Oh God, I know how cheesy that sounds. It’s true, though.

No other place has enthralled me, inspired me, romanced me the way Europe has. To be fair, it’s made up of so many different countries that it shouldn’t be classified as just ONE place. Since it’s all under one visa and one currency though, I’m going to keep thinking of it as one whole.

I can’t pinpoint exactly when my fascination with Europe started, but if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it was ’round that time we were studying the history of art and architecture in college. Interior Design was my major of choice then, and though I do not plan on pursuing it as my career path, I am forever grateful for the introduction and appreciation for art & design that it gave me.

When I was finishing my third year, I struggled with my requirements, feeling all burned out and basically unhappy.  My parents decided that I needed something to inspire me, an incentive of sorts. They told me I could choose between a car or a trip to Europe for my graduation gift.

Of course that was a no-brainer. I’d take Europe over any car, even a BMW, any day of the week.

So that became my motivation–my light at the end of the tunnel. I’m proud to say I finished all my requirements on time and graduated cum laude the summer of 2009.

Then came the fun part–London and Europe.

Most of my entries here came (or will come) from the somewhat ratty old journal I carried with me during the twenty-eight days my siblings and I went on tour that year. Others will be about the business/pleasure trip I had in Amsterdam, Berlin and Hamburg with my officemate last 2010. But it is my dearest hope, no, my greatest goal, to be able to update this real-time as I go take on more cities and countries in the future. 🙂