Goodbye's and Hello's!

Another post being written from the seat of a plane. I'm currently flying to Heathrow Airport with British Airways. Let me take a second to recommend them. I'm only doing a quick flight, but I'm impressed. Front desk customer service was quick, efficient, and well done. But importantly, in-flight has been great. Flight attendants quickly calmed me down about missing my flight. Then, importantly, they give full breakfast for free. Coffee, juice, ham and cheese croissant, and fruit. Well done British Airways. Well done. 

We'll land in about an hour. Hopefully, I'll grab a cup of coffee. Then off to España - my home for the next month or so! 

I got a bit lazy with my blogging. No, I really don't have a good excuse. I'll catch you up. Calm down. 

Day one post Ascona/last post: 

I woke up early to go fight- ahem, I mean, get my visa from the Chinese Embassy. Long story short, got my visa. I officially will be a world traveller by the end of this trip. China, here I come! ... In a bit... 

I got home after the embassy. I was seriously worn out. Not that tired that you get from a lack of one night of sleep. The kind of tired you get from long packed days in a row. I considered taking the day off, but decided not to in the end. Tom and I decided to go to Germany for the afternoon. How fun is it to say that?! I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to see Germany again. Had to at least cross the border on this trip. So despite it being a three hour train ride and only spending two hours in the town, Tom and I set off. It was a quaint little town. But perfect for my worn out self and a short afternoon outing. We started home just in time to watch the sun set on Germany. 

Day two post Ascona/last post: 

Valentine's! I slept in because today was my day off. I kept saying it was so I could focus on packing. But considering that didn't even get started till 9PM, I'm changing my reason. I really just needed a regrouping day before I hit the road running again. And an intense regrouping day it was! 

I went downstairs to make some coffee. On the door to the kitchen were two decorated red paper hearts. I opened the door and found the whole kitchen and dining room was decorated in Valentine's decorations. In the dining room, Sarah set up a crafts station. Paper, glitter, glue, stickers, stencils, scissors, everything. Valentine's were to be made- three a person. I waited on that a bit. 

After some food, I set off on my project for the day: baking. I honesty don't know what came over me. But I went a bit crazy with it. I found a perfect Zen mode, put on music, and just went for it. I made about 50 heart shaped brownies. Then 24 white cupcakes. Decoration was crucial on such a holiday. Stef helped make the frosting near the end. Chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate decorations on the cupcakes. Everything. It was the perfect little nirvana for a regrouping day. I even made some Valentine's cards! 

My last dinner in Swiss was spectacular. Oh boy... I can't remember the name of it. Read the comments another day. I'm sure my family will remind the name of it. It was a fondue type of thing. However, instead of cheese, it's a soup type thing. You put uncooked meat on a stick, dip it into the soup which is over a flame, and let it cook. We also had a cheese pot for bread and such. So you can continue eating while you wait for the meat to cook. It's a very fun dinner. We enjoyed our dinner, desserts, and then handed out Valentine's. I said goodbye to everyone that night because my flight was very early. Overall, a perfect last day in Switzerland. 

This morning, 4:30AM, I got up. Finished packing, said one last goodbye to Sarah, then got in the car with Florian. He took me to the airport. After making sure I was set, he looked at me and said, "Adiós." I said, "Buenas días," and took off. I entered Switzerland with the casual non-hugging Florian, and exited the same way. Nothing better. 

                            ⚫️⚫️⚫️

I got an email from one of my friends who is a life traveler the other day. He prioritizes his life around the ability to climb and travel. He is currently spending the next couple months in Asia. He asked me how I was doing traveling. Was it to much for me? I told him there are days I'm overwhelmed or intimidated or lonely or frustrated or really excited or scared. But that I'm having an unbelievable time overall. He told me, "You're doing it right then. Wouldn't have traveling any other way." 

There is an Emily Dickinson poem called "After a Great Pain, A Formal Feeling Comes." It ends with this verse.

"This is the Hour of Lead - 

Remembered, if outlived, 

As Freezing persons, recollect the snow, 

First- Chill - then Stupor - then the letting go."

The man who showed me that poem told me said he thought it was about stage fright. But I think it's about conquering any fear in life. Sometimes you just have to let go.

So with those two thoughts in mind, I say, Cheers Switzerland. And España? Let's do this.