Saying goodbye to this blog is so hard...

We've been back for two weeks now and I still can't detach from this blog. I didn't feel closure on my last post (and I'm not really sure that I ever will).
A common question has been how we've adjusted to life back in the US and at work. Some days I think we've adjusted fairly smoothly and quickly. At other times, a certain feeling creeps inside of me...deep in my soul reminding me of life in other places.
I can smell the baker in Florence and feel the cool and damp air in my face as I stuck my head out the kitchen window as far as I could to see down the street. I can hear the cats fight in the ruins across from our Crete studio with the full moon shining behind the cathedral's tower. I feel the heat on my shoulders and can taste the honey on my fruits as we ate breakfast in our favorite corner cafe under the Greek sky. I can feel the warmth of the wool throw in our Barcelona apartment and smell the freshness of the clothes drying in our kitchen as I feared hanging it from such a high floor. I feel the snow flakes falling on my head and face as we paced around canals in Amsterdam. I live the excitement of seeing my parents exhausted from their long trip finally meet us amidst the rising waters in Venice. I can see, truly see, the Eiffel tower sparkling sometimes slower, sometimes faster but always so beautiful.
All of these things I feel so deeply and passionately. I realize that the transformation was, perhaps, greater than I had expected. That the impact of this journey is like the ripple caused by a water drop or a stone in a pool of water. That the greatest adjustment is not about going back to a more standard lifestyle, but about learning how to be the new person that has evolved from this and about recognizing the changes that only the soul can know.
The journey continues.

Just a few thoughts hours before our departure home...

When we embarked on this journey we feared the unknown and soon into our journey it was the unknown that became familiar. Not knowing the languages, customs, foods, streets, and sounds of each place simply became a part of life. We tested our ability to adapt to new circumstances with every new location. However, now that we are just hours from returning home to what is technically familiar, I find myself anxious to leave all of this behind.
More than a long (and dream) vacation, this was a journey of discovery for me. A well deserved time to reflect on my direction, to challenge myself in new and exciting ways, and to learn about life in other places. I learned that across lands people are just people. That you find good and bad everywhere and that every place has its strengths and weaknesses. I learned that home really is what you make of it and that only one has the power to change the course of one’s life by pursuing the dreams that inspire us to become more centered and better people. The reality is that it would take me pages and days to put into words what this experience has taught me and how it has transformed my way of thinking.
I thank God that our journey was a safe one and for the family and friends who joined us through these pages showing their love and support even when we were so far away.

Looking back

This is Ian. Well, it was inevitable that this night would come... its the final night of 222 nights in Europe.

Tonight we watched the Eiffel Tower twinkle its final show and as I look back on the journey, some other vivid memories come to mind. I couldn't capture all of them in this post but here are a few of my sentimental highlights in no special order:

-Stepping into the main hall of the Academia in Florence and seeing Michelangelo's 17 foot pure white marble David waiting at the end of the hall.

-Standing on the deck of the ship at night while it sailed through the straight of Gibraltar with the lights of Africa to my left and Europe to my right.

-Sitting on a beach on the coast of Portugal, peering out over the Atlantic in the direction of Miami where countless times I've sat on the beach and looked out toward Europe.

And my favorite of all....

Being out in the world for close to 8 months on a journey to nowhere, without a reason or a care and with Valentina smiling right beside me the whole way.

I'll cherish it always.

Prague Pics

We had a wonderful time when JD and Vanessa came and met up with us. We had great beer, great conversation, and a great location to enjoy. My laptop situation still stops me from posting pictures but luckily JD took these and sent them by email.

Hanging out in Prague drinking beer with JD and Vanessa.

A shot of one of the main squares. Prague was a killer destination that definitely lived up to all the great things we'd heard about it.

A shot of Charles Bridge from Prague Castles cathedral tower. I had to add this pic because JD and I put in a lot of work getting to the top. The views were worth it though.

As JD put it 'The 4 of us drinking over priced coffee in Old Town Square'.

Prague has so many photo opportunities it's sick, I just wish I could actually get them from my camera to the old laptop in our Paris apartment.

Trip Stats

Now that we are at our last city on the trip, here are the final stats that I can think of:

Nights in Europe: 222

Countries visited: 16 (Italy, Greece, Croatia, Tunisia (North Africa), Portugal, Spain, France, Switzerland, Austria, Germany, England, Ireland, Northern Ireland, Holland, Belgium, The Czech Republic)

Cities visited: 55

Longest City Stays: Barcelona (31 nights), Florence (22), Sorrento (19), Paris (17)

Estimated miles travelled by planes, trains, automobiles, and ships since leaving Miami: 23,400 which i believe is pretty close to the circumference of the earth.

Most expensive McDonalds McChicken meal in USD: $14 in Switerland

Pictures taken: Around 1,600

Hair cuts: 5 for Ian, 2 for Valen

Baguettes consumed: 73.5 (this one is a joke, we stopped counting these at around 40)

Total cost of the trip: ummmm, who cares?

Blog stats to follow later.... c ya.

Voila... we are in Paris!

Without a computer it is hard to post pictures of Berlin and Prague, but we'll try! Prague was a really beautiful city and having Vanessa and JD visit made it so much more special. I'll blog about our week later today when I have the patience to figure out this French keyboard!

Off to meet Vanessa and JD!

Berlin was an interesting place to visit -- we squeezed in so much in two days! Tomorrow we leave to Prague where we will meet up with friends! We are excited to have company again Ö