Memories and ambitions of Europe.

Flipping around tonight on the television, I caught on PBS the last two episodes of Rick Steves' European travel skills special. All the scenery, all the smart advice, much of which I took to heart before my original trip, reminded me of the joys of travel in Europe.

To tell the truth, so did my recent couple of nights in San Francisco. Getting around by train, reading in the laundromat, talking about my adventures with my hostel roommate from Singapore, who somehow already knew what albinism was.

But, somehow as I was watching, I started to remember the good things about my vacation.. about how I managed to competently navigate the subways in all those cities, all the great scenery, the people I met but almost forgot about...

My recent vacation in Vegas was sort of an antithesis to everything I learned in Europe. In Vegas, I stayed in the same few city blocks the whole time, mostly in the hotel, and lost money gambling. There was no local culture or history because tourism was the local culture and history. And I didn't really display many savvy skills there, what with losing all that stuff and all.

In Europe, yes, I lost lots of stuff, but found out I mostly didn't need it, or I replaced it, and everything was cool. And though I missed out on a lot of things due to inexperience, timidity, or poor planning, oh and illness, I still met great people, saw things I'd never seen before, and learned some things about the world and myself too. I faced challenges and broke barriers. And if I ever go back, there are many mistakes I won't make a second time.

And I got to thinking about the adventures I might have if I went back. Might I even go with someone this time?