The Price is High

Living in another country makes you think on where it is you'd like to settle someday. Or if you'd like to settle at all. I read this quote the other day from Anna Del Conte’s memoir Risotto with Nettles. Del Conte, a popular Italian food writer here in the UK, writes about her move from Italy to England, and the challenges she faces—both in the differences in food, but also in lifestyle.

“I have become a hybrid, fitting properly neither here nor there, being neither English nor any longer Italian, always missing something when I am here or something else when I am there. Even now that I am old, I have the dilemma of where I should be buried: here in the lovely churchyard of this picturesque village in Dorset, where I now live, or in my family’s tomb in the grand Monumentale cemetery in Milan. Even dead I will not settle . . .One might have a less dull life, more interesting experiences, broader education, but the price is high.”

I'm nomadic. By nature. I don't know where I got it from as the only person who has stamps in their passports, in my family, are my Grandma's. But it's in my blood. Deep. My grandma Joan told me once, "When you travel it gets in your blood. It will never leave. Whether you like it or not." How true that is.

The price is high though. Moving is pretty upsetting. I can't tell you how many sets of furniture I've gotten rid of because I've decided to move someplace on a whim. I don't have much anymore, and what I do have are in boxes in my sisters attic. You uproot yourself from where you know and go to the unknown. No friends, no family. You have to build a life over and over again. Without the close support of family. It is challenging. I don't regret my decisions. I am who I am because of the places I've seen and the people I have met. But it is a challenge.

How long will Luis and I be in Scotland? We aren't sure. When does the decision to live in Scotland for a year become forever? We've been here since February 2008. When and where will we be next? Or will there be a next? I want to decorate my flat, but what is the point when I know we'll leave at some point. If I decorate does that mean I'm staying? I must say that does go through my mind.

Living without close friends is hard. Not for LD. He doesn't care. He is his own BFF. But for me, having friends is a need. When you live in another country your new friends are going to be different than your old ones. For the obvious reasons that you live in another culture. They do things differently. It will be something to get used to. You may not find that one kindred spirit to call your bestie living so far away from your normal.

But I love love love living here. Scotland is beautiful. Gorgeous really. The history alone is amazing. The castles are our favorite. The beauty is enchanting. The customs and culture are interesting and funny. The opportunity to actually LIVE with another culture and its people is once in a lifetime.

When you travel you never come back the same. The people and places you'll see will change you forever. I like that. I always want to be changing and getting better. It is the life of an expat. But it comes at a price, and the price is high.

Paris Video Montage

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J'adore Paris!

Just got back from Paris early this morning. It was AMAZING! Such a lively city! It was just as romantic as they all say. It has to be one of the most beautiful cities in the world. It was such a dream come true for me to see Paris.


I love traveling. I never come back the same. I always want to be changing and getting better. I have been to 9 countries and each one has shaped me in some way or another. I have another stamp in my Passport! Let me show you Paris!


When we arrived we didn't want to waste time going to our hotel...so we went to the Eiffel Tower instead! On the way walking we found the Arc de Triomphe. WOW. I turned my head and saw it in the distance and gasped. It is so amazing. You can't see the details in pictures. It doesn't do it justice. It is beautiful. The traffic surrounding the Arc was so busy and the police were directing it. The city is HUGE!

We then walked to The Eiffel Tower. We followed the light. Walking along the Parisian streets at night is so romantic. There are plenty of cafe's and benches to sit and enjoy the city. There is an energy in the city that is so strong. I loved it. When we saw the Eiffel Tower we stopped and took her in. She is MUCH bigger than I expected! What an amazing structure. We got in line to buy our tickets at a Spanish speaking counter. LD is so handy to have around. There were signs everywhere to watch the Pickpockets. I held my bag close to me! We rode the elevator to the second level and the scenery was just...there aren't words to describe this beautiful city. What an experience. We really enjoyed our time there. We ended our time at The Eiffel Tower with a Light Show at 10pm to celebrate its 120 yrs! Looked like a billion twinkling lights! What a show!


We finally decided we were tired and should probably check into our hotel at 10:30pm. We hailed a cab and of course he took us the long route (we figured this out the next day as we realized how close we really were to our hotel). We dropped our small bags and headed out to find some Parisian Grub at 11pm. Would anything be open? Of course. We aren't in Scotland anymore. They have a night life. A nice man at our hotel told us a place to go find non-touristy food and people. We walked 5 min and found a little Italian restaurant. I know I know, we aren't in Italy. We are in Paris! But we couldn't find a Parisian restaurant open near our hotel and we were starving!!! We successfully ordered from an all french menu. Yay! Our heaping plates of pasta arrived and we enjoyed a wonderful meal. I felt so special eating in Paris!! I'm a nerd I know. I don't care. I was in Paris!!


The next morning we ate a VERY expensive breakfast of real Parisian croissants, orange juice, fruit, etc... for €12 a piece! That was a rip off. We shouldn't have eaten at the hotel. Oh well...we'll know for next time. Loved the croissants though. I had a chocolate one for you Christy!

Off to The Notre Dame Cathedral! Pictures DO NOT do this place justice. The sculptures on the outside alone are amazing. Not one the same. I could spend all day just looking at the outside. The inside was an experience. Think of choir music. Beautiful choir boys singing. That is what we heard upon entering. I'm not catholic but I can sure appreciate the spirit of this holy place. They built it as a place of worship and they did not skimp on details. The candles were all lit as prayers for others. There were seats to enjoy the ambiance of the this spiritual place. Luis knelt at an alter by Guadalupe (the Mexican Virgin Mary). I'm so glad we have the same sense of humor. It was fun! I could spend all day here, but we were on a time limit. We wanted to get to The Louvre!


Words can not express The Louvre. I had no idea HOW big it was. I still don't! We spent 6 hours there and only scratched the surface of one wing! I could spend a week there and not see it all. I guess I'll have to come back to Paris and spend more time at The Louvre. OK! One very cool thing was the sheer number of people there! It was so busy for a Wednesday afternoon. People from all over the world were coming to partake in history and the arts. That in itself is amazing. We only had 6 hrs so we sat down and picked out what we NEEDED to see this trip. The Mona Lisa, Aphrodite, Hercules, The Winged Victory of Samothrace, Fighting Warrior, and all the Egyptian exhibits (we saw a real mummy!). It took us 6 hours to see that! The building was as beautiful as the art inside. The ceilings were amazing. Words can't describe. I felt like Prof. Robert Langdon from The Davinci Code. Too cool!!


By this time we are so exhausted I can't see straight. I had to take my shoes off inside the Lovure and sit down for about 30 min before we could continue on in our journey home. LD was a trouper dealing with me. Love you honey!


This city is so beautiful. So much history. So much beauty. I can't wait to go back. I will post more pictures of each place we saw.


I've checked Paris off my list. It feels good!

University of Glasgow

This week we took Luis' parents to see The University of Glasgow. Founded in 1491, it adds to this cities amazing architecture! Enjoy our photos!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Christy's Visit: In Pictures

Edinburgh, Scotland

This morning Christy and I took the train into Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. We enjoyed some yummy pastries while talking and reading during the 1 hr 45 min train ride. The weather was anything but constant the whole day. It was everything from cold winter weather (we had to put gloves and hats on), to sunny spring weather where we took our coats off and enjoyed the sun! Welcome to Scotland Christy!

The day was filled with a historic visit to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. We saw the Crown Jewels of Scotland, and I even lost my camera! Which someone was kind enough to take to lost and found! We ate some delicious Fish & Chips in a local pub, and enjoyed a bagpipers tunes of Scotland. I loved the day with Christy so much, and hate that she is leaving in the morning...she is off to Rome on a moments notice, and she's ready for more adventures!!

Enjoy the Pictures of our day!

My friend Christy