by James Aquino

Written near the portside of Amalfi, near the docked yachts and tourist buses. The sky was clear, and the water unconditionally embraced the umbrella-lined shores. The faint scents of flowers and freshly baked pastries played with the senses. It was a beautiful Mediterranean summer.

This is a long-overdue follow-up narrative to “The Romance I Found in Amalfi.” For those who’ve been to this charming town, you’ll have an idea that one of the most popular products of Amalfi is farm-grown lemons. While this town is romantically perched on cliffs and steep earth, lemons are grown despite the challenges its farmers face every single season.

The most prominent lemon farm in the area has been maintained by a family for several generations, and I was lucky enough to meet Mr. Salvatore Aceto, the head of the farm. They take pride in producing some of the best lemons in the country (if not the world). I will always remember how he responded when one of the tourists asked him about the famous “when life gives you lemons” phrase.

“Lemons are beyond just lemonades. You can make limoncello, lemon pies, lemon tea, lemon drops, lemon soap, lemon oil—it is an endless list. When life gives you lemons, you are blessed. You are beyond blessed.”

I think this is an impeccable timing to write about this. The Panoramic Soul has been running The Travel Intern Series since 2017, and our third season turned out to be a basket full of lemons—lessons, that is. It was a far-from-ideal outcome, but we do believe it was the lemony moment we may not have wanted, but we actually needed.

The year 2020 served us with a lot of hurdles, and it shows no sign of letting up soon. Nonetheless, we move forward, learn from the lessons, and proceed with a grand, brand-new season.