing remains but old black-and-white photos... and this is just one of the many tribes that lived in this state. And so the thought spreads and you realise more and more that the safari=trip isn't about bringing home one more stamp in your passport but makes you realise, in such a harsh way, that every state in the world has its hidden skeletons.. its misdeeds.. its massacres. And it's true that travelling—NOT HOLIDAYING—wears you out physically, but what I bring home every time I travel is not just a suitcase full of old and new clothes but above all a baggage of life that will stay with me forever, making me a better person over time!

Acknowledgements: A special thank you goes to a fantastic person... Kim... who gave us a piece of her time and her life, sharing our journey with us and teaching us so much about the mountains, respect for the land and vegan food! And then to all the people we meet during our adventures.. because thanks to them we carry with us a piece of their stories and experiences that help us grow and improve And now? Well... I'm rolling up my sleeves, more enthusiastic than ever, to sort out the last few things for the trip we're about to take.. a month between India and Sri Lanka... For anyone who'd like to write to me and ask for information: chiara.stella@fastwebnet.it