Cruisin'

While in Alabama, I worked with a woman who always said (in a very southern accent), "I work to cruise. I love cruisin'. " I don't think we are quite to her level yet, but we did thoroughly enjoy the cruise we took last summer through the Baltic Sea. We were able to see seven very different cities, but still sleep in the same bed every night and never have to re-pack our suitcase. Because of this, we decided to book a cruise for our big vacation this year. However, the only times the cruise was offered was April and October. Thus I find myself still wearing a winter coat and gloves here in Brussels, but getting all of my summer clothes out of storage.

We have really enjoyed the opportunity to travel here, but sometimes it is starting to feel like, "Oh look, another church in another old town." I used to take pictures of everything and now I find myself not as interested in capturing every canal and cobblestone street. I was feeling mad at myself that I was becoming so callous about traveling here until I counted up how many châteaux I have been to. In my three years here, I have seen 22 châteaux! That equals a little less than one per month for the last three years. Because of all this, I am very excited for our cruise because we will be stopping in Athens, Olympia, Corfu, Cairo, Crete, Santorini, Mykonos, Izmir and Istanbul. I have a feeling that I will fill my memory card with all the pictures of different architecture and life there. I have no idea what to expect, which I am happy about because I haven't set any expectations. Au revoir!