image of art replicas in Florence, by Jessica

I will never forget turning the corner and seeing for the first time the Santa Maria del Fiore rise before me in all her glory. Chills ran down my spine as it hit me: I was in Florence, Italy, in the heart of the Renaissance! History surrounded me, dating back hundreds and hundreds of years.

A romantic at heart and fascinated by the years and influence of the Renaissance, I have always dreamed of visiting Italy and seeing it all first-hand. But it took 43 years to achieve this dream. My husband and I spent a month in Tuscany, Italy, and during that trip, we returned to Florence several times, deeming it among our favorite places in the world to pass the day.

By Jessica Arent, Feature Author

Raised in San Francisco, California, Jessica Arent views everything and everyone as “normal.” For her, there have never been boundaries nor obstacles. Travelling the world is Jessica’s passion, as she believes that the experiences of cultural immersion and adventure broaden our perspective of ourselves and the community around us, and further educate us in tolerance and an understanding that we are not all the same -- rather, we are an extraordinary, intertwined tapestry of differences and vibrant colors to be explored and experienced. Jessica has sought out opportunities throughout her career which have continued this journey in understanding, broadened her horizons, and strengthened her resolve and her character.

The mother of an OUT gay teen, Jessica advocates for equality with a force to be reckoned with, believing that we are all created equal, all entitled to live our lives fully and completely without bias or restraint, and every human being has the primal right to love and be loved in matrimony and union, if we so choose. A die-hard romantic herself, she is passionate about opening doors to a brave new world of romantic adventure and exploration. Writing about the places she has been, and the places you will go, allows her to leave her own indelible mark on the world, and make a difference in every extraordinary life she touches through her articles.

Jessica is CEO of PROMESA, LLC with GAY WEDDING MEXICO <http://www.gayweddingmexico.com> and a welcomed contributor to 10,000 Couples' section called Romantic Getaways for Same Gender Couples.

More Featured Articles