Ok well I'm back from my adventure!
I have some wonderful stories, I’ve met some wonderful people, and I feel really good.
It might be that spring is soon to come... and if you take the time to look at the birds today, you will see that they are acting really strange lately... haha
With the combination of my trip to Britany and my trip around France, Spain and Italy I have this brand new feeling about my life situation. I learned in Britany that it is possible to live with a dry toilet, a wood stove, compost, recyclable water, and energy efficient electrical appliances when you just had your second baby. That you can be in the middle of building your house and still and make it the most comfortable home and then invite company over.
And when you need to spend money, spend it on things that will last, spend it on things that were made by one or two people, spend it on materials that are natural and didn't harm anyone to make, and if you can... make it yourself. Paint, Write, Dance, Sing, Grow, Build, Cook, Clean, Nurture
I think its fact that people need to create, or express. And if technology takes all the creating away from us... how will we feel useful? If we go back to our instincts I think we will be able to live more naturally instead of against nature.
After Britany, I had a week to pack for my mini euro-trip. Then I got on the night train to Perpignan. I met up with my friend Elise, who I used to work with two years ago in Canada. I spent 3 sunny days with her and her friends. Very nice, very friendly people. Elise was so generous, she had her final exams the next week, and then she was moving after that... and she still agreed to have me over! Then she made some amazing meals and yummy anchovies with roasted red peppers (first time it was very good). We went to the coast which was sooo beautiful, the mountains on one side, the meditearanian on the other... dark grey cliffs and sailboats.... ahhhhh... that day was perfect. Thank you Elise.
Barcelona. well it’s great. Of course there was a lot of partying involved. But the conversations that were shared were so interesting! I swear we spent hours talking about "the brain". Personal stuff was shared with strangers, food was shared, wine was shared, hugs, smiles... everything was shared... as long as you were sharing yourself too. I really liked the people I met... and I ended up staying longer then I planned. I learned that I need to give more. I'm the type of person who does everything myself, for myself. And this is obvious to the people around me, and it’s not a very lovable characteristic. So new direction... Give. Thank you Barcelona. (Tash, Sarah, Lyz, Anna, Joao, Rafa, Luis, Polish, Guy who took us to the beach and name I can't remember...)
Valencia, was a hard switch... truth be told, I didn't want to ever leave Barcelona. So of course it was hard to appreciate the beauty of the city and the hostel this time (which was like a really smelly hospital). But I was lucky again, and I met three Italians. The first Italians I've ever met! haha... we (they) spoke mostly in Italian, with Filippo translating the conversation into English for me. We then met up with a Spanish girl and there was a time when we were mixing French, Spanish, Italian, and English. It’s actually pretty incredible. But all of our heads were exploding because we were all trying so hard to understand each other, and to be understood. Such inspiration for me to continue learning French, and to try to learn other languages as well... I'm thinking Portuguese will be the next one... so I’m going to start that right away. Thank you Trieste (Flo, Filippo, Steven)
Venice. By the time I got here, I was sooo incredibly tired and lost. I didn't do any research about Venice before going, because I was going to meet Steph there later at night. So I arrived in the ghetto, of some city that is beside Venice, because Venice is actually pretty small, on an island. (that’s why it’s soo expensive to stay there) So I found the hostel in this ghetto town, and slept. Then the next day Steph and I and Andrew went across the sea to Venice. It’s beautiful. But it’s Disneyland to me. You can choose to eat shop or take a ride on a gondola... for 100 euro. So we walked, for I think 7 hours. It was a sunny day, and the view was beautiful. And it was nice to see my sister again.
And now... Paris. Ahh it feels so good to be back, with clean clothes. I missed my host family, and it was great to see each other again.
I miss you all and I send you my love!
-Adie
