Z is Zugspitze

The Zugspitze is the tallest mountain in Germany.  It is on the border between Germanyand Austria. Its peak measures 9,718 feet above sea level.  I visited The Zugspitze while on a family trip when I was in middle school. This blog was going to be about losing my purse there and not being able to go back and get it. It was going to be about how it was the first time I felt grown up in a bad way. The first time I experienced panic and fear. I didn’t know what else to write about and I needed a Z.

I needed a Z because I am almost finished with this A-Z challenge. But now I know what I will write about when I write about The Zugspitze. I will write about accomplishment.  I didn’t climb to the top of The Zugspitze, that’s not the kind of family I was ever a part of. We simply went to the visitor’s center, probably taking some sort of gondola up and witnessing spectacular views on the way. We didn’t work hard to get to the top, we simply paid a few Francs and were on our way.

I am sure several people have climbed to the top.  And it reminds me of a quote I heard from a guy I met traveling in Montezuma, Costa Rica- “The view from the top looks better when you’ve worked hard to get there.”  We appreciate things so much more when we’ve had to work hard to get there. I tell my ESL students all the time, “don’t translate. You’ll remember it more if you’ve worked hard to discover the answer.”

Our sense of achievement is directly related to our effort.  It is much more satisfying to complete something, reach a goal, finish a project when you know you worked hard, put your best effort into it and couldn’t have done more.

That’s kind of how I feel about this A-Z challenge. When I started out, I wasn’t even sure I could or would be able to do it. It was something I wanted to do to see if I could. Could I write a blog nearly every day for a month? Could I let go the idea that it needs to be perfect and edited and thought over for days? Could I simply write and put it out there day after day? Turns out I could. And I did. And it kind of feels like reaching the top of a mountain, looking down and appreciating where I’ve come even more because of the struggle it took.

I’m glad I did it. It feels great to start something and finish it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment I will carry with me. It lets me know I can do anything I set my mind to. I like to have reminders like that, little challenges that keep me going.  I am happy to be finished and able to focus my attention on other writing, namely, my novel which I have sadly neglected this month. I feel, however, that the brief hiatus will renew me and bring me back fresh to my novel, ready and raring to go.

Z is Zugspitze

The Zugspitze is the tallest mountain in Germany.  It is on the border between Germany and Austria. Its peak measures 9,718 feet above sea level.  I visited The Zugspitze while on a family trip when I was in middle school. This blog was going to be about losing my purse there and not being able to go back and get it. It was going to be about how it was the first time I felt grown up in a bad way. The first time I experienced panic and fear. I didn’t know what else to write about and I needed a Z.

I needed a Z because I am almost finished with this A-Z challenge. But now I know what I will write about when I write about The Zugspitze. I will write about accomplishment.  I didn’t climb to the top of The Zugspitze, that’s not the kind of family I was ever a part of. We simply went to the visitor’s center, probably taking some sort of gondola up and witnessing spectacular views on the way. We didn’t work hard to get to the top, we simply paid a few Francs and were on our way.

I am sure several people have climbed to the top.  And it reminds me of a quote I heard from a guy I met traveling in Montezuma, Costa Rica- “The view from the top looks better when you’ve worked hard to get there.”  We appreciate things so much more when we’ve had to work hard to get there. I tell my ESL students all the time, “don’t translate. You’ll remember it more if you’ve worked hard to discover the answer.”

Our sense of achievement is directly related to our effort.  It is much more satisfying to complete something, reach a goal, finish a project when you know you worked hard, put your best effort into it and couldn’t have done more.

That’s kind of how I feel about this A-Z challenge. When I started out, I wasn’t even sure I could or would be able to do it. It was something I wanted to do to see if I could. Could I write a blog nearly every day for a month? Could I let go the idea that it needs to be perfect and edited and thought over for days? Could I simply write and put it out there day after day? Turns out I could. And I did. And it kind of feels like reaching the top of a mountain, looking down and appreciating where I’ve come even more because of the struggle it took.

I’m glad I did it. It feels great to start something and finish it. It gives me a sense of accomplishment I will carry with me. It lets me know I can do anything I set my mind to. I like to have reminders like that, little challenges that keep me going.  I am happy to be finished and able to focus my attention on other writing, namely, my novel which I have sadly neglected this month. I feel, however, that the brief hiatus will renew me and bring me back fresh to my novel, ready and raring to go.

Y is for YOLO

Oh my, I can’t believe I’m using it, but it’s rather fitting. So many people ask me why I travel. I find it such a silly question. The answer seems so obvious to me. Yet, I am starting to understand, that to the person who does not travel, my lifestyle is very strange. And yes, I would call it a lifestyle.  Though it is not something I do every day, it is something I incorporate into my life several times a year. And without it, I would cease being me.

YOLO- you only live once. I suppose that is largely the answer to the question. I travel because I am here for a very short time, and I want to see and do and smell and taste and feel and experience everything I possibly can.  From a very young age, probably from moving around as much as I did with a father in the army, I discovered a need to go. Of course, at the time, I didn’t know it was a need, it was simply what I did. As I got older, it became a yearning, an eagerness to go, explore, learn, seek, find. 

Travel is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. As I’ve grown, I’ve realized that there are fewer and fewer firsts in our life. I hate this. When we are younger everything is a first, your first kiss, your first time driving a car, your first love.  I believe firsts are the secret to staying young, feeling young.  Travel allows me to experience firsts over and over again. Each new country, new culture, new dish, new beach, new rum allows me to have that exhilarating feeling of discovering something new.

There are over 200 countries.  Within those countries, there are 1,000’s of cities and people and food and ideas to unearth. I plan to visit all 200 countries and continue encountering firsts for the rest of my life because you only live once.

Y is for YOLO

Oh my, I can’t believe I’m using it, but it’s rather fitting. So many people ask me why I travel. I find it such a silly question. The answer seems so obvious to me. Yet, I am starting to understand, that to the person who does not travel, my lifestyle is very strange. And yes, I would call it a lifestyle.  Though it is not something I do every day, it is something I incorporate into my life several times a year. And without it, I would cease being me.

YOLO- you only live once. I suppose that is largely the answer to the question. I travel because I am here for a very short time, and I want to see and do and smell and taste and feel and experience everything I possibly can.  From a very young age, probably from moving around as much as I did with a father in the army, I discovered a need to go. Of course, at the time, I didn’t know it was a need, it was simply what I did. As I got older, it became a yearning, an eagerness to go, explore, learn, seek, find. 

Travel is one of the most fulfilling experiences in my life. As I’ve grown, I’ve realized that there are fewer and fewer firsts in our life. I hate this. When we are younger everything is a first, your first kiss, your first time driving a car, your first love.  I believe firsts are the secret to staying young, feeling young.  Travel allows me to experience firsts over and over again. Each new country, new culture, new dish, new beach, new rum allows me to have that exhilarating feeling of discovering something new.

There are over 200 countries.  Within those countries, there are 1,000’s of cities and people and food and ideas to unearth. I plan to visit all 200 countries and continue encountering firsts for the rest of my life because you only live once.

X is for Xanadu

Xanadu- noun- A place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment

Origin- S.T Coleridge’s modification, in the poem, “Kubla Khan” (1797)

 It is my understanding that Xanadu is usually a fictitious place. One that is always being sought, yet rarely found.  In my travels and looking back through posts A-W I think it is fair to say that I consider most everywhere I’ve visited a personal Xanadu.  I think Xanadu can be found anywhere if you are willing to open your eyes a bit.  If you are willing to bend and mold yourself to fit where you are instead of constantly wishing things were different or better, any place can become a Xanadu.

Of course, generally my Xanadu includes a beach, sun, rum, diving, hiking, a waterfall or two and a few amazing folks to meet and enjoy it all with.  Put all those together and you’ve got my idea of paradise, a common synonym for Xanadu. I’m not picky. Give me one or two of those attributes and I will be happy. Give me all of them and I am in heaven.

I hope you have found your Xanadu a time or two. If not, I hope you are still seeking to find it. I also hope, that when you find it, you recognize it. Too often we miss out on the great things in life because we think there is something more, something better just around the corner.  We do not notice when everything we ever wanted is right in front of us because we thought it would be more, different, better.  Xanadu is out there. Make sure you know it when you find it.

X is for Xanadu

Xanadu- noun- A place of great beauty, luxury, and contentment

Origin- S.T Coleridge’s modification, in the poem, “Kubla Khan” (1797)

 It is my understanding that Xanadu is usually a fictitious place. One that is always being sought, yet rarely found.  In my travels and looking back through posts A-W I think it is fair to say that I consider most everywhere I’ve visited a personal Xanadu.  I think Xanadu can be found anywhere if you are willing to open your eyes a bit.  If you are willing to bend and mold yourself to fit where you are instead of constantly wishing things were different or better, any place can become a Xanadu.

Of course, generally my Xanadu includes a beach, sun, rum, diving, hiking, a waterfall or two and a few amazing folks to meet and enjoy it all with.  Put all those together and you’ve got my idea of paradise, a common synonym for Xanadu. I’m not picky. Give me one or two of those attributes and I will be happy. Give me all of them and I am in heaven.

I hope you have found your Xanadu a time or two. If not, I hope you are still seeking to find it. I also hope, that when you find it, you recognize it. Too often we miss out on the great things in life because we think there is something more, something better just around the corner.  We do not notice when everything we ever wanted is right in front of us because we thought it would be more, different, better.  Xanadu is out there. Make sure you know it when you find it.

W is for Waterfalls

Well, it was hard to think of a foreign place I’ve visited that starts with the letter ‘W’. I thought about writing about Watertown, New York, but I’ve been trying to stay away from the states, and especially places I’ve lived. So instead I’ll write about waterfalls, something I go out of my way to find while I am traveling.

The best and most recent waterfall I’ve had the privilege of taking a plunge in is the Juan Curi Waterfall in San Gil, Colombia. It is the kind of waterfall I dream of and had not previously ever found.  It is about 180 meters of falling water into the most perfectly circular pool. The hike to the falls is beautiful and not too strenuous, but who cares once you get there, it is all worth it.

I visited the falls with a brother and sister from GermanyI had met. After the short hike, we staked out our spot on the tiny landing around the falls laying our towels out and spreading our bags around. We sat and admired the falls. I wrote in my journal inspired by the beauty around me.

Finally, I stripped down to my bikini and braved the clear waters of the pool.  There were places you could not touch the bottom. It was a pool big enough to swim across. It was the biggest natural pool I’ve ever been in. I swam towards the falls and let the water cascade about me. I lingered there.

I will be traveling again soon, in a place where there will be several waterfalls, though I am not sure any could surpass the perfection of the Juan Curi Falls. Sometimes when you find perfection for the first time you end up comparing everything else to it.  Though I am hopeful I might find falls even better than these. That is always the hope.