My European Siesta

It's been a good, busy summer. There has been so much going on, especially at work, that the time has flown by. But, the focus of the season, the thing I have spent the most time thinking about, planning for and recovering from, was my awesome, three-week trip to Austria in late July and early August. Having looked forward to it for nearly two years, since my last trip there, it's no surprise that I had an incredible time! I even came back home with every good intentions of writing, with great inspiration, about traveling and how much it affects your life, your attitude and your daily routine. However, I have found that it's really difficult to put into words, without sounding overly dramatic, because traveling experiences are very personal and uniquely invidividual.

The truth is, I came back from Austria (as I do with every major trip) a different person - more relaxed, more open-minded, and more appreciative. I feel very fortunate that I am able to go to Europe (after saving every penny I can from my hard-earned "non-profit" salary) every few years, and I really try to absorb every minute and appreciate every second while I'm there. This trip was no exception. Surprisingly, the thing I valued most while I was in Austria was solitude.

Although I was there to visit my sister, a violinist at the opera institute, she and her colleague/friends, who I've also gotten to know quite well, had to work during the week. This left me plenty of time to find my way and entertain myself in a foreign country. Days were spent sleeping late, wondering around town looking for hidden corners not yet seen, grocery shopping for non-preservative-filled bread and cheese and fruit (things so foreign and UNDERappreciated in America) and finally deciding on a serene and scenic place (in abundance in Austria) to read a book. My favorite is a small lake just off the Strassenbahn line, where I spent many afternoons laying in a hammock, where I could watch the ducks swim and read Peter Mayle's "A Year in Provence". Pure heaven!

Unlike every other trip I've taken, these three weeks helped me realize and appreciate the value of my own company. Back in reality in Louisville, Kentucky I live alone and have plenty of time by myself, however, the time I spent in solitude on my trip is different. There, I was on an adventure in a strange place that weirdly felt like home but where the people spoke a language that I couldn't quite grasp (despite much practicing) and where I stuck out like a foreigner, a tall, stalky, corn-fed, self-aware American. Unlike at work or weekend chores, my time was completely to use as I wanted. And my time was never better spent than on my Austrian vacation siesta.