Lost in Venice: Julia Barretto discovers joys of solo travel

Julia Barretto | PHOTO: Julia’s official ig acct / @@juliabarretto

While Julia Barretto enjoys her life in show biz, there are times when she just wants to take a break from all the bustle and give herself some downtime—something that she gets to enjoy when traveling.

Last month, Julia flew to Venice, Italy, to attend a five-day arts and culture event. She then extended her trip for three more days to unwind and explore the city.

“I went sightseeing on my own, which was a nice experience. It was my first time exploring another country by myself. I want to go back. The weather, the food—beautiful. You get a sense of privacy. You have your personal space. You get to have all the time to yourself,” she said at a press conference for her new film, “Will You Be My Ex?,” now in cinemas.

While it would have been nice to have someone to share the moment with, there was something refreshing about traveling alone. “It was nice to just sit down and people-watch for a change. Sila naman ang pinapanood mo. And all the while, you’re just eating or having coffee,” she said.

But as a first-time solo traveler in a place she had never been before, Julia did end up getting lost at some point.

“It was also my first time to get lost, literally. At first, I thought, ‘Oh, I will just walk straight ahead so I will know how to get back.’ But before I knew it, I was getting distracted by gelato and pizza. You see something awesome and follow that path. And then you realize you’re lost,” she related.

“At one point, Google Maps was telling me to cross the water!” she said, laughing.

Memorable

But as nerve-wracking as it was, it turned out to be one of the trip’s most memorable experiences. “Sometimes, it can be nice to get lost. I was worried at first, but I enjoyed myself after a while. You stumble upon alleyways you’re hesitant to enter. But once you do, you end up finding a beautiful restaurant or view,” she said.

It was, in a way, a learning experience. “I have realized that I can trust myself in situations like that. Kaya ko naman pala. Flying there and knowing that I would be alone after the event, I got really anxious. But now I know I can manage,” she said.

The trip was just what Julia needed to recharge for the busy days ahead. “But I love my life and career. I love that I get to talk to you guys, that I can sing my recorded songs at mall shows. I’m very thankful that people want to have photos taken with me, that people want to ask me questions,” she said.

Produced by Viva Films and directed by Real Florido, “Will You Be My Ex?” revolves around Chris (Julia), an impulsive, carefree, but loving young woman who grew up in a family of artists; and Joey (Diego Loyzaga), an introverted, hardworking civil engineer who hopes to build the ‘perfect’ future with the woman he loves.

Relatable

Julia Barretto (left) and Diego Loyzaga in “Will You Be My Ex?”

The two enter a relationship, but later on realize that they make better friends than lovers. But a couple of years after their breakup, their paths cross and they unwittingly become each other’s pillars or constants. Now they ask themselves: “Can exes really be friends? Or is it just love disguised as friendship?’”

“I said yes to the project quickly. It’s a relatable love story because many people have been through this, being at a crossroads and wondering if we should give the relationship another chance or just end it,” Julia pointed out. “This movie really stretched me as an actress emotionally and physically. The character has many sides to her.”

“But you have to take the leap. You have to take risks and trust yourself that you can do anything as long as you put your heart into it. Doing this film reminded me why I do what I do, why I love movies and romantic comedies and dramas. You learn something new all the time. I still surprise myself that I can pull off certain emotions or nuances,” she added.

Meanwhile, working with Diego was a breeze, Julia said, because they have been friends for a while now. “It was a nice chance to catch up. It was like a reunion. The last time we worked together was around 2014,” Julia said. “There was no awkwardness when it came to romantic scenes. And he showed a lot of heart and vulnerability.”

The 26-year-old actress added: “I’m glad we did this at a good time in our lives. He showed me so much kindness on the set. We just kept having conversations so that when we did our scenes, we were already in a place where we could just be comfortable with each other even in silence.”