Travel Shrine for Europe

Usually, before I embark on a trip I like to read several books - some fiction, some non-fiction, that help me begin to understand the country and the culture I am about to enter. But, it’s been a wonderfully busy summer full of family, friends, and, of course those “above average” grandchildren, so I haven’t done my ‘homework’ this time until just now. Today I erected my Travel Shrine.

A travel shrine is supposed to be an expression of my journey in all its many manifestations. It should show my restlessness, my eagerness, my hesitation, my joy and my fears. Its primary purpose is to help me see and understand all the issues that surround this journey. What do I want to learn about the many countries we will visit? What do I want to learn while in them? What do I want to learn about myself on this journey? These are questions my Travel Shrine is suppose to help me to clarify.

Shrines stretch back into antiquity, perhaps to the beginning of time when that first cave man lugged a special rock into his cave and placed it on his hunting alter. I find the process of building, meditating on, and dismantling the shrine when I return to make travel more enriching for me. The journey means so much more than if I simply 'show up at the airport.'
 
So, we’re off again this time for Europe: Wever-Chicago-Amsterdam-Lemmer-Madrid-Lisbon-Fatima-Caceres-Cordoba-Sevilla-Costa del Sol-Granada-Toledo-Venice-Split-Corfu—Santorini Island-Mykonos-Iraklion-Dubrovnik-Piraeau-Ephesus-Nafplion-Venice-Amsterdam-chicago-HOME! Whew! It’s going to take at least the five weeks we have planned. We look forward to the adventure and invite you to follow along; however, the posts may be few as with the many Internet Cafes available I’m still deciding to take my computer along this trip. Now my camera, on the other hand, is a must!