Thoughts & Reflections on Our Trip

I know some of you have enjoyed reading about what we have been doing all across Europe and Egypt, but some of you just want to know our thoughts and feelings about our "trip of a lifetime". Well, it has truly been a trip of a lifetime as we will most likely (never say never) not do something like this again.

That said, we did compile a list of European cities/regions we would love to revisit. A city/region made it on this list if there were more sites we wanted to tour but didn't have time, if it was an area we would love to vacation in, or if we simply loved the city.

So here is the list:
-Madrid
-London
-Budapest
-Rhine Riviera
-Cinque Terre
-Venice
-Rome

Egypt obviously has a list all on its own. We of course want to come back, bring friends, and maybe one day kids. Ha, no one get too excited.

Moving right along, we are constantly amazed by all we have seen - from the Eiffel Tower to Big Ben, the London Eye, the Colosseum, and the Pyramids. We have toured the Anne Frank House and Corrie Ten Boom's hiding place. We have seen the Schonnbrun, the Hopsburg Palace, Versailles, and the Vatican. In terms of churches, we have walked through the most beautiful in Sagrada Familia, Notre Dame, St. Peter's Basilica, and the Duomo. We saw the Mona Lisa, David, and the Sistine Chapel.

Beyond sites, we have bathed with Hungarians in their Roman, thermal baths. We sat and played cards with Hannah's parents in the same pub C.S. Lewis & Tolkien frequented. We took a beautiful boat ride through the castles seated on the Rhine River. Oktoberfest. We attended an Italian soccer game, an opera in Vienna, and a chateau wine-tasting in the Alps of Switzerland. The food and drinks throughout Europe never failed to impress and surprise us, whether that was good or bad (ehem, bacon fat roast in Hungary). One of my favorites - we have enjoyed a sailboat ride on the Nile. All the different cultures are rich with the arts, their history, and their languages. We enjoyed so much of it!

While it was amazing, it was not perfect. We realized there are so many comforts of home that we daily take for granted. Here are some things we learned a new appreciation for...

-Sitting on a couch (hotel beds get very old)
-Sleeping in a real queen bed, not 2 twins pushed together
-Maps & Street Signs
-Understanding the language
-Cooking your own dinner
-Watching English TV (other than CNN, which can be found everywhere)
-The lack of tourists in everyday life
-Clean socks
-Dryers...so clothes shrink back to original size instead of continually stretching further and further
-Ice cubes (didn't realize ice was so American)
-Confidence that you won't be pick-pocketed at every distraction
-Eating at restaurants and NOT paying the extra, unannounced cover charge
-Not having all your toiletries in hand when you go to shower
-Knowing which side of the sidewalk is acceptable to walk down
-Availability of health care and understanding it
-Ordering water and not being surprised with a mouthful of carbonation
-Traffic laws and drivers abiding by them, lanes, and seat belts
-Sidewalks that are pedestrian-friendly
-Not having people always in your face trying to sell you some gimmick
-Cars that don't constantly honk their horns
-Having friends & family nearby, because you all keep us sane!

Was the trip worth it? Jobless and homeless we may be, but yes it was definitely worthwhile. Reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, worshipping the same God across all sorts of borders, and having our eyes opened to a much bigger world than we normally encounter are only a few things that come to mind. We were reminded daily of our roles in leading and following, when and how to do it...and why we are so bad at it. We learned and will relearn to repent and forgive each other for all our annoying faults, to accept each other for the way we are, and to encourage each other toward Christ - because He is the best thing for us individually and together.

Most importantly, with the absence of friends and family, we realized on another level that we cannot complete each other. Our joy and unity come from the grace we receive everyday from Jesus. As long as He is the center and we are looking to the Holy Spirit to change us, God will grow us closer to Himself and into a deeper relationship with each other.