As my plane lifted out of Croatia, I blend of emotions came over me. I was excited to go home to San Diego, thankful to have made it around safely throughout Europe and touched to have met so many inspiring people.
You never know who you will meet, what you will see and how you will feel when you leave a trip abroad. As I flew through the clouds, I smiled and knew that I had done everything my heart desired. Kayaking across the Adriatic Sea with Michael, Andras and Michele in Dubrovnik, dancing in the Revelin Castle with the Irish girls and the Villa Divine Crew, tanning on the beaches in Split with Matt, riding scooters through the mountains in Hvar with David, Sebastian and Nick. Enjoying "A lot of Meat" BBQ at The Dink's, being entertained on the 7 1/2 hour train ride through Hungary with Gary, Leo and Michael. Dancing the night away at the Bath Party with The Amelia's. Having my first Hungarian Chicken Paprikosh with Freddie, Jacob, Thomas and Sam. Touring the Schnbrunn Palace in Vienna with Alessandro. Hiking the Plitvico National Park with Pedro, Patrick, Mihovil and Nikolas, and wrapping up my trip with an American for lunch in Zagreb with Julia.
All of these travelers helped make my trip the best one yet. They opened up my eyes to new experiences, fresh perspectives and new phrases. They looked out for me and displayed a level of kindness and concern for my well being that I still cannot comprehend.
Through this experience, I learned that the world is so much bigger than we realize as we sit at our desk during the work week and contemplate if we should have Subway or Jimmy Johns for lunch. Meanwhile, there are trains leaving on an hourly basis to destinations all over Europe, palaces to tour, parks to hike, rich goulash dishes to try. There are so many more countries I want to tour after making my way around Europe.
Every year I plan my trip abroad, I'm sure there is no way I could be moved quite like the previous year. Travelers from all over the world continue to prove me wrong. Yet again, they me show me that no matter where you are from- we all share the same common goal. To inspire and be inspired through travel.