So yea... Europe... London and Paris in particular... WOW... I mean what is there to say, really? It's EUROPE! A whole different world... A step back into history and yet a step forward in so much more. I was in awe, swept off my feet, romanced, charmed and enthralled by my time there. But let's talk about London and Paris separately, since it wouldn't be fair to treat them the same when they are so intricately different (and so were my experiences there).
London
I want to live there. I could live there. Easily. Besides the fact that I was speaking fluent British (which is a whole different language in itself) by Day 3 and that there's a Starbucks on every corner, I felt so comfortable and so at home on its streets, on the Tube, and on the buses. I absolutely loved all of the different neighborhoods, stations, parks and buildings. Especially the buildings! As a history junkie, I was in heaven just looking at all these magnificent buildings, museums and churches, touching their walls and imagining the history behind them. I felt like I was in a movie. Or in a book. Like I've literally been taken back though time to the days when horse drawn carriages roamed these cobblestone streets and men in black trench coats and top hats walked around town conducting politics. Very romantic. London is gorgeous, but not in a pretty, flowery kind of way. Its beauty resides in a more sophisticated, almost masculine, strong and arrogant aura. It knows what it has and it's proud of it. The two building that have particularly captured my heart were the Parliament building (Big Ben) and the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre. I couldn't get enough of them, taking pictures from every possible angle and staring at them long enough to assure that their image would be forever imprinted in my memory.
Another reason I enjoyed London so much was the culture, the diversity, the hustle and bustle of a busy urban town that had anything and everything and then some. I loved Hillsong London. I loved their love for this city and its people. I loved their "modern" approach of reconciling "the culture" to "the church". I loved the salsa scene. I loved the liveliness of the streets at night, the easily accessible and available public transportation. I loved the shopping, the many restaurants, shows and art... It was "my" kind of town...
Paris
Now, I cannot talk about my whirlwind 24 hour trip to Paris without talking about "the boy". Let's call him A. I met A on the Eurostar train from London to Paris and he was literally an answer to a prayer. The prayer that was really an anguished cry for help, "God, please send me someone to enjoy Paris with!" I mean, it's Paris, who in their right mind would want to be there all alone? I actually almost didn't go to Paris because I was too anxious about not (really) speaking French, finding my way around by myself and staying at a hostel for the first time in my life. As always, God came through above and beyond all expectations. A and I had seats next to each other on the train and he started talking to me, commenting on my "Guide to Paris" and the C.S. Lewis vs. Freud book I was reading (he was also a Christian interested in theology!). He, himself, was reading two scientific magazines, one in English, one in French. Oh, and I did I mention he was cute and spoke British with a French accent? Yea... Anyway, to make a long story short (and it is a long story, believe me), he became my knight in shining armor and we ended up hanging out in Paris (under/at/in/by the Eiffel Tower) that night, holding hands, walking along the river, talking, and getting to know each other. It was a pretty perfect night of pure and innocent romance, which I wasn't really looking for and didn't necessarily want, but it was still nice. And that was it. He expressed his wishes to see me again someday after this, and I told him he will, but there was some miscommunication in the exchange of information (I think) and we haven't been in touch since.
I spent the next day exploring Paris on my own... Notre Dame, The Louvre, Champs Elysées & Arc de Triomphe and everything else in between... It was a hot sunny day and I did manage to get lost a few times, but it all worth it... I even got to have my little "French cafe lunch people watching" experience and drank in all the memories as photogenically as I could. Overall, I was overwhelmed by all the sights, smells and just the sheer volume of people everywhere speaking all different languages. It was unreal being there, in PARIS, for such a short time, trying to take in so much so quickly and not really getting to reflect on it. I loved it, but couldn't wait to get on the train back to London, which felt super cozy, safe and familiar at that point.
TravelBug
So I've been a bit restless since I got back... I can hear Europe calling my name daily... The fact that I actually have friends living there in about 3 different countries (UK, Spain, and soon Italy)doesn't help either. And so I'm planning my future vacations... Maybe I'll run into A again... Then again, maybe not. I know my life and my future are in God's hands... He is SO in control! And that gives me a peace of mind in the midst of my conflicting desires... Stay here or live abroad? I want to travel, I want to explore, I want to be free to experience the fullness of God's creation... There's so much I haven't seen yet... So how do I do it all? A little bit at a time... :)
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