On the plane to São Paulo, Brazil [Post #19, Day 264]

As I write this I am on the plane to South America, the fifth continent of my world trip. These big transitional moments are exciting. The ability to simply get on a plane and travel from one area of the world to a totally different one may be common nowadays, but I still find it amazing, and am especially feeling that right now. I have had an incredible time in Europe, which for me has been defined by the amazing people I’ve met and spent time with. Old friends, new friends, and family. I cherish every moment and memory. And I have fit in as much as I could! – maxing out my 90 days allowed in the Schengen area, with the wheels of my airplane lifting off the tarmac of Leonardo da Vinci Rome Fiumicino Airport on day 90.

I had the realization that my life is truly travel now. I lost track of the day of the week a long time ago. It has no meaning to me anymore. Every day is a new opportunity to make the absolute most of it. I’ve had times where I forgot for a moment where I am on Earth. Like the feeling when you wake up in the morning in a new place and take a few seconds to remember where you are. But that has happened to me in the middle of the day! Particularly when I’m in the middle of a conversation with someone, and I get slightly disoriented and think – which country am I in?

For some long term travelers, as I’ve read in blogs and elsewhere, once they get a taste for this kind of lifestyle they want to keep going indefinitely. But for me, I’ve felt more and more that I don’t need to keep this trip going indefinitely. When the time comes I will be ready and happy to wrap it up with a nice bow, knowing it has been an incredibly special time in my life, and one that I am so utterly thankful for. And then I will cast my gaze forward, ready to move on to my next endeavor.

My trip through Italy was brief but packed with many great things – pizza, pasta, pistachio gelato, beautiful artwork, structures, and landscapes, wonderful people, and special moments. I visited Aosta, Florence, and Rome. All were beautiful cities, and I would certainly like to return to Italy sometime in the future. I loved seeing the sculpture of David by Michelangelo in Florence and then his masterwork frescoes on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Vatican City. For one person to produce such beautiful creations in two entirely different mediums like that is really quite incredible. I have wanted to buy the 5,000 piece, 5-foot-long Ravensburger jigsaw puzzle of the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel for a long time, and now that I have seen the real thing with my own eyes, I can’t wait to buy that puzzle, get a big table, and put it together.

I’m looking forward to South America where I plan to do lots of hiking and just spending time out there in beautiful, miraculous nature.

I want to close this post with a quote from Maya Angelou:

I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow. I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way they handle these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights. I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life. I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as making a ‘life’. I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back. I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision. I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one. I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn. I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.

I made a friend in Florence and among many other things we have in common, we both love this quote.