Some of the most memorable moments from my travels have happened when the plan unraveled. They were not the perfectly timed trains or the scheduled sightseeing stops. They were the surprises that slipped in when I thought the day was already spoken for.

One weekend stands out clearly in my mind. On Saturday, I took a trip to Naples, with my au pair friends. It was a full day of wandering through narrow streets, eating pizza so good it made me pause mid-bite, and watching the sunset light up the Bay of Naples. I returned home late that night, happily tired, with my bag packed for the next day. Sunday was meant to be a trip to Pisa. As an au pair living in Italy, trust me when I say, you’ll spend every ounce of your free time adventuring.

At the time, I was an au pair living in Pigneto, just outside the main hub of the city. To get to Termini, Rome’s main train station, I had to walk across the street, take a little tram, and then walk uphill to the platforms. That morning, it was too much. Between the late night and far too much pizza in Naples, I could not get myself out the door in time. By the time I finally looked at the clock, my train to Pisa was long gone.

At first, I felt disappointed. I had been looking forward to seeing the Leaning Tower, walking the old streets, and taking the train through the countryside. But after a cup of coffee and a moment to reset, I decided the day did not have to be wasted. If I could not go to Pisa, I could give myself a different kind of day.

I left my apartment with no real plan and took myself on my own Roman holiday. I wandered through neighborhoods I had never explored before. I lingered in small piazzas, ordered coffee at cafés where the baristas chatted with locals, and ducked into churches to admire the quiet beauty inside. I let the day unfold without a schedule, following the pull of curiosity rather than a timetable.

By the evening, I realized this unplanned day in Rome had given me something even more valuable than the trip I had imagined. It reminded me that travel is not only about the destinations we choose. It is also about how we meet the unexpected with openness.

Looking back, that Sunday was one of the most joyful days of my time abroad. It taught me that missed trains can lead to discoveries I never knew I needed and that sometimes the best stories come from the plans that never happened!