Some Places Never Leave You

Best read: lights out, candles lit, and your favorite track is playing 

There have been two distinct moments where I can remember feeling fully at ease, fully embracing life without a care in the world. 

Stepping down the cutest blue alleyway facing the Douro River of Porto, the restaurant, Intrigo, had a beautifully reserved view of the city. Two sangria glasses in with savory pork roast to satisfy my taste buds, I could feel the sun--a refreshing light in contrast to cold, rainy Paris--gleaming upon my flushed cheeks. 

Often, I am motivated by the way music makes me feel. So when Paint by The Paper Kites played, I recognized the song as it added to the ambiance. 

Resting my head on Jordy’s shoulder, closing my eyes, I fell into a deep trance where I could feel all my worries wash away.

Over the course of three days in the Sahara Desert, Morocco in the spring of 2019, I fell in love with Earth. We’d had conversations whether we’d rather go to Mars or discover all this planet had to offer and I didn't know my answer until then. 

With so much solitude and time to kill, Amelia and I drank fresh orange juice while laying in our hammocks and baking in the sun. We rode the camels into the sunset and I felt as the grains of sand left my hand and cooled down from the day’s heat. At night, I pulled out my camera and prepared to capture the stars, but nothing was better than what my eyes could see. 

And I’m kind of okay with these feelings being fleeting and so rare. It keeps me wondering when will my next adventure be, excited for what’s to come. In the meantime, I get to reflect, write about it or create from it, and continue to listen to the music that animates each moment.