Diala and Filippo met at a brunch in Dubai at a place called Meschico—Diala was celebrating her birthday with friends, and Filippo had just arrived in the UAE two weeks earlier to start a new job. Booze and bad dance moves (or extraordinary in the eyes of the groom) brought them together on the dance floor, where they laughed, danced all afternoon, and eventually exchanged Instagrams. Before heading their separate ways, they snapped this picture—a moment neither of them knew would lead to so much more.
Take a wild guess. Spoiler: It was Filippo, but let’s rewind.
Their first trip together was to Sicily during COVID—classic timing. Filippo, in true last-minute fashion, pulled off a holiday that was short but sweet. They explored Siracusa, Noto, and Taormina, where they had what could only be described as a mix of romance and disaster.
First, Siracusa welcomed them with its first rain of the season, turning the town into a swimming pool overnight. They woke up to a flooded room and soaked belongings, but instead of letting soggy socks ruin the vibe, they laughed it off and carried on exploring. Then, Mount Etna decided to put on a show, erupting just in time to mess up their route back and delay their flight
Somewhere between dodging lava, bailing water, and eating Arancini, Filippo said “I love you.”
Back-packing dreams and street food nightmares. When Diala and Filippo met, they bonded over their shared love of hostel stays, backpacking adventures, and what Filippo jokingly called his “toxic habit of staying in hostels and admiring poisoning street food.” It was the perfect setup for a lifetime of budget travel—or so Diala thought.
What Filippo failed to mention was his undiscovered ace: the Marriott Bonvoy loyalty program. Once uncovered, it turned their “hostel and street food” life upside down. Suddenly, the couple found themselves in five-star hotels, sipping cocktails by the pool, and racking up points like seasoned pros.
But they still identify as backpackers—just the kind who walk into Marriott lounges with dusty backpacks, pretending they don’t secretly love the fluffy robes and endless breakfast buffets.
When Filippo met Diala, he made one thing very clear: he wasn’t a fan of cats. He even went as far as suggesting that if they ever lived together, Hendricks, Diala’s beloved feline, would have to go. Bold move.
Fast forward a few years, and the story is…a little different. Hendrick’s is now the undeniable center of their universe. Filippo spends more time with the cat than with Diala and has gone from “I don’t like cats” to “Hendricks needs a better brand of wet food.”
Filippo has officially gone from cat skeptic to full-time cat dad—proof that Hendricks isn’t just a pet; he’s the boss (Picture speaks a thousand words).
Oh, he did—on what was technically another backpacking trip for the couple. Wink-wink.
It all started when Filippo planned a secret getaway and told Diala to pack everything: casual, fancy, wintery, beachy—you name it. So she did . At the airport, Diala discovered they were heading to Mauritius! Quite the ambitious plan for someone who booked it all himself. Let’s just say, things weren’t exactly seamless on arrival. (Disclaimer from your narrator: Diala may have been slightly hormonal.)
Despite the hiccups, the couple spent a few unforgettable days in paradise—well, mostly. On the third day, Filippo took Diala to the beach, wearing the same outfit he had on when the went on their first date. With the tunes of Ed Sheeran (predictable, but effective) playing in the background, he got down on one knee and popped the question and oh did she cry.
It took Diala 62 suspense-filled seconds to say yes. But hey, we all know she’s not going anywhere—not without her “backpack” companion for life