trains, planes, and new friends

The rest of my time in Europe went by in a whirlwind of planes, trains, and new friends. There are about 1,001 things that I loved about Europe, but one thing in particular I've really come to love are long train rides. And wow have I had a lot of those. But it became my respite admist busy movement. There was this space and time to think as I got to watch the world pass by outside the window.  I am going to miss those train rides as I leave Europe...


Florence & Venice

View from the top of the cathedral in Florence.

I was greeted in Florence by Sara and Besmir. Thank you dear Marte Samuelstuen for connecting me to these two wonderful people! Highlight: After a homemade Italian meal from Sara, I hit the city. Stop 1: a 430+ stair climb to the top of the cathedral. It was worth every step. The sun was just going down and the city lights were coming up. I could see for miles in every direction. It was this great moment where I was reminded not to rush, and to just take a depth breath and enjoy.

Best. canoli. ever. In Venice.

Venice happened in a flash. I arrived in the morning and left that night to catch a night train to Munich. Venice is as picturesque as I've heard and immediately enchanting with its chanals, boats, and amazing buildings. But admist the beauty I was also sad to see so much commercialism. I know Venice isn't the first or the last city to commodify its natural beauty but it just struck me as I was there. I just kept wondering if we can open up places to be enjoyed without partially destroying them. This question gives me food for thought as I wander through places as a tourist...


Munich & Salzburg

Looking out at the lakes and mountains outside of Salzburg.

The theme of the following 4 days in Germany and Austria was making friends.The first night in Munich I met Angie and Joe from Colorado - they sort of saved me from an awkward conversation at a restaurant I was at and we spent the night talking, dancing, and listening to German folk music. The next day I met Maron who, after our day tour, invited me to go to an ice hockey game with her husband and daughter. Go Germany! And then there was the group of teachers who invited me to dinner with them after our Sound of Music tour in Salzburg (yes, I did the tour and it was awesome!!!!! I felt like I was 10 years old again and loved every second of it!). The group of us ate at this 120+ year old restaurant run by monks - wow, it was go-od. Then there was Amelie and the Miessner family that I met at Taize who hosted me for a night and gave me a tour around the Black Forrest area in Germany before I headed back to Paris. Mrs. Miessner even took me to her weekly dance class where a group of about 12 of German women, 1 guy, and I danced to Russian, Greek, and other Eastern music for a couple hours. By far one of my most random but favorite memories!


A quick stop in Dublin

New friend Chloe! She was so fun!

I had a short 24 hour layover in Dublin and was so grateful to connect with Chloe (Shout out to Sarah Weber for connecting us!). She became an insta-friend. We wandered the streets of Dublin, did some shopping, and talked about life. It definitely was, as Chloe said, a "whistlestop tour" but I got a tinsy taste of the city and enjoyed super fun company.

A beautiful, peaceful park in Munich, Germany.

Making new friends has definitely been one of my favorite parts of traveling. I think something changes in the way we see "the other" when traveling. Instead of seeing others as strangers in your way, they are like you, just enjoying a journey, and in that spirit there is more welcome and invitation to friendship. I hope to try to create this "traveler's culture" in my life at home. To invite people in my journey, like people did for me, offering hospitality in small ways when I can. I am grateful for this lesson.  

I'm nearly 2 months into this journey and there are no words that sum anything up. If anything I have so many more questions about the world and myself, but I'm learning. I'm learning how to hold onto this whole experience loosely, like a loaned gift. My tendency often is to grip tightly to goodness, as if I can control it. But in reality goodness can't be contained in one place, one person, one experience. The bigger lesson is how to continue to see and receive goodness in a new day and new place, not trying to drag something along from the past. I miss home, the comfort of people who know me deeply, and I am ok with that. I have to let myself feel it all, knowing its all part of the journey. Next stop is Guatemala. I'm totally exhausted in everyway but excited for this last chapter. Much love!

Pastries & Prayer

Sorry it's taken me a while to write, internet has been sparse! Stepping off the plane in Paris was surreal. The city was just waking up when I arrived, light was beginning to come up behind old buildings and I couldn’t wait to get out and explore. The movement from Africa to the heart of Paris was strange and difficult without a bridge or space to help me transition. I knew it would be hard but I also knew that I had to be present and take in the new place now in front of me. I think that is the hardest part of traveling to many places, to allow what you have experienced to linger with you while being totally open to the experience of the new. So I took the long train ride from the airport to my hotel and just took things in and let myself settle into Paris.

I immediately fell in love with Paris. I mean, it is the city of love after all. Walking lively streets covered with falling red, brown, and yellow leaves, I felt blissfully alone but surrounded by life and energy. My first metro ride, I emerged from the station to see the Arc de Triomphe to my right and the Champes Elysees to my left. Then I walked. Down the Champes Elysees, through a park, and over the Seine river. And then there she was, nestled between fall colored trees, old buildings, a blue sky – the Eiffel Tower. Call me a hopeless romantic but it was like a dream. I wandered through streets and neighborhoods and just soaked it into my soul.

I think Paris has been given a bad rap over the years as being stuffy, cold, and unfriendly. I found the opposite to be true. So many people were helpful and friendly. Like Joel from the little wine shop who sat with me for 30 minutes to tell me all the best places to eat in the area and where I should visit and how to get there. What a gem. And don't get me started on the food! Ahhh, there was pastesserie after pastesserie with crossants, breads, quiches, and little macaroon cookies. Oh and stands with crepes everywhere. O la la!

The next day I met up with Jamie Netherland who’s in Paris helping with a PLNU study abroad program and she was my tour guide for the day. We saw so much of the city in just a few hours. Among my favorites were the Montmarte where they shot the chase scene from Amelie. At the top you can see the entire city and we took in the landscape while we listened to a man play familiar tunes on his harp. Magical. In the evening we met up with more friends – Rosalie Rhine and Tracy Le. We had amazing evening going to the ballet and to a real french dinner after with Gabby Sanchez who is also in Paris. Paris was the place to be in November apparently! It was a real treat to hang out with such fun and dear friends!



Crepes!

Monet painting that spanned a whole wall at the Musee de Orangerie in Paris.

Then it was off to Taizé. The train ride there took me across the French countryside. A complete constrast to the busy city, houses stood miles apart and with acres of farms with cows, trees, and open space. A perfect way to be ushered into a week of peace and reflection. It took me a couple days to slow down from my fast pace and settle into the simplicity and routine of Taizé life. Each day we had a time of prayer in the main church. Song chants are repeated and prayers are read in multiple languages. My small group alone was a mix of people from Belgium, Germany, Hong Kong, Australia, and France! I loved hearing so many languages at prayer times and around camp at meals. I found it so beautiful that we were a collective group of people, disconnected from the outside, but all walking toward God, creator of all people and all together for a week of community.

Train ride to Taizé

Taizé is this open space that comes alive with its people and the movement of God among them. I got used to the rhythm of life. Prayer, work, time in community. Routine has been redeemed in many ways for me this week. My resistance to schedule and routine melted into peaceful gratitude for set quiet moments built into the day. I think I'll find myself back to Taizé some day, its one of those places that calls you back to that open space where you can just be. My soul feels refreshed and I am sure I'll continue to discover the significance of this week as my trip unfolds. 

St. Francis stained glass at Taizé

Now I jump back into travel and movement. Next stop Florence, Italy! Buon giorno pizza, gelato, and pasta! I thought I'd share also my prayer for myself right now: Find the good in today. Be grateful, this moment is a gift. Listen and learn.