Colors of Europe

Happy new year!!!  Hope everyone has figure out what resolutions they will *maybe not* accomplish this year.  Mine is nothing.  Literally.  I figured it'd be the easiest to accomplish.

I can't wait until I get back to London again.  I'm not sure what it is, but I just enjoy being there.  I had no idea how restaurants worked over there, but the people were super sweet and patient with me as I figured it out.  One morning, I got out early and found this little breakfast bistro in a park somewhere in the city.  They had a lot of gardens and parks throughout, I suppose to make up for the city environment.  Dogs would run free, happily staying close to their owners unless they were chasing after a ball.  Birds flocked around the benches and trees.  I wrote out there in my little journal, one of the only things I brought.  For a few weeks, all I had packed was a big back pack and a small purse--no large luggage and nothing keeping me still or making me move.

It was cool but not freezing, and I often didn't have to wear a lot of layers, just a scarf and a jacket over a shirt and jeans.  The bistro was long but not wide.  Seats were outside and in, and people lined up to order their food.  I don't remember what I ordered, only that it was a hot drink and a plate full of something delicious and filling.  This is the photo I took while I ate.

While I was in Europe, another place I saw was Austria.  This was the complete opposite of London.  The only food delivery offered in the place I group at in Virginia was pizza.  The only food deliver offered in the town I was at in Austria was your own two feet.  Again, everyone was super sweet.  They loved when you attempted German and knew English for when you got it wrong.  You could walk everywhere you needed to while in town, and a few bus trips took you to some really great castles and museums.  It was a very colorful town, rich in culture and history.

While there, I spent most of my time sick in bed, but on one of the days I was feeling well enough to get out, I went and drank some amazing coffee.  My server at the coffee shop didn't know much English, so I had to point at what I wanted and just took out my coins and let them pick out what I owed, trusting (or maybe just not really caring) that they would be honest.  The owner even helped me print out a few things when I went back before I left.


Anyways, being alone and traveling other countries is just such an amazing way to free yourself.  I met a lot of great people and got some pretty great experiences out of it, even despite getting sick.