The Road Home

After a night out on the town, we bid farewell to Salamanca, but slowly and not too loudly. We took the train to Madrid. Upon our arrival, we put our luggage in storage and then tried to navigate the metro system to check out the city. We arrived in Puerta del Sol, the city's epicenter. We walked around the busy streets. We decided that perhaps it would best if we didn't enter shops after I knocked a display over. After a few lackluster hours spent in Madrid, we returned to the train station and boarded the night train to Paris. We had one roommate in our four person compartment. We did not speak due to the language barrier. Snoring crosses that border with ease and it was yet another restless night. The 13 hour train ride turned into 15 and we were happy to get off the train, once we squeezed our packs through the passage ways.

Melissa and I are perhaps the only backpackers to travel through Paris and not stop to see the sights. The extent of our Paris experience was waving to the Notre Dame as we crossed the Seine on the Metro. We had both traveled to Paris on high school band trips and did not enjoy it. We were not interested in investing precious time and money in a city that neither one of us felt drawn to. We had heard that Paris is a city of strong emotion, you either love it or hate it. You fall in love in Paris and you break up there. At the end of our trip, we didn't want to jeopardize our friendship by entering a city that could polarize us. We took the train to Lille and then to Bruges.

Bruges (Brugge) is a beautiful city in Belgium. We decided to stop in Belgium on our journey north to Amsterdam because we wanted another round of Belgium Beer. Bruges is a gorgeous medieval city. In the 14th Century it was an important trade center but its economic lifeline dried up at the same time the canals linking it to the sea did. The city was abandoned in time, only to be revitalized by tourism. Upon settling into our slightly sketchy hostel, Melissa and I went in search of food and beer. We found delicious beer, a cheese platter, and a South African named Chris. Chris was studying engineering in France and had traveled to Bruges with his South African classmates. After meeting so many wonderful South Africans, Melissa and I are inspired to travel to South Africa next. We met two South African girls who stole my empty mug on their way out the door. The waitress was very upset and threatened a 50 Euro fine. Fortunately, Chris was able to retrieve the mug. Apparently it is socially acceptable to steal in South Africa. Interesting... South Africa in 2012! Feeling that we had worn out our welcome, Melissa and I went to another pub with 300 different types of beer. It was difficult to choose but the waitress made excellent recommendations and it was quite tasty. The bar also had a New Belgium Brewery Fat Tire plaque on the wall which was cool to see. The following morning, we bundled up in our hats and scarves and wandered about the town. We had delicious coffee and waffles to warm up. However, we have found that the best Belgium waffles can be found in the train stations.

Melissa and I then boarded a very crowded train to Amsterdam. The train was so full that we crammed into the gangway used for luggage storage with 10 other people and lots of luggage. It was fun standing and swaying with train, occasionally colliding with fellow passengers when the train stopped. Melissa and I got off at the airport station and took a shuttle to a ritzy airport hotel. The hotel must not be frequented by backpackers because the shuttle driver questioned us three times if we really did want to go the hotel. He then followed us in to see if we had reservations and the ability to pay. We ordered room service and drank beer that we had gotten at the Bruges Beer Temple as we discussed the best and worst elements of the trip.

The following morning, we woke up early to go to the airport for our flight home. Actually, I didn't wake up. I never went to sleep. It was simply a matter of getting out of bed. The flights from Amsterdam to London Heathrow and then from Heathrow to Denver went very smoothly. It was a long plane journey but it was fairly painless thanks to technological advancements and in-flight entertainment. It was exciting to look at the map as we got closer to home. Melissa's very excited parents greeted us as we emerged from customs. My incredible friend Jalean picked me up from the airport and treated me to a delicious dinner. She insisted that I sleep in her super comfortable bed. When I protested she quipped, "What part of non-negotiable do you not understand? Besides, it will be awkward if we both sleep on the couch."

It is simply lovely to be home. I have phenomenal friends and a fantastic family. I have enjoyed spending time with them immensely. I am excited to catch up with everyone again. I stayed a day in Colorado Springs before driving home to Nebraska. It was amazing to see my dog Ellie again. When I walked through the door, it was almost like she didn't believe her eyes and then she sprang up and was very loving and vocal in her affection. She follows me around and is always very excited to see me when I return from an outing, thrilled that I came back. I do love my dog. Thanksgiving was a glorious feast and not just because of the food. I was humbled by how much I have to be thankful for. I am thankful for safe travels, a great traveling buddy, family, friends, Ellie, the ability to travel, the people that I met while traveling, and the opportunities to stay connected. I am thankful to live in a country that allows you to dream and pursue those dreams. I am thankful for living in a beautiful and dynamic world and opportunity to experience it. I am thankful for life.