backpacking europe: lessons learned and top moments

Throughout the past 5 ½ ish weeks, I have been moving all around western Europe with my pack of traveling KARNies (Kendall, Avery, Riley and Nicole…clever huh!), and exploring the glory of the world.  While on this trek, I have discovered so many things about myself, about my relationship with God and about this incredible world He has created.  All our daily adventures are all documented on our blog, www.thetravelingkarnies.blogspot.com, so I thought I would blog about all i've learned while romping Europe and my favorite moments in each country! So here we go! the big, the little and the rando...

  

lessons learned: 

·      The idea of “we will cross that bridge when we get to it” was a main central theme of the trip.  Most things could not be planned too far in advanced and when we tried to it only brought on some aggravation.  So, we figured things out when it was necessary to.  How I parallel this concept into my everyday life, is that there is such beauty in living simply.  There is no need to fabricate your life in plans for your future.  Yes, have goals and aspirations and day dream about your future! We all love that and I don’t mean to sound like im discouraging that! Its just when you focus on the present rather than try to plan too far into the future, you can fully enjoy the present and the “now” life has to offer.

·      God’s time might be different then your time and that is so okay

·      Optimistic attitudes are always the best. I have learned how much your attitude affects every aspect of yourself and the group.  For the most part, everything was perfect on the trip, but of course it was inevitable that we have our rough days/moments. Rather than looking at the negative mishaps as total road blocks in our day, we learned to look at everything in the most optimistic ways! And it truly made everything perfect!

·      Walks in nature are seriously the best thing in the entire world. The best of times were  honestly not sight seeing but time spent with each other soaking in all the glory of God’s creation

·      God knows and loves us and protects us, individually! He had such a hand in every part of this trip.  We felt a tangible, real feeling of comfort through the Spirit. We were truly guided to and away from various things that completely made our trip. He knows me so well it freaks me out some time…like He answers my prayers before I am too prideful to realize I need to ask Thee for help.  On that note…I have gained an even greater testimony of prayer and the divine communication with our Heavenly Father because of it. This trip could not have been possible with out the power of prayer.  We would not be safely home if it weren’t for prayer.  I’ve grown so close to my Savior and see Him as one of closest friends and I couldn’t be more grateful for that relationship.

·      The little things really do matter and making good habits of those things is actually life saving! They say that making a habit takes what? 3 weeks? We had plenty of time to recognize the good habits we needed to make, and the make them! Like out nightly scripture reading and group prayer.  This little habit we practiced nightly ignited such a nearness to the Spirit that enabled us to be guided and protected in every moment of the day.  We slacked for a couple days in Ireland due to a 12 person hostel room and other distractions...wifi.. and we literally saw a difference in our days.  We were snappier, tired and just more disconnected then normal.  After recognizing it and fixing it, the dynamics of the group were so much better! Now I know I can totally make great habits and constantly try to better myself. 

·      You can never, ever have too much gelato

·      If I ever have to resort to living on one shower a week, it is totally doable! And not completely as disgusting as you’d think!

·      Vibes are HUGE.  I’d like to think we mastered reading vibes.  Its rather fun actually.  You can tell loads of info about a restaurant, a person, anything from the vibes it gives off! These “vibes” drove our trip.

·      If this terrestrial world is so incredibly beautiful, I cannot wait for the celestial kingdom!

·      Make everyday worth while.  I’ve learned that you really can accomplish so much in a very little time.  

·      I honestly believe that people are innately good.  I wrote a paper about my opinion on this in high school and going on this trip just made my belief stronger.  We met the nicest people! Whether it be a sweet helpful Italian man, or the most selfless people that housed us. Max, the Hardy’s and Kim truly made me what to be more giving and serve people to the high degree possible.  I just loved all the people we were ever so blessed to cross paths with, Desmond- our tour guide on the cliffs of Mohr will be in my memory through the eternities! 

• when the sink water runs brown, dont be too alarmed, it wont kill you...well for now it hasnt had effect!

my most memorable moments:

London

·      Meeting up with Sam Sherman at his dad’s hotel and going into the coolest spa ever!

·      Dancing like a mad lady at Queen on Hoxton club

·      Roof top movie showing “cinema paridisimo.”

·      Les Miserable

Sussex

·      Going on long walks with Max and his (demon) dogs through out the beautiful countryside. 

·      Toast with max, naps in the Tanyard, make a pasta dinner and go on another walk

·      Doing temple work in the London LDS temple

Glencombkille

·      Arriving at the smallest airport and catching every last bus of the day to get us to the village a few downs from the one we needed to be at, so we were stranded for hours with only carrots and cereal and resorted in getting a ride with drunk men at the near by pub.

·      Streaking on the beach and being caught by an old Australian couple

·      Our long walk up to the tower on the top of the largest mountain in Gelncombkille, that brought about some memorable heart to hearts.

Galway

·      The beautiful  cliff of moher but more importantly the man who was our bus driver, desmond! He repeated everything and talked about his sex life…he was at least 90.

·      Kissing the cutest Danish guitarist in the band playing in a Pub!

·      3 packs of bueno bars for 1.50 euro

Barcelona

·      Salsa dancing and the creepy beyond creepy men dancing with us

·      Tapas restaurant…pesto sweet potatoes!

·      Renting a row boat in a park on my birthday

·      The Hardy’s and playing with their little girls each night till the point of sweat and stomach pains from laughter. 

Paris

·      Staying in a Marriot at wearing robes and finally feeling clean

·      Sitting in the cutest park, eating a huge stick of cotton candy and gawking over the most adorable French couple love each other.

·      Laying on the grass in front of the sparking Eiffel tower then going on a boat tour down the seine river at night

·      Crepe eating day

·      Our work out/dance party night in the hotel and sweating like pigs after a day full of stuffing our selves sick

Geneva

·      Staying with Kim in her cute home and eating yummy fresh fruit in her kitchen.

·      Fondue with her family and dying over her husbands hilarious jokes

·        Getting a city tour from Juliette and getting to know that sweet girl! 

Interlaken

·      Our night in Gimmlewald, at the top of the swiss alps and staying in the only hostel in a big room crammed with girls…and some lesbians.

·      Long walks to the lakes and having the best of conversations

·      Bungee jumping!!!! And then staying at the workers, Toby’s, apartment/junk yard that night and thinking I was going to die a martyr that night

Cinque Terre

·      Renting out the cutest apartment room! Thank you martina!

·      The potential tragic scare

·      Hiking all five cities, in the sunshine and rain on a beautiful day!

·      Swimming in the Mediterranean sea, cliff jumping and back to back gelatos!

·      Discovering the best tiramisu there ever was! 

Florence

·      Finding the worlds best Panini and gelato place!

·      Getting a crazy deal at hotel monica and hotel Colorado

·      Soaking in the vibes at the bridge and city centers

·      Our day trip to Siena and San Gimignano and the gorgeous sunset

Venice 

·      Loving just wandering around the city and through all the canals

·      Becoming obsessed with Grom and kendall kissing the worker!

·      Dying of laughter/agony all night long in our sauna mosquito hotel

·      Sending out a message in a bottle to our future husbands

·      Murano (glass blowing) and Burano (lace and colorful houses) island day

Rome

·      St. Peters basilica, Spanish steps and trevi fountain all back to back

·      Wandering around to find the Grom gelato and stumbling upon other delicious gelato places.  

·      Having a Sunday devotional turned testimony meeting turned tell why we love each other what we have learned on the trip.

·      Being sort of kissed by his Italian man then having him kiss Riley!

·      Last real dinner on the trip and loving the Michael Jackson look a like

Düsseldorf

·      23 hour layover before our 12 hour plane to LAX!

·      Curry and cookies

·      Pushing couches together to make the most comfy bed ever!

·      Braiding party

·      Loitering at every store and trying on too many lip sticks, nail polishes and sun glasses! Oh! And I caved and bought an expensive pair of sunglasses in hopes to settle my insecurities of me and sunglasses! 

 i loved every moment of my backpacking trip and will forever be grateful for the time i spent in western europe with 3 of my best friends. travel! everyone! is the greatest thing you can do!