the final hours...

months ago i had the idea to take a trip this summer... i'd always toyed with the idea of backpacking through europe, but money and time had consistently gotten in the way... then in april i booked a flight to frankfurt, germany and there was no turning back -- seriously, i didn't get cancel insurance, so it was a go...

now i sit in a hostel with only a few more hours until i sleep, wake up early and get to the airport to call an end to my european adventure... i did this because i wanted to see parts of the world that i'd only ever dreamt of, or seen photos of... i did this because it's one of those things i was sick of saying i'd do...

it is unbelievable to think about all the history, the artwork, the culture, the languages -- everything that i have witnessed in the last month... the partying hostel life in germany; the romance and allure of italy; the vivid colours and delicious food in spain; the beauty and sprawling countrysides of france; the gorgeous cityscapes of belgium... the beers, the wine... the new friends, meeting up with old ones... exploring on my own and with a companion... living out of a backpack; sweating in the unforgiving heat; sunburns and tans... shopping, shopping, shopping...

sometimes i felt so very far away from home and then other times it felt like there was a slice of familiarity around each corner... this world is an incredible place with so much to see and in a month i only scratched the surface... there were so many spots that i had to sacrifice off the itinerary due to lack of time and therefore so many reasons to come back...

hearing from friends and family in response to my emails was uplifting... so many kind words reaching out to say they were happy to see me exploring and taking a leap... the number one thing that i'll always wish about this trip was that i could have shared it with everyone that i know and love... there is something out there for everyone; whether it be that epic piece of artwork, that iconic statue or building, or simply just activating that sense of adventure...