North America, check. South America, check. Asia, check. Europe, check.
I have a continent countdown. My goal is to travel to all seven continents in the next five years. Four down, three to go! YES, I am becoming a traveling snob!
I never really counted Europe as being one of my four since it was the first stamp in my passport. I traveled to Vienna, Austria in the summer of 2007 only for 10 days as a coach for a volleyball team. Technically I had visited Europe, but I didn't feel like it really counted toward my count down so I decided to go for round two this summer.
My school year ended in June and I officially became a second year teacher here at Seoul Foreign School. Those of us who know the rigor and demands at the school understand the importance of one year. Instead of floundering around like a clueless first year, I have graduated to a wet-around-the-ears second year teacher! This is a huge step and one that calls for a celebration. So, celebrate I did!
My first stop to kick off my summer was Honolulu, Hawaii. Shocking that I have never been to Hawaii, but it is true. One of my colleagues and I decided that Hawaii was where we wanted to unwind and dive into the culture of this tropical paradise. We met two other friends on the island and began our quest. We stayed in an amazing hotel overlooking the coast, we sampled the local food, we visited the somber sight of Pearl Harbor, we hiked Diamond head mountain and we took a drive along the coast to try our hand at surfing on the infamous North Shore of Oahu. I relished the luaus and was mesmerized by the beauty of the island. I am still considering moving to Hawaii and teaching at an international school and then learning to surf on the weekends; thus being the oldest professional woman surfer in the business! You are never too old to try and never too old to dream!
After my paradise retreat, I arrived in Lafayette, Indiana to visit my family. I will never grow tired of seeing my family greet me at the airport. There is nothing like coming HOME! It was a time to catch up, fill ourselves with good food and relish in the missed memories of time spent apart.
I was not home for long before I was heading for another airport. One of my best friends had decided to tie the knot with a guy she met on EHarmony. It is amazing to me how God works sometimes. Meeting over the internet and falling in love is not so uncommon these days and that is exactly what happened to Julie and Kirby. I flew to State College, PA and met my friend to help prepare for the wedding madness! I was so thankful that I was in the States for her wedding and it was a great time of fellowship, food and happiness. I felt honored to be a part of her big day!
Only three days after arriving in Indiana after the wedding I was packing my suitcases once again. This time I was heading to Europe FOR REAL! I had a two week itinerary and I would be flying to Geneva, Switzerland and then heading to Florence, Italy and finally ending my trip in Rome, Italy.
I flew to Switzerland to stay with my good friends Val and Todd. I met them four years ago in Santa Cruz, Bolivia and instantly clicked with the bubbly blond and her fiance. We have some great memories in Bolivia and have continued to be close friends. I was spoiled in their beautiful home that overlooked Mount Blanc and held an impressive view of downtown Geneva. We ate traditional meals of cheese and bread and wine and I feel in love with the serene landscape of Switzerland. I was able to spoil baby Josephine, catch up on some much needed girl time with Val and enjoy the amazing grill talents of Todd B. I didn't want to leave at the end of five days. We drove from Geneva to Poggibonsi, Italy (a trip that is a whole other story in itself) and I was personally delivered to the train station by Valerie. This was where my apprehension started. I was excited to see Italy, but nervous since I was going to be sightseeing on my own. I arrived in Florence, Italy on July 9th, 2011 - my birthday! :) I had a wine tasting tour arranged and quickly found my way to the bus and the other 60 strangers. The vineyards and landscape of Italy was breathtaking. We toured a castle and sampled wine and I quickly forgot that I was traveling solo. I talked to others that were in Italy for the first time and at one point I was serenaded by the "Happy Birthday" song from people I will probably never see again in my life. It was a surreal moment and one that I will cherish as long as I live.
I loved Florence - the romance of the language, the intimacy of the people, the divine food, the glamorous sights and the handsome men. I was only planning to stay there two days and decided to extend my trip to three days after seeing an ad for a Walkabout tour through Cinque Terra! The next day I headed out with 30 other people to visit the five fishing villages of the infamous Cinque Terra. I cannot even describe the beauty of this place. I trekked around the villages, I savored the local food, I swam in the Mediterranean, and I drank wine that was renowned from each of the five villages. To say the least, I sucked the marrow out of Cinque Terra and I loved it!
Next on my list and the last of my destinations was Rome, Italy. The infamous, the notorious, ROMA! I arrived quite tired from my excursions, but determined to experience Rome and all of the landmarks that I have read about for years. I booked night tours to see the famous fountains and I booked a day tour to take me to the Coliseum, the Vatican, Sistine Chapel and St. Peter's square. YES, I am one of those travelers that does all the touristy things first!
Weary from time zone differences, hotel beds and loads of pasta and wine, I ventured to my last tour learning about the history of Rome and the Vatican. Ever since I can remember I have wanted to visit Rome and learn about Michelangelo and see for myself what all the fuss was about. I have flipped through countless travel books, attended boring lectures, watched numerous documentaries, but nothing could prepare me for what I saw. The stamp in my passport had little value until now. I was huddled under the Sistine Chapel with hundreds of other visitors that were sweating and being told, "Quiet", "No photos". I had been traveling for over two weeks in Europe - this was my last stop in my adventure. My feet were exhausted, my ears hurt from trying to decipher Italian, and I was being shoved by other tourists that have no concept of personal space. I craned my neck upward and stared at the handiwork of this man that wasn't even a painter. I marveled at the colors, I was awe-struck by the details and I just gazed in silence. It was a sacred moment.
My stamp in my passport finally mattered.
Four out of seven continents is not bad....not bad at all!
Next stop, AUSTRALIA!
