On the Road with Julie

Time to Read:

Yesterday, I started my day in Europe.

Then I walked across the Galanta bridge to Asia.

I went on a tour of the must-see sights (pictures and words to come in the next post) and then I took the tramway back to Europe.

Such is a day in Istanbul, Turkey – hopping from one continent to the other, all in the course of living a life.

I finished up my day on a boat, escorted by some local dolphins, floating along the Bosphorus Strait, watching the sunset in the space between lands.

I watched the sun wave goodnight over Asian skies before returning to a European shore.

I texted Ryan, “I walked to Asia today.”

I just got such a kick out of it.

After 4 remarkable months of getting to pop around the continent like a pinball, this morning will be the last time on this world-circling voyage that I’ll have my feet on European soil.

I am feeling the kind of nostalgia that comes with any milestone on a journey.

I am filled with gratitude and appreciation. For this trip. For all of the myriad layers of good fortune I have that have made it possible for me to have this experience. For the opportunity to swim in languages, in cultures, in history. For my health. For all of the loved ones I am so grateful to have. I often find myself thinking about how many players in the world and in history I owe my appreciation and gratitude to for so much in my life, but this experience especially. In the larger balance, I actually have the smallest part to do with what is making it all possible. I wouldn’t be able to do this without the Wright Brothers. Without Albert Einstein. Without every person that laid down their life at Normandy Beach. Without my parents, my great grandparents, my great great grandparents. Without countless people, generations, dreams, breakthroughs, sacrifices, losses, triumphs and human stories all woven together into the massive story playing out over the course of human history on this little blue dot. I wouldn’t be able to do this without all the hard-working people that clock in every day and make travel possible for people like me, that do little to nothing to make it happen other than swipe a card and show up to stand in line. None of any of this was done for me (except maybe the contributions made by those closest to me, of course), but I am the beneficiary nonetheless, able to have this experience because of so much that is done by others, so much that was lived, loved and lost elsewhere and before me. I am small. Life is short. History is big.

I’m so grateful I’m getting a chance to dance my little dance in the whole big show and to get to learn as much as I can manage along the way.

Okay – that’s enough nostalgia and gratitude soup for now. Thank you, Europe for having me! It has been an absolute blast.

It is time now to look ahead to the next leg of the adventure!

I ran into a friendly Canadian couple on the tram back to my apartment last night. We exchanged a few quick words about our respective travels. They were here for a trip through Turkey.

I mentioned that I was on my way around the world. Headed to India next and that I stopped in Istanbul, you know, since it was on the way. The Canadian woman replied, “It often is.”

Such is Istanbul. The ultimate crossroads from here to there.

Well, I am here. And ready to go there!

Much love and thanks to you, Europe. To Asia I go!