As a young man, God has blessed me with a decade of adventures overseas! My recent travel was to Europe for Pentecost. This backpacking adventure was one to remember with different stops in Europe including Belgium, France and England.
My 21 day adventure began on Tuesday, June 7th, 2011 with an eleven hour plane ride from Los Angeles to New York then off to London! Once I touched down, I searched for my house on my back (my backpacking bag) then I met up with my wonderful friend, Britney Kurr, who participated in the adventure with me. From London we took a train which traveled into Brugge, Belgium, our first stop. Brugge is a small city in northwestern Belgium known for its 13th century belfry, housing a municipal carillon comprised of 48 bells. The city amazed me with its many medieval buildings, its cobble stone streets, the Belgium Chocolate Museum, their world famous waffles and their one of a kind french fries topped with mayonnaise. Brugge was a wonderful place to begin my adventure.
Once we departed from Brugge we went on to our highly anticipated Pentecost get together in Ciney, Belgium. Ciney is a very quiet town in the suburbs; there were people from every ethnicity, gender and area of the world. In attendance were people from Australia, France, England, New Zealand, Germany, America and South Africa. So many of God's people gathered together, it gave me a glance of God's Kingdom and a feel of the first Pentecost. At times you would hear several languages being spoken but there was always someone to translate. This Pentecost gathering happens once a year but God willing, through His Grace, we will meet again before then.
As our Pentecost gathering came to an end, Britney and I continued on for a quick stop in Brussels, Belgium. We spent two days traveling through cobble stones, taking in the historic Guidhalls on the Grand Place and taking a small metro ride to the atomiun in Heysel Park. Towards the end of our second day we came across the famous Peeing Baby Fountain in Brussels. Throughout Brussels there were pictures, paintings and shirts with the same peeing baby boy. To see this fountain in person was not all that its cracked up to be. Over all, Brussels was a place to remember and one I recommend visiting on your adventures through Europe.
Our next stop and my most enjoyable was Paris, France. This adventure started off wonderfully with a nice morning breakfast. The meal was French bread, eggs sunny side up, croissants and hot chocolate. Although the meal was simple, it was one of the best breakfasts I've ever eaten.
After finding our whereabouts, Britney and I were off to the Eiffel Tower, then to Musee du Louvre, which houses the Mona Lisa and other notable works. Paris was a place which reflects my personality and style, very laid back, old-fashioned, natural and authentic. I felt at home here. Paris tops my favorite overseas destination so far.
Lastly, we made our way back to London where we stayed the majority of the time. What I enjoyed the most about London were the brethren and their accents. Over the three week adventure, we experienced so many different languages such as French, German, Spanish and Portuguese, however, once we returned to London, all the confusion went out of the window. Majority of the time we spent relaxing and going out with the brethren, which one or two also attended the Pentecost gathering. My time with the young adults in London allowed me to understand there are also others in Christ's Body who go through the same ups and downs with being in the Faith. We shared thoughts, feelings and ideas on how to make it through, being removed from the norm and walking with the Lord. The connections I made in London and the Pentecost gathering has strengthened my want to adventure overseas more to meet the brethren from different parts of the world.
