Day 1: Looking Forward to Looking Back

28 days ago, I embarked on the vacation of a lifetime with my husband, Andrew. We traveled through four different countries in four weeks, experiencing more in that time than many people will in a lifetime. It was a dream vacation: traveling first-class, staying in some of the world's best (and most expensive) hotels, immersing ourselves in new and exciting cultures, and seeing the iconic and historical sites I once only read about.

Andrew, my travel guru as I like to call him, booked this $75,000 vacation for pennies on the dollar. Some of the best things in life really are free, even though they are actually the most expensive, yet they are free because I have an Andrew. If you are interested in your own once-in-a-lifetime vacation for free, please let me know – Andrew is starting his own little travel consulting business and will offer discounted services to his first few clients.

The length of the trip made it even more enjoyable (most of the time) and epic. I don't know many 26 year-olds who have taken off a month of work and traveled first-class throughout Europe. This was an experience I wanted to remember. I put quite the dent in my bucket list, checking off things I never really thought I'd do or see. I saw parts of the world that have existed to me only in history books. Even in its bad moments and mishaps (though there weren't many), this was a vacation I never wanted to forget.

Yet while on this vacation of a lifetime, some memories were already becoming hazy of all the wonderful and spectacular things we just did. If you know me well, you know I don't have the best memory and can forget things you just told me a moment ago. (Rest assured, I can remember enough to be a good, if not a great, nurse). We saw and experienced so much throughout this vacation, and I was sad that I couldn't remember it all. It was discouraging that the memories we made would soon dissipate. I love to take pictures, but sometimes pictures don't do the experience and stories of that moment true justice.

I had brought along a journal in an attempt to record my memories as they were happening. Sounds like a great idea, right? Except while you are on the vacation of a lifetime, you are too busy experiencing all these wonderful things to just stop and write.

So while discussing my poor memory and this amazing trip over pizza in Venice, Andrew thought I should write a blog instead. I liked the idea of creating something I could share with our family and friends, and still look back on years later. However, to be completely honest, I was a bit nervous about this idea...Let me explain: I used to love to write poems while in high school and college. A few things happened all at once and I stopped writing. I started nursing school and had to devote a lot of time and energy to studying. I met Andrew, and as an excellent writer and English fanatic, I was a bit intimidated by his brilliance. (Please don't blame him for my writing fallout; he has done nothing but encourage me to write.) As I write these reasons down, I realize they are more like excuses. I guess, at that time, I just didn't want to write anymore. I no longer wanted to share my private thoughts with people. I was no longer depressed and trying to find an escape into another world or life. I was happy, and I continue to be very happy. But now, I miss writing. I miss doing and creating things that are completely and entirely my own. It's like the stars aligned and I am now ready to write again – and I even have something great to write about! So the idea of this blog was created and I hope that it will also help me find my grove in writing again.

Let me explain a bit about what I hope this blog will become. I plan to write 28 posts, in 28 days, reflecting on our trip in Europe for the last four weeks. Some days may be better than others. I don't plan on doing a snapshot of each day or presenting a timeline of events – we have Facebook for that. Like many other bloggers out there, I plan to write whatever I feel like that day. Some posts may be long (or short) and some may just be lists of my favorite things. Who knows. Nevertheless, I do hope that by writing for a month, I can paint a clear image of our trip for you to enjoy and for us to look back on.

And so it begins! 28 days ago Andrew and I left home: leaving our two kitties in the care of our family and friends. Leaving our routine, schedule and the comforts of our own home. Leaving our cars, cell phones, and lives behind. Yet we were not looking back, we were anxiously and excitedly looking forward...forward to the next four weeks in Italy, France, Germany, and New York. Looking forward to eating and drinking our way throughout Europe. Looking forward to experiencing the vacation of a lifetime! And now I'm looking forward to looking back...

Photo taken in Florence, overlooking the Arno River