Ciao! Hi!
We're Daysi and David — two flatlanders figuring out mountain life in the Italian Alps.
Not to sound cliché, but yes, we quit our corporate jobs to chase a life that values meaning and experience over profit.
It all started when Daysi was up for the hundredth time, trying to log enough billable hours to meet her requirement. There had to be more to life than spending most of the week staring at a computer screen. So, she started dreaming.
David, being from Europe, wasn’t exactly a hard sell when she floated the idea. When Daysi finally worked up the courage to say, “Huh, I wonder what life would be like in Europe?” David — who was also burnt out after nearly a decade in finance (talk about boring) — jumped at the thought.
Over a year of planning later, we made it. In August 2025, we officially started living la dolce vita in our favorite type of terrain — the freaking Alps!
Spaghetti & Summits is our little corner of the internet for anyone dreaming of a life in Europe or in the mountains — whether you’re planning a trip to the Dolomites, moving abroad, or just craving an escape from the nine-to-five (we’ve been there!).
Here, we share hikes, cycling routes, cozy rifugi, travel tips, and all things Italy and European travel. We have a lot of hobbies. Definitely “masters of none,” but trying to become masters of some.
Why “Spaghetti & Summits”?
Because it captures the two things we love most — simple Italian pleasures and wild alpine peaks.
For us, mountain life isn’t about being expert climbers or elite athletes. It’s about feeling small in big landscapes, savoring slow mornings, and learning to live with a little more intention (and a lot more pasta).
Yes, we’ll wake up at 4 a.m. to summit a mountain — but you can bet we’ll race down just in time for aperitivo and a plate of pasta. We’re mildly wildly ambitious when it comes to adventures, if that makes sense.
If you’ve ever felt like alpine climbing, cycling, or skiing have huge entry barriers, we’re here as proof they don’t. These things are more accessible than they look with the right preparation and courage.
Every hike, climb, and ride reminds us that reaching the summit — in life or in the mountains — takes patience, humility, and really good snacks (which Italy just happens to excel at).
Everything you see here — from photos to stories to videos — is created by us. We’re not professional athletes or influencers. Just two regular people figuring out how to do cool stuff, one caffè at a time.
And if you still don’t believe we’re amateurs, just know:
- Daysi spent most of her life in Florida (where the tallest “peak” is Mount Trashmore — yes, Florida’s biggest landfill).
- David’s from the Czech Republic and spent more time in pubs than on peaks.
- For the past six years, Daysi and David lived in Chicago — home to deep dish pizza and baseball, not mountains.
We met in Chicago, fell in love, and now we’re learning Italian one mispronounced word at a time.
Oh — and our cat, Chirpy, is the true boss of this operation. She moved with us too. She was so excited to be in Italy that she literally escaped on the plane (don’t worry, she’s fine).
Thanks for being here — we’re genuinely glad you found us.