after a month in europe, i am back at my home base in the states.
it was an incredible journey that stretched me in many ways.
the trip included elements of both a personal and business nature.
i’ve been energized and inspired, and i now have more clarity going forward.
much of my trip has been captured forever in images.
(as those of you who follow me on facebook can certainly attest to!)
memories of a lifetime that touched me or changed me in some way.
but there were several fleeting moments that escaped the click of my iphone.
as well as moments that simply could not be photographed.
these moments were just as meaningful, but are in danger of being forgotten.
so i have decided to make an attempt at describing these individual scenes.
to safeguard and remember them for eternity.
here is my list (in no particular order):
- large storks flying by the highway in spain, their huge nests in the trees alongside the road
- pink fruit blossoms in the orchards
- an old man on the back of a horse-drawn cart in portugal, driven by gypsies
- a shepherd herding his sheep, with an old-fashioned staff in one hand and a modern cell phone in the other
- american pop music (favoring taylor swift) playing in the background in portuguese, spanish, and french cafes and shops, while i tried communicating with the vendors in their native languages
- the charm of a frenchman
- black bull billboards in spain
- several intact castles nestled at the tops of hills in small villages
- the city of madrid, as seen from the highway
- a group of women friends talking, laughing, and gesturing at a portuguese cafe
- the absolutely genuine smile on a young french boy’s face, in response to the one i gave him
- red rock formations in the iberian peninsula
- a french subsidiary of the american company johnson controls in the countryside
- many many roundabouts
- church bells ringing
- a monastery with the pyrenees mountains in the background
- the breeze and scent of both the mountain air and the coastal air
- toll booths, everywhere
- very curvy french country roads (and several “grand prix drivers in training” passing us!)
- a glimpse of a bored french teenager in the backseat of a car
- the only american we saw during the entire month, with a huge backpack and a friendly wave, munching on a baguette as he sauntered off down the street
and so much more.
(as i recall additional moments, i’ll add them to my growing list.)
each of my days felt longer.
and the weeks seemed to move forward more slowly than usual.
i think there are lessons to be learned here.
always stay fully engaged in your surroundings.
live each moment with awareness and wonder.
be open to new experiences, even when it feels uncomfortable.
embrace the unknown and incorporate it into your framework.
s-t-r-e-t-c-h your l-i-f-e.
make it matter.
what is your favorite trip memory that you missed capturing visually?
*******
are you ready to embark on the essence7 journey?
(click below for my free guide.)
Mm. Beautiful. Thanks for the reminder to be present in each moment and really experience life.
Such a smart way to document the moments that are at risk of being forgotten. It’s always challenging for me to stay in the experience or stepping outside of the moment to pick up a camera.
What a great way to to both. Glad your trip was a success and you have more wonderful memories for your scrapbook!!
Loved reading these slices of your trip, April. “Many, many roundabouts” made me laugh. I remember those from our time in France. I typically capture the food I’m eating when I travel (foodie!) and much of the landscape as well. What I don’t capture on film are the interesting faces of the people I see at markets especially. I love studying the faces of the people I meet.
I still look back on snippets of my backpacking tour of Europe when I was 19 and am transported back to the sites and sounds and lessons of the day. While the photos document the actual places and people, my travel journal has the snapshots of who I was at the time, with all the dreams and desires and opinions that might still be around or shifted in some way.
I’ve kept a travel journal on almost every major trip since then. So much perspective on your life when you’re away!
Oh Europe it’s been too long. I got chills reading your post April! Beautiful memories – that’s indeed the result of living with awareness and wonder.
This sounds like an amazing adventure! Sometimes it can be easy to forget to get photograph documentation of life’s adventures when we are fully engaged. I love how you went through and recreated the things you don’t want to forget verbally! What a blessing to be able to be fully present, experiencing your travels!
Beautiful ! It is so nice to reminisce wonderful memories. Being aware of the simple blessing we have can really make us feel fulfilled in life. Thanks for sharing.
I’m a little sad that you’re back. I felt like I was with you on a trip that I wanted to last forever. š
As for the trip memory…
Hmmm…
I suppose I wished that I took more photos on trips with my niece and nephew when they were young. Or that the iPhone existed back then to make memory-keeping easier. š
Mmmm – this just felt delicious April on so many levels. A beautiful reminder to stay present in the moment, in the present time when everything unfolds as it should. Miracles of life – keeps it interesting and a wonder. xx
Your list of rememberingsā¦ brought me back to my time in Europeā¦so many thingsā¦ like all those beautiful tea breaks with some french bread or pastry and lumps of sugar!!ā¦ in white tea mugsā¦ in the french cafesā¦. oh.. to remember is so divineā¦
Yesā¦ so many beautiful memories! thank you april!!! Glad you had such a great trip!
Stretch your lifeā¦make it matterā¦be aware of your surroundingsā¦learn to live and work outside the “box”!