We have arrived in Franfurt ... waiting to catch our connecting flight to Bulgaria where we are spending 3 weeks with Steve & Tanya Bailey. We flew Air Lufthansa ... a big plane, very comfortable and on time ... almost to the minute, the cabin crew were very friendly, with a stopover in Frankfurt on the way. I think you can tell a lot about a country by their international airports. Frankfurt's airport is very industrial looking to me ... lots of grey and low ceilings. Exposed pipes and corrugated iron. Very orderly and very clear instructions to navigate your way to your departure gate, we still got lost though.
We flew through Frankfurt on our way to and from Barcelona a couple of years ago. Barcelona's international airport is amazing ... high stud ... lots of natural light, lots of white and a feeling of lots of space. I thought it was very vibrant and alive. I remember the contrast between Frankfurt and Barcelona airports as being quite dramatic.
We had a really nice drive to Boston with Mike, Chris, lars and Roxcy. Mike took us to lunch at a cafe that sells real pies ... owned by Australians ... the pies and sausage rolls tasted like home, along with Crunchier Bars. Then we drove to Logan International Airport and said our goodbyes! We both felt very sad saying goodbye ... especially to lars and Roxcy. Lars said a couple of times that he would miss Pete and me a little bit ... so cute!
When we were young parents and busy parenting children I never really thought about the future, or when our children would be all grown up and gone. Our lives seemed so full and busy ... I felt like it would last forever, there was always someone at any given time that needed something, extra time or attention, a sport of some sort, some kind of activity, trying to keep a track of who was doing what, when, where, how and with who. I/we really wanted to create a life of memories and family rituals for our children, something that gave their life meaning and a sense of belonging. Today we said goodbye to Mike and his family and I am still trying to figure out how we got here ...I look at lars and Roxcy and think where did that time go ... did we miss something ... if only I had known, 'I wish I/we had .......'. I remember Marg and Great Grandma saying from time to time, 'enjoy them, it doesn't last'. I thought we were ... I get it now! There are some gaps/holes that are not easily filled ... leaving or saying goodbye to our children is one of those gaps ... it is always there and we learn to live our life's with it.
Having said all of that we are on our way ... Chris and Mike shared their travels with us round Turkey and we are excited. I am looking forward to a balloon ride. Lonely Planet says Bulgaria is one of the top 10 destinations on the planet. Lots to look forward to. But before we move on I really wanted to capture our last hours on our blog ... we are excited and nervous. There is much to look forward to and adventures to be had that we cannot even begin to imagine. There will be moments ... good ones and bad ones. A lot of letting go! I am wondering what will fill this empty space that we have created both in us and around us.
We are down to 3 outfits each or there abouts, 2 pair of shoes ... walking shoes and sandals, I have a 38L pack and Pete has a 40L pack and that is it. We have sent a rather large box of clothing and things back to NZ that are surplus to our requirements. We are going light! No fancy shampoos, skin care, aftershave, makeup ... all things that have been part of mine or Pete's daily ritual of getting ready for a day. No wearing something and throwing it out to be washed that night and then returned washed and folded in 2 days time ... instead we will be wearing it over and over and over again. Pete is going to write more on our minimalistic adventure, so I will leave that space for him. I have found that there is something freeing in letting go of all the stuff I thought I could not do without!
Any way, enough of my blabbing ... photos!
Goodbye ...
We flew through Frankfurt on our way to and from Barcelona a couple of years ago. Barcelona's international airport is amazing ... high stud ... lots of natural light, lots of white and a feeling of lots of space. I thought it was very vibrant and alive. I remember the contrast between Frankfurt and Barcelona airports as being quite dramatic.
We had a really nice drive to Boston with Mike, Chris, lars and Roxcy. Mike took us to lunch at a cafe that sells real pies ... owned by Australians ... the pies and sausage rolls tasted like home, along with Crunchier Bars. Then we drove to Logan International Airport and said our goodbyes! We both felt very sad saying goodbye ... especially to lars and Roxcy. Lars said a couple of times that he would miss Pete and me a little bit ... so cute!
When we were young parents and busy parenting children I never really thought about the future, or when our children would be all grown up and gone. Our lives seemed so full and busy ... I felt like it would last forever, there was always someone at any given time that needed something, extra time or attention, a sport of some sort, some kind of activity, trying to keep a track of who was doing what, when, where, how and with who. I/we really wanted to create a life of memories and family rituals for our children, something that gave their life meaning and a sense of belonging. Today we said goodbye to Mike and his family and I am still trying to figure out how we got here ...I look at lars and Roxcy and think where did that time go ... did we miss something ... if only I had known, 'I wish I/we had .......'. I remember Marg and Great Grandma saying from time to time, 'enjoy them, it doesn't last'. I thought we were ... I get it now! There are some gaps/holes that are not easily filled ... leaving or saying goodbye to our children is one of those gaps ... it is always there and we learn to live our life's with it.
Having said all of that we are on our way ... Chris and Mike shared their travels with us round Turkey and we are excited. I am looking forward to a balloon ride. Lonely Planet says Bulgaria is one of the top 10 destinations on the planet. Lots to look forward to. But before we move on I really wanted to capture our last hours on our blog ... we are excited and nervous. There is much to look forward to and adventures to be had that we cannot even begin to imagine. There will be moments ... good ones and bad ones. A lot of letting go! I am wondering what will fill this empty space that we have created both in us and around us.
We are down to 3 outfits each or there abouts, 2 pair of shoes ... walking shoes and sandals, I have a 38L pack and Pete has a 40L pack and that is it. We have sent a rather large box of clothing and things back to NZ that are surplus to our requirements. We are going light! No fancy shampoos, skin care, aftershave, makeup ... all things that have been part of mine or Pete's daily ritual of getting ready for a day. No wearing something and throwing it out to be washed that night and then returned washed and folded in 2 days time ... instead we will be wearing it over and over and over again. Pete is going to write more on our minimalistic adventure, so I will leave that space for him. I have found that there is something freeing in letting go of all the stuff I thought I could not do without!
Any way, enough of my blabbing ... photos!
Lunch
Missing these guys ...
Goodbye ...
We miss you too! But this is so very exciting. I know there are lots of people interested in your packing list and how you do your travel so keep up the blogging!
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of you and Pete hugging Mike sooooo tightly. So much love, I'm in tears. I really really care about you and Pete, and I'm so impressed with your brave adventure! I just finished reading through all your posts and I'm looking forward to following your journey, so thanks for sharing!
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