Reflecting on 100 Days in Europe: Travel Memories Make You Richer

Finally home now after a hundred days in Europe, something occurred to me. I posted 100 blog entries in 100 days on my Facebook page. These generated about a hundred comments a day…and I read all 10,000. It’s fun to be in touch with my readers, and to able to share experiences like these in almost real time:

In Greece, when the Orthodox priest explained to me how he used incense to change the mood at Eastertime — from sadness to anticipation to joy — and then gave me a fragrant tour of his stash to make me a believer.

In Florence, when the chef giving one of our tour groups a cooking lesson coached me to knead the flour with more love and more determination, even as I doubted that a little egg could turn that dry wad of flour into usable dough. (Shortly after that, we ate our delicious homemade pasta with an unforgettable sense of triumph and accomplishment.)

In Nürnberg, when, standing at the doorway Hitler walked through to address the masses at his tribune, I saw and smelled the rot caused by Germans who, 75 years later, still urinate on that door.

tintern abbey wedding

In Wales, when craning my neck to enjoy the broken Gothic arches in the sky of the remote and romantic Tintern Abbey at the border of Wales and England, it suddenly got even more romantic as a harpist began strumming and an angelic bride and her happy father walked by me, arm-in-arm.

What can you both treasure and share? Travel memories. And when you make them, you become richer.

Comments

4 Replies to “Reflecting on 100 Days in Europe: Travel Memories Make You Richer”

  1. Dear Rick,

    I’m amazed to hear that you read all the comments we posted during your long trip. I wonder if you ever had time to sleep.

    Thank you for letting us know your interest in what we have to say. I enjoyed reading the comments as well since there are so many of us who are fascinated by all things European.

    I’m also surprised and delighted that our dollar is so strong against the Euro now ($1 = 1.10 E) compared to 1.40 in January. Now I can splurge on my trip next month!

    Thank you for being such an amazing teacher.

    Kindest regards,

    Jeff
    (Tampa Twin)

  2. Hi again,

    OOPS, I think it’s 1 Euro now costs us $1.10 instead of the other way around.

    I had a long day.

    TT

  3. Totally agree. I didn’t buy many souvenirs, and only those which wouldn’t take up much precious space in the carry on bags that were my only luggage for six months. But I’ve got all the blog posts, with their many pictures, that I will be able to go back and look at in years to come. They also allowed friends and family to come along on my adventures, which we all enjoyed. Experiences and their memories are the absolute best.

  4. Dear Rick-
    I loved reading your blog all summer — it was almost like being there with you. There are so many more places I want to see.
    We are going on one of your Italy tours this fall that includes Florence. I’ve been refreshing my Italian with your phrase book. I hope we get a cooking lesson. It sounds like fun! Thanks for all you do.
    Jo

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