Sunday, April 26, 2009

Time Line

I’m going to London tomorrow. Then Canterbury. Then Paris. Then Rome, Florence, and a small Tuscan villa. Then Vienna and Salzburg. Then Munich. Then New York. I didn’t know a single person going on this European trip until two weeks ago. I am allowed 35lbs of luggage, but promised myself I would only take 15 so I could accumulate an extra 20lbs over the next three and a half weeks. I will turn off my cell phone tomorrow until the 19th. Tomorrow morning at 1:00am will be my last shower not hurriedly taken while wearing flip-flops and trying not to touch the shower walls.

I’m start to panic until I remember the next few things.

In exactly 48 hours I will be holding a ticket to the Globe Theatre in London to see Romeo and Juliet performed how it was meant to be seen. The next night I will be watching Les Miserables.

In one week I will be walking through the Louvre and seeing countless pieces of timeless masterpieces. That night I will be watching the sunset from the Eiffel Tower.

In eight days I will have spent an afternoon craning my neck to look at the Sistine Chapel.

In two weeks I will have just seen Michelangelo’s David and Resurrected Christ (and tasted the best gelato in Florence, and therefore the best gelato in the world).

In 16 days I will have seen Mozart’s birthplace and heard one of his symphonies in a beautiful concert hall in Vienna.

In 18 days I will be walking through the Kunsthistorisches and see one of the biggest collections of Rembrandt, Vermeer, and other Northern greats.

In 23 days I will be meeting my family in New York to go to Abe’s graduation, and after driving across the country to Utah. I will finally be flying home on the 27th of May.

I’m scared out of my mind. I’m nervous. I’m grateful. I’m humbled. I’m feeling a bit alone at the moment.

I’m excited.

Europe and the beauty you have to offer…here I come.

13 comments:

Deidra said...

I'm a NJP reader. You'll be living all the Rick Steve's DVDs I've been watching! Enjoy it!

Haley Krumblis said...

Oh Ande, have fun! Have lots and lots of fun! Who needs to know anyone when you are seeing some of the coolest stuff in the world?! Eat lots of gelato for me....I mean lots and lots for me.....Enjoy Rome so much to see so little time! Can't wait to hear all about it!

Neighbor Jane Payne said...

Oh Ande, I am so very excited for you. I can't wait to learn all you will teach me when you get home.

Think of me, think of me always . . . hmmm...that's not Les Mis, that's Phantom. Oh well, I'll be thinking of you and waiting for you in NY.

I love you.

Mom

Petey said...

Whisper "hello" to Geoffrey Chaucer in the soft breezes of Canterbury for me, will you? I'm entirely jealous. Are you going on this trip alone, or is it school-related? I think you told me but I can't remember.

Unknown said...

Oh Ande. I'm so excited for you. Have a wonderful time!

monica said...

splendid. oh how i want to be leaving for that tomorrow. sheesh, so much do i wish that. i want to hi five david and kiss the sistine chapel.

Kathy’s Korner said...

I am so happy and excited for you!

Julie said...

I am excited for you as well! Have a great time! Traveling with people is a great education in itself. You really learn who you could have crossed the plains with and who you would have thrown out of the wagon! See Wicked in London if you have the chance. It's amazing.

Cali said...

Yippeeeeee! Did you know I made you a CD to take, but I didn't know I needed to mail it so long ago? I'll bring it for your drive across the country.

I love you Ande Jane
Cali

melanie said...

I love my life, my kids, Milo, all of it. But right now I want to be you!! This is the reason to love being single while it lasts. I can't wait to hear about all you learn and see and teach you mom. HAVE FUN!!

I dreamed a dream of days gone by.... Now that's Les Mis Jane. I'd sneak in your bag Ande just to see that for the 4th time. I love that show!

Becky said...

I'm a reader of your Mom's blog and I just had to stop by and tell you Congratulations! And HAVE FUN! :) I love London passionately and one of the greatest experiences of my life was watching Les Mis in the Palace Theater a few months after I got married (almost 10 years ago now). Can't wait to see and hear all about your trip!

tina said...

Have a great trip. Sounds like a most awesome experience! I got lost in the Louvre - it's huge! I only went to France not all the other places. Not many people get to experience what you are going to be able to; there's not a big enough word to describe how great that opportunity is.

Becka said...

awww dang! I just missed you! You're already in Europe. I hope you have a great time! I know you have a blast.