In the words of Jason Mraz...
"I'm lucky to have been where I have been...I'm lucky to be coming home again!"
"I'm lucky to have been where I have been...I'm lucky to be coming home again!"
Thursday, May 28, 2009
The Plane Flight home...
This plane ride was 8 hours and 47 minutes....it makes me tired just thinking about it. So, you know the 85% that I talked about in an earlier post? Well, within the 85% there are smaller divisions. The President and Vice President of the Sleep Apnea division were seated in front of me...a 90 lb. man and his 600 lb. wife.
Side note: The lady sitting behind me had stopped the flight attendant and was talking to her about the meals on the plane. She was exlpaining how she had certain dietary restrictions and had to eat gluten free food only...she is CLEARLY a member of the 85%. Then she had the flight attendant ask me if I would please put my seat upright instead of having it recline. It was a request that had me caught so off guard that I just did it and couldn't think of any thing to say in response.
So, as I was sitting at a perfect 90 degree angle and listening to my Ipod, this lady in front of me decides that she wants to all of a sudden recline her chair. Moving at the speed of light, she mashes in the button and puts every once of her body weight into the chair so it comes flying back, gashing into both of my knees. Within a blink of an eye, my personal space had narrowed to zero. With my kneecaps throbbing and my seatback upright, I had to figure out another position. So, I turned to my side so that my hip bones were digging into the bottom of the seat and my knees were pointed to the side so that they could be rammed by the first drink cart that came cruising down the isle.
As I sat in the most humanly possible uncomfortable position, the lady in front of me slipped on her neck pillow and drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Then I started to notice an awful lot of people turning their heads and looking in my direction. I removed my blaring earphones to try to figure out what was going on. The lady in front of me (fully equipped with an eye mask, earplugs, and a neck pillow) was fast asleep and snoring like a boarhog. There is no doubt in my mind that she snores louder than Jack Utz, Wesley Wheeler, Jimmy Riddle, Wad, and Royal put together. I was genuinely embarassed for her....for the next 7 hours.
Side note: The lady sitting behind me had stopped the flight attendant and was talking to her about the meals on the plane. She was exlpaining how she had certain dietary restrictions and had to eat gluten free food only...she is CLEARLY a member of the 85%. Then she had the flight attendant ask me if I would please put my seat upright instead of having it recline. It was a request that had me caught so off guard that I just did it and couldn't think of any thing to say in response.
So, as I was sitting at a perfect 90 degree angle and listening to my Ipod, this lady in front of me decides that she wants to all of a sudden recline her chair. Moving at the speed of light, she mashes in the button and puts every once of her body weight into the chair so it comes flying back, gashing into both of my knees. Within a blink of an eye, my personal space had narrowed to zero. With my kneecaps throbbing and my seatback upright, I had to figure out another position. So, I turned to my side so that my hip bones were digging into the bottom of the seat and my knees were pointed to the side so that they could be rammed by the first drink cart that came cruising down the isle.
As I sat in the most humanly possible uncomfortable position, the lady in front of me slipped on her neck pillow and drifted off into a peaceful slumber. Then I started to notice an awful lot of people turning their heads and looking in my direction. I removed my blaring earphones to try to figure out what was going on. The lady in front of me (fully equipped with an eye mask, earplugs, and a neck pillow) was fast asleep and snoring like a boarhog. There is no doubt in my mind that she snores louder than Jack Utz, Wesley Wheeler, Jimmy Riddle, Wad, and Royal put together. I was genuinely embarassed for her....for the next 7 hours.
Reality
My trip to Europe was truely amazing...more than I could have ever asked for. I really believe that my soul feeds off of adventure and exploration. Observing other cultures, other countries, and other people is incredible to me. I loved taking note of the different ways of life in Europe...different behavior, different food, different standards, different lingo....the buildings look different, the streets are designed different, and even the homeless beg in a different way.
I must confess that I was looking so forward to letting go of my routine that I run everyday...waking up at the same time, feeding my dog the same food, driving the same route to work, talking to the same people, watching the same TV shows, listening to the same music, eating at the same restaurants, and the list goes on and on.
I was sure that breaking free from that routine and being on foreign soil would quench my thirst for something new...and it did. The part that I never expected was how much I would crave that not-so-bad routine back at home.
I definitely LOVE traveling...the whole experience entertains me. But, as my trip came to a close, I found myself looking forward to home. As soon as I stepped foot in North Carolina and saw my Mom waiting for me at the baggage claim and jumped in the car with my Dad, I realized just how much I appreciate this simple little life that I've got going. Of course, they brought Cole too, and seeing her tail wagging 100 miles per hour and getting some good licks on the face was just the cherry on top!
I'm an important part of an important family, and that is where I will always belong. When we are all together, we like to say that we are five fifths (5/5), and that little family saying came to life for me when I got home...we are complete when we are all together.
And as if my fam isn't enough, I was quickly reminded of a pretty incredible network of friends that surround me. It's no doubt that God created them just for me! Of course I felt so blessed and lucky to have taken such an incredible trip, but I think I felt just lucky to have them calling me before I was even off of the plane, and some of them even waiting for me as soon as I walked in the door.
I certainly learned a lot during the couple of weeks that I spent away, but in the end, I realized that I learned something that I already knew...there really is no place like home.
Rome, Italy
The Sistine Chapel...no picutes allowed...oops!
Rome was our last stop. We had a tour guide for the day, and she took us to the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, and the Roman Collosseum! Our group had a farwell dinner at an Italian restaurant with live Italian music....a Roman Banquet!!
Venice, Italy
This is Venice
Venice is hot!! We took a boat into Venice and spent the day roaming the streets. The street vendors selling knock off purses, sunglasses, and belts were all over us all day. The fact that there are no cars, buses, or taxis makes this city one of a kind!
Brussels, Belgium
This is Beligum
The land of Chocolate! We did a tour and had a demo of a chocolate factory and got to taste some samples. In celebration of Megan's birthday, I celebrated with a Belgian Waffle with chocolate......delicious! (Happy Bday Megs)
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Alpine Retreat
In front of our Resort
At the Crazy Daisy
Bike ride around the lake
This trip has been a whirlwind...different hotels every night....different cities everyday! But, the past few days, we have been at a resort in the Alps, and finally had some down time.
We arrived in Austia a few days ago and have been staying at a resort in Zell am See. This place is amazing....its tucked away in the snow capped mountains, with an outdoor pool and wonderful rooms! Our room is huge, and we have a balcony and private front yard that over looks the pool.
We walked down the the little village at the bottom of the hill and went to a place called the Crazy Daisy...we biked around the lake.....and we spent plenty of time by the pool!
A little relaxation was good, but now were off to Italy at 6am and well be there for the rest of our time in Europe.
We arrived in Austia a few days ago and have been staying at a resort in Zell am See. This place is amazing....its tucked away in the snow capped mountains, with an outdoor pool and wonderful rooms! Our room is huge, and we have a balcony and private front yard that over looks the pool.
We walked down the the little village at the bottom of the hill and went to a place called the Crazy Daisy...we biked around the lake.....and we spent plenty of time by the pool!
A little relaxation was good, but now were off to Italy at 6am and well be there for the rest of our time in Europe.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
More Pictures
River Cruise, Rhine River in Germany
Obviously, Eiffel Tower at night
Bridge in Paris leading to island where Notre Dame is located.
Outside the Louvre Museum in Paris
Louvre Museum in Paris...it is a mile long!
On the Tower Bridge in London
Pictures!!
In front of the worlds largest Louis Vuitton store....this is on the Champs Elysees
In Germany in front of Gotic Cathedral...Köln, Germany
River boat cruise on Rhine River, Germany with Em!
On the river boat cruise on Rhine River in Germany
more stuff
this picture is in front of Notre Dame in paris...it rained earlier that day
We were only in Belgium for a minute, and then we left for Germany. Things are going by so fast....I pack and unpack my suitcase EVERYDAY...and I always have to stop a think in the morning to remember where I am...its full speed ahead!!
So, we left Belgium and headed for Germany. We stopped in Koln (or Cologne) and saw a Cathedral and then got back on the bus and went a few more hours to the Rhine Valley. We took a river boat cruise down the Rhine River and saw some castles along the way. We got back on the bus for a few more hours and finally ended up in Heppenheim. Here, we had a Beer and Bratwurst dinner at a German restuarant....I dont really like German food, but I did my best. Poor Emily Nance is a vegatarian, and the only thing they have in this country is bratwurst.
Today, we got on the bus again and drove 5 hours to Munich. We have been in the city all day and we are staying here tonight and driving to Austria in the morning. We will be in Austia at the Alpine Retreat for 3 nights...this is the part of the trip where we get massages, saunas, herbal treatments.....lots of pampering....looking forward to that!!
Time is flying by....Im itching to get to Italy!!
rewind to paris, france
to be honest, everything is starting to run together...its hard to remember where weve been and where we are going.
let me rewind to paris...we were there for 2 days....got to see the arch de triumph, notre dame, sainte-chapelle, and Champs Elysees and so much more!
long story short....the champs elysees is a huge road (10 lanes wide) in the heart of paris that is famous for shopping....we started at one end and went all the way down. about half way down, i stopped in a store called monoprix and bought my mom a few things. when i walked in the next store, naf naf, i looked down and my purse (that blue bag that u can see in all my pictues) was wide open...i had been pick pocketed. of course, the wallet that my dad bought me that i was supposed to wear under my clothes was in the hotel room that day....it happened really quick. but, i realized it immediately, called the bank, and all is well. they only took my wallet...nothing else.
my friend, jessica is my personal banker and she took care of everything....new cards will be waiting for me when i get home! so, im out about $40 and thats all.....it could have been worse, but im good. emily got some money out of the bank for me, and we didnt skip a beat!
......and then we ate a few chocolate crepes!!!
let me rewind to paris...we were there for 2 days....got to see the arch de triumph, notre dame, sainte-chapelle, and Champs Elysees and so much more!
long story short....the champs elysees is a huge road (10 lanes wide) in the heart of paris that is famous for shopping....we started at one end and went all the way down. about half way down, i stopped in a store called monoprix and bought my mom a few things. when i walked in the next store, naf naf, i looked down and my purse (that blue bag that u can see in all my pictues) was wide open...i had been pick pocketed. of course, the wallet that my dad bought me that i was supposed to wear under my clothes was in the hotel room that day....it happened really quick. but, i realized it immediately, called the bank, and all is well. they only took my wallet...nothing else.
my friend, jessica is my personal banker and she took care of everything....new cards will be waiting for me when i get home! so, im out about $40 and thats all.....it could have been worse, but im good. emily got some money out of the bank for me, and we didnt skip a beat!
......and then we ate a few chocolate crepes!!!
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Belgian Waffles
So, we left Paris this morning and took a 4 hour bus ride to Brussels, Belgium. We did a tour of Planet Chocoloate, a chocolate factory in downtown Brussels. We are leaving in the morning, so not much time to explore this place, but we did have time to eat a chocolate belgian waffle....YUM. It's kinda dirty here, but our hotel is really cool...it's called Hotel Bloom...you might be able to look it up!
We're off to Germany in the morning!
We're off to Germany in the morning!
Friday, May 15, 2009
Paris, France
We made it to Paris this morning! We took a 2.5 hour train trip and it was raining when we got here. We took a bus around the city today and then had a French Bistro dinner with the group at a French restaurant...salad, roast chicken, mashed potatoes, and creme brulee!
It's really hard to use this computer because everything is in French, and we have to be back at the bus in 10 minutes to go do a night tour of the Eiffel Tower!
Details coming soon......
Thursday, May 14, 2009
A Royal Day
The Tower Bridge
A Carriage at the Royal Mews
The Royal Mews
Buckingham Palace
Processional after Changing of the Guards
Buckingham Palace
(remember, for the other side of the story, visit Em Nance's blog at www.esn-in-europe.blogspot.com)
Buckingham Palace, the Royal Mews....a day for royality!!
Spiritual Food
It was awesome to walk into St. Paul's Cathedral and be in awe of such an amazing church. While I was inside, there was an announcement for everyone to join together to say the Lord's Prayer. It was really neat to see everyone stop being tourists (including me) for a moment and all recite that prayer together!!
We attended a worship service tonight at Westminster Abbey. The choir was so talented, and the place itself will just take your breath away. Princess Di's funeral was there, and the history in that building blew me away. I saw the place where Winston Churchill is buried.
I have definitely been overwhelmed by the ''places'' of worship, but what an awesome thought to know that God shows up in those places just like He shows up in my little church in Raleigh! Although being surrounded by amazing architechture and incredible stained glass makes me wide eyed.....I know that God has done some pretty powerful work in much less glamorous places!
DAY 4 in London
The picture on the left is in front of Kensington Palace. This is where Princess Di lived when the boys were little.
The picture below is
in front of St. Pauls Cathedral.
This is the church where Princess Di
got married!
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