Train wheels beating, the wind in my eyes.

Allright. Christine and I have landed in Orebro, Sweden. Weve been travelling for nearly a month now and still love each other very much. In fact, we have compiled a massive list of inside jokes, train games, and ways to pass the time while waiting for trains. Weve probably spent more time on a train in the last month then I have in a car in the last year. Speaking of, I miss my bike and running shoes and yoga. We are officially on a diet. Europe is killing us. Just kidding were not on a diet really, its an ongoing joke. We just finished homemade Swedish waffles and cream.. diet starts tomorow (again)!

Weve been staying at peoples houses through couchsurfing (magnificent, beautiful organisation) and have met truely wonderful people. We started in Italy, hopped on a ferry to Greece,  Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Austria, Czech, Germany, Poland, Denmark, Sweden. Were staying with a friend of Christines for a few days to relax and then continuing on to the Netherlands, where we part for a while. Christine will head to France and I will go check out Belgium and Luxembourg. We meet again mid April for a week of housesitting in Samoens again and then I will go home with her to Norwich, England, to see her little life in the North.

That is where I will spend my last week before I fly back home. Thats another story though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0AGD78mWcss

Gratitude.

Today Mathilde and Fabien left Samoens. I am greatful for the past month of travelling with my French girlfriend. Discovering Paris, hitchiking, partying on mountain tops, many drinks and beautiful meals. I am greatful to have met Fabien, who gave me the oppurtunity to feel weightless in the Alps. I witnessed Mathilde's first ever solo flight. What a rush it was to see her so small beneath our feet. What a releif to see her landing, like a champ, safely on the stable ground beneath (and in piles of cow dung, for that matter). I't is such an empowering feeling to be up there. I can never thank them enough.

After they left, I went out into the village to gather goods for my next move, finding myself alone again, for the first time since the last full moon. I've lost the notion of time. It feels nice to be a little disoriented and most of all, not having to be anywhere, ever. My schedual is completely open. Strange but nice.

I spent my day at the market getting veggies, at the bakery picking out fresh bread, sitting on the patio of my favorite coffee shop reading my 6th book, and downing coffee like there was no tomorow. Before heading home before James and Danielle arrive (the owners of the house I've been watching), I had a sudden urge to stop in the villages church. I found myself sitting, head bowed, for the first time ever, and sincerely praying and saying thanks for all the beautiful people I have in my life. It's one of those days where my heart is just bursting with love and gratitude. The smell of churches imidiatly reminds me of my grand-parents whom I love to death. It made me long for a walk in the woods with Pepere Arsenault, and Memere Arsenault's jam cookies, that she happily has ready for me whenever I visit.

I am greatful for mom and dad who still love me after everything I've made them endure, and for my brothers with whom I have so much fun with, and are damn hilarious. I am blessed with handfuls of reliable, wonderful friends who are always close no matter how far, and who are ever so good at keeping in touch, regardless of time and distance.

I also realised I miss my coworkers more then I thought I would. I'm so lucky to be part of that family! What a great bunch. I'm scarred the babies will be bigger, or worst, not remember me. It will just take one hot chocolate from Clementine's. I hope.

Tomorow I have a hot date at the Nice train station, with my (second) oldest friend of life, Christine. We have plans to couchsurf, and are invited to a night of board games and fun. I haven't told her yet, but I have a bottle of champain in my pack to celebrate the beginning of our travels!

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Housesitting perks.

 I am now in Samoens, France at the north ouest bordering Switzerland. Housesitting has it's perks. Fireplace, warm baths, laundry, trampoline, stunning view, big comfy beds, bikes and trails. We discovered grooveshark for entertainement while we cook and eat, which is all of the time, and this song really makes me happy at the moment, so I thought I'd share.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VEZ-m61dBKY

Glimpse of Cortallejo. Most of the time on Fuerteventura Island was spent on the beach, not gonna lie. Sleeping, reading, drinking. We swam. At 90km from Morocco, it's closer to Africa then it is to Spain. (This fact was given by a local, not sure how accurate it is, but it sure feels like it's true.) We were lucky to meet Sito who invited us to the white cement villa he designed and built at the north point of the island. We spent two nights there (see pictures on facebook) and felt right at home. I easily could have stayed there forever.

Glimpse of Madrid. We flew with our beloved friends at Easy Jet, the paper airplane, for about 30 Euros. For someone who never flew before, we did about 6 flights in a weekish. It's. So. Cheap. Madrid was our pit stop over to the Islands. Beautiful, beautiful city. It was t-shirt weather the entire time. (sorry to those who are under 5 feet of snow).

Glimpse of Paris. I had to do it, a picture with the Eiffel. I thought of my darlin' Stephanie and had the Pixies' Alec Eiffel stuck in my head the entire time. It was night and snowing/raining, no one in sight but a few Asians (big surprise). Perfection. I think I would have been disapointed to see it in the day.

Wo, beau.

Ok. Quick update. Its hard to find time and internet connection so forgive me for my inneficiency. Im happy to know youre all staying tuned! I explored Paris a few days before meeting up with Mathilde and fell in love with the architecture, the little old ladies, the markets, the men playing petanque and everyones surprising warmth. I met Mathilde in a coffee shop and we had a moment of blissful reunion over hot chocolate and stories. She then had the marvelous idea of catching a cheap flight to Madrid and then The Canary Islands. Holly. Shit. Talk about beauty. I thought I fell for Paris but now Im tempted to say  Madrid is my real love. I dont know a word to describe how I feel about that city. Now I find myself sitting on a terrace by the sea on Fuerteventura island. We only arrived yesterday and already caught a tan! We plan on staying here for a while; between cheap hotels, couchsurfing and one euro bottles of wine. Updates when I am more stable, probably next week in Mathildes home town in the Alpes.. keep you posted!