The Best Year Yet: Reflecting on “Roaring22″
“I think this is when most people give up on their stories. They come out of college wanting to change the world, wanting to get married, wanting to have kids and change the way people buy office supplies. But they get into the middle and discover it was harder than they thought. They can’t see the distant shore anymore and they wonder if their paddling is moving them forward. None of the trees behind them are getting any smaller and none of the trees ahead are getting bigger … and they go looking for an easier story.”
“Once you live a good story, you get a taste for a kind of meaning in life, and you can’t go back to being normal; you can’t go back to meaningless scenes stitched together by the forgettable thread of wasted time.“
–Donald Miller, “A Million Miles in a Thousand Years”
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Amsterdam Adventures
Amsterdam was the half-way point on my two-week-long backpacking trip. Exhaustion was beginning to set in, which, admittedly, may have colored my view of the city — that and the fact that it rained most of the two days I was there. It wasn’t my favorite stop, but I liked it enough. It’s a city full of graphic artists which you can very much feel in the city’s architecture, and in the ambiance of its independent cafes and shops. Overrated? Maybe. But Amsterdam is definitely a place you’ve gotta stop if you’re traveling through Europe!
Antwerpen, Belgium
This was my first experience using AirBNB so I knew I was in for something new, but nothing could have prepared me for this unique experience. My host Deva — yoga instructor extraordinaire — picked me up from the train station on his motorcycle. Minutes later I found myself straddling this near stranger as we zoomed around town, dismounting at each of the city’s biggest landmarks. After the tour, Deva taught me how to make curry and naan from scratch. Our dinner guests: a shaman and a yogie. My time in Antwerp was one of physical and spiritual growth — being exposed to new things is what travel is all about!
In (and out of) Brugge
After spending the day in Brussels I took a train to Brugge. The sun didn’t set until nearly 11 pm, meaning I had ample time to explore upon arrival. I walked the canals, toured a Belgian chocolate factory… but my favorite memory of Brugge: a spontaneous 40-mile bike ride from Brugge to the Netherlands. I’d originally planned to cycle a mile or so outside the city. Mesmerized by the countryside, I just kept going… and going! If you’re ever ‘in Brugge’, I’d recommend also taking a jaunt out.
Bruxelles, Belgium
Alas, I am finally to the backpacking portion of my European adventures! In June, I spent two-weeks backpacking on my own. First stop… Brussels! After a very long four days spent covering the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, I packed up and headed out. I took the sunrise train from London, and so began two of the best weeks of my life!
Adoorable
Happy birthday to my step dad, Al! He collects pictures of doors. While I was traveling I took pictures of doors and windows everywhere I went, with the ultimate goal of enlarging some to add to his collection. He’ll have quite a few to choose from…
Venice, Italy
Venice, Italy
Borovets, Bulgaria
Ciao Bella, Venezia!
We took a train from Rome to Venice, and spent a few days traversing the canals of the city that’s on the water. My aunt — expert of all things Venetian — acted as our tour guide, showing us around the city’s finest shops and galleries. And, of course, no trip to Venice would be complete without a gondola ride. The sun was setting as our gondola teetered past the Basilica di Santa Maria della Salute and Doge’s Palace… I nearly had to pinch myself! Here are just a few photos from this lovely city…
