Off to the Castle of Carcassonne

The next stop on our journey was the walled medieval city of Carcassonne.

The first glimpse of the city is magical. It’s almost as if it was ripped from the pages of a storybook the way it sits perfectly lit painted into the skyline atop the hillside.
The moment you walk over the drawbridge and through the main entrance of the massive city walls It feels like you’ve just stepped back in time to the lands of kings and queens, dragons and fair maidens and knights in shining armor. As we walked through the city, I was halfway expecting little wooden horse-drawn carts and wagons to come rattling up the weathered cobblestone roads behind me.

The whole time I was there I just wanted to swing open the shutters of our little window, look out over the little square and bust out singing…

“Bonjour…bonjour…bonjour…bonjour…bonjour…
There goes the baker with his tray like always…the same old bread and rolls to sell….”

Actually, near the end of our trip, I couldn’t resist anymore and just did it. The folks down in the restaurant across the square all gave me kind of odd looks but I didn’t care. It was true Disney-esque kind of  moment and for a bit I felt just like a princess in a castle!

¡Bienvenidos a Barcelona!

From the very first Spanish class I walked into, my goal was always to travel to Spain. Why Spain? To be honest, I really have no idea. I mean there are lots of other countries that speak Spanish and why I had this ingrained fascination with going to Spain specifically never had a defined origin. I hadn’t studied much of the history or culture other than what tiny fragments or bits were in the margins of my grammar books or from movies in class. All the years I’ve studied the subject, it was kind of an unspoken rule that if you studied Spanish then you went to Spain. Studying abroad was the mark of true commitment to a language and for Spanish, Spain was where you were supposed to go.

I did my best, studied hard, and did go to Costa Rica in high school but things changed and other things got priority and Spain came and went. So, when I found out that there was a study abroad program in Granada at Gonzaga I thought that it was meant to be – I would have a second chance. Again, priorities changed and I did go to Africa but once again Spain came and went.

When we started planning our big trip and naming off countries to visit one of the first things out of my mouth was, “I want to go to Spain.” Matt’s response of was, “Why? What is there you want to see?” My response, of course was, “I don’t know but I want to speak Spanish. Because I’m supposed to.” And he said OK.

So, we made seeing just a bit of Spain a priority so that I could cross #50 off my Bucket List and Speak Spanish in Spain! We had heard that Barcelona was a pretty neat city but didn’t really have any plans of  where we were going to go or what we were going to see. But, some of the best adventures are found when you lose your map, delete your schedule, or make up your plans as you go. I did know that I was going to be able to speak Spanish and that’s all that really mattered to me! Everything else was a bonus!

Seabrooke…I miss you already!

Dear Seabrooke,

I am absolutely at a loss for words and completely heartbroken by the tragic news that you are no longer here.

It’s been so long since I’ve seen you but I miss you just as much as if these photos were taken yesterday. You have always been one of my closest and most dear friends.

You radiated kindness and joy with a single smile and your zest for life made every childish game or endeavor a new and exciting adventure. Your sense of humor and laughter could bring light to even the worst days and your unwavering faith and love of God was always an inspiration to me.

I will forever cherish all the fun times we had building Barbie cities, getting dirty and making mud, going to campfire camp, painting and doing art projects, passing the Game Boy back and forth trying to beat Mario 6 Golden Coins, going to Oaks Park for Halloween, having dinner parties, sleep-over's and celebrating birthdays.

I know life is so short, each day is precious and friends come and go but I never imagined I would lose you so soon or that it would be this hard. I will never understand why God decided it was time for you to go and even as I write this and tears drip down my face my only peace is knowing that you are now with Him in the kingdom of Heaven.

My thoughts and prayers go out to your Mom, Dad, siblings, and family. I hope that with time they will be healed.

May your beautiful spirit live on in the hearts of everyone who loved you because I know it will live in mine.

Living Large in Monte Carlo

Top: Race car statue along the Grand Prix Circuit
Left: The red and white stripes of the Grand Prix


On our way to Barcelona we took the opportunity to stop off for the night in Monte Carlo. It was kind of fun to walk the walk of the rich and famous if only for a moment. I could not believe the wealth in this town. The grandeur of the shops, the yachts, the cars and casino were out of this world. I could not even fathom what life would be like to have wealth like that. Don’t get me wrong, a few extra bills in the bank would be nice but I’m rich with experiences and love, and to be honest, I’m happiest with that kind of wealth.

Bellissima Italia Part 3/3 – Sitting Atop the Terrace!

With a nonstop trip like this you have to set aside some time to just relax. It’s fun to see as much as you can but when you are going full tilt it’s often difficult to really take in the character of a place and enjoy the small nuances and quirks of the culture. So, before we left we looked at a few locations and picked out a fun or somewhat different B&B that would add to the flair of the locale. The Cinque Terre seemed like the perfect place to stop and take just a bit more time to enjoy the view, sip some wine and watch the waves pass by.

Bellissima Italia Part 2/3 – Gliding in Gondolas!

Venice… it’s the city of beauty, romance, and love but for me it was more about experiencing the place with my love. For me, my true love of Venice came from listening to the gentle sounds of the water lapping against the small wooden boats moored to the weathered doorsteps of the colorful homes lining the canals. Or from the romantic melodies of a strumming guitar or serenading minstrel gliding in a gondola below one of the many bridges that crisscross over the circling waterways. It came from getting lost in the labyrinth of ever-winding allies and walkways that spiral through the city. Or maybe from seeing the gigantic ships and swaying sails that steadily steam through the Grand Canal as you bounce thought their wakes via water taxi. Its from savoring the flavors of a glass of vino rosso paired with a perfectly prepared  prosciutto pasta and finishing it with a scoop of vanilla bean gelato topped with a shot of only the finest Italian espresso. It’s oogling at the storefront windows decorated with glittering glass sculptures and fine designer fashions. Or even from the yellows, reds, and pinks of the setting sun reflecting off the ripples, painting and shadowing the architectural beauty of the ever-aging buildings. For me, the beauty, romance, and love lives within and bleeds from the city itself.

Bellissima Italia Part 1/3 - When in Rome! (a bit late)

It’s been a whirlwind couple of months. As most of you know we made it back safe and sound to the States just in time for the Thanksgiving holiday and we haven’t really stopped since. The posts for our trip got a bit backlogged, put on hold, and needless to say I’ve gotten farther behind then I ever hoped to. My intention was to post these real-time but as you find out when you travel, often times what you plan or intend to do just doesn’t happen. But, I know a lot of you are still patiently waiting to hear and see how we finished off the last few months of our adventure so I am going to continue to post our photos and reflections as if we were still living it up with our suitcases in tow.