amsterdam.

the city of temptation.

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my goodness. this city is a fast one. amsterdam is sex, drugs, and rock n’ roll – seriously. it’s a fend-for-yourself, hang-on-to-your-wallet, watch-out-for-killer-cyclists type place; but it is also an amazing one. the culture is work all day, play all night, with a kind of vigor that couldn’t have been experienced anywhere else.

like bruges, canals weave their way through the city. in fact, amsterdam is actually referred to as the “venice of the north.” we took a guided boat tour on our first morning there, learning a bit more about the culture and historical landmarks. unfortunately, the rocking motion of the boat combined with the warm sun shining through the windows put many of us right to sleep. i caught angelique snoozing a bit too, though, so i didn’t feel quite so guilty.

our choir had the opportunity to perform in amsterdam as well, holding a concert at an english church there. while we waited for the concert to begin, we were waited on by the kindest old scottish man. he served us tea and coffee and made sure we had everything we could possibly need. his accent was so thick and his manners so charming that i couldn’t help but fall in love with him. he will forever be my european love.

following our concert, we were bused to a nearby nursing home, where we shared songs with the residents and shared pancakes with them afterward. by each of our place settings was a card made of tissue and construction paper, constructed by hand for each of us by the residents. on the back of each card was a hand written message of thanks for sharing our musical gifts. it was such a special token, i tucked mine in my choir folder to remind me always of those residents.

later, we had the opportunity to worship with some local evangelists and pray with them about the turmoil and sexual slavery going on in their city. we learned about a few of the leaders of the red light district industry and what is being done to minimize the number of women being forced to sell their bodies. after our worship service, we took a brief walk through the district. it was a hard walk for me. seeing those women in the windows, unloved and unrespected, was heart wrenching. it hurt so much to see their suffering, so for the remainder of the walk, i kept my eyes down and simply prayed silently.

the next morning, angelique took us into the country to learn about cheese and clog making. both were such neat processes, although very time consuming ones. some of the cheeses were aged years! similarly, clogs were meant to take many months as well. we were told that when a young dutch man wanted to begin seeing a dutch lady, he was presented with two blocks of wood by the lady’s father. when he had finally carved them into a pair of elaborate clogs, he left them on the doorstep as a sign of his love, and as a request for marriage. i adored that story, and i have decided that even though i’m not dutch, i want to be proposed to with clogs of love too.

we also wandered among windmills in another neighboring village. i had no idea how big those mechanisms actually were. it was wonderfully quaint to see them up so close.

we wouldn’t be true tourists if we didn’t sample a small taste of amsterdam’s night life. two nights in a row, a group of us went dancing at a club downtown called prime. it was such fun to let loose and dance with individuals i had become so close to. the music was mostly american, so we shouted and sang along to almost every song. those evenings were delightful, absolutely my favorites of the trip.

although at times i was somewhat intimidated by the goings-on in amsterdam, it’s safe to say that the city certainly holds a piece of my heart. it is wild, and untamed, full of lust and, of course, temptation. but alongside those is also an unapologetic quality – one that claims, “this is what i am, who i am. what you see is exactly what you get.” it’s an honest place, and that, my friends, is admirable.

snapshots of bruges.

a view of the canals.

the university singers performing on the street.

exploring the city with friends anna and brittany.

sharing songs at the homeless shelter.

bruges.

the city of beauty.

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after chartres, i was sure there wasn’t a more beautiful place in all of europe. fortunately for me, i was mistaken. bruges is a medieval city in belgium, home to the quaintest little houses and the most stunning landscape i had seen yet. it was the only place i visited that i was sorry i didn’t have a camera of my own.

upon arrival, after a quick hotel check-in and a touch up on my mascara, we were off to explore the town. i was lucky to experience two of belgium’s finest: chocolate and waffles. i’m telling you, chocolate can be imported, but you’ll never taste a waffle like that unless you go to belgium. it’s heaven with whipped cream on top.

later that afternoon we performed another concert in a near-by cathedral, which turned out to be one of my favorite performances. our sound was so reverberant – i sang with all my heart, and it seemed i could barely keep up with the splendor of it all.

that evening brought more shopping and supper together as a group.

the next day, we traveled across town to a local homeless shelter. with us, we carried gloves, scarves and hats that we had collected back home. we sang a few of our concert songs for the people of the shelter, along with a song we learned in their native language – the hymn “how great thou art.” they even prepared a song for us, which was so special. one woman, i never learned her name, led the group. she was an old woman, with long, tousled grey hair and only one arm, but she had the loudest and most exuberant voice of all. after we sang, we were invited to dine among the residents of the shelter and visit with them. i sat right beside the woman, wanting to know her, but i was disappointed to learn that she did not know any english. the others around the table knew a bit though; i had such a wonderful time laughing and visiting with them. they were all interested in what we were studying and what we wanted to be when we grew up. they were also extremely curious about the other places we were visiting on our tour, all the while boasting that “ours is the most beautiful city, no?” i will forever remember their spirit and smiles.

we left town shortly after our visit to the shelter, although i desperately wished we had more time in bruges. it seemed just liked a city straight out of a fairytale, and anyone who knows me knows i am certainly partial to those.

post.6.

the village of chartres, a much smaller but equally beautiful parisian city.

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we were bused there on our second day in paris, and were given the opportunity to explore the impressive cathedral and its grounds, as well as a little time to wander about the city itself. it was so bustling with the typical activity of a rural village. the storefronts were quaint and unique, and the homes were built right into the hilly landscape. its beauty was a simplistic one; instead of the rush of traffic and noise that paris was, chartres was quiet – real, but surreal. i treated myself to a small sandwich and a pastry for lunch from a street bakery not too far from the cathedral, practicing what little french i knew and smiling politely at the baker. i enjoyed my treat on a park bench in a tiny outdoor plaza, enjoying the sunshine and counting my blessings.

snapshots of paris.

miss lisa herself.

with friends bobby and katelynn in front of the louvre.

riding the metro with tj on our way to the flea market.

inside notre dame.

paris.

the city of love.

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i know i wrote briefly about our first day in paris; however, i experienced so much in my three days there that i feel it only respectful to write more.

first of all, when people tell you that paris is the city of love, they are telling the truth. public affection can be seen everywhere: restaurants, park benches, school playgrounds, shoe stores, coffee shops – you name a place, and you can be sure there are people kissing. however, as crazy as it sounds, i think something can be said for this reckless affection. to me, although it seems a bit indiscreet, it also seems highly romantic. kissing the one you love in such a beautiful place without a care in the world doesn’t sound all bad, does it? these couples were behaving the way couples in girly movies behave, and i’ve always wanted my life to resemble that kind of movie.

is that so wrong?

along with its reputation for romance, paris also has a rich history of art. angelique got us up early one morning, making us one of the first groups to greet the mona lisa for the day. she is so beautiful, so simple and elegant, and so very small. angelique warned us that she would be slightly smaller than the picture she was sure we were imagining, but i was still surprised to find her as tiny as she was. we explored the rest of the louvre on our own in small groups, although it was a bit overwhelming. it would take weeks to fully view and appreciate all the art, while we had a mere couple of hours.

i was excited to be at the louvre for another reason as well. one of my favorite books, the davinci code, takes place in paris, and the story begins in the louvre. in fact, the opening scene takes place right in front of the mona lisa. it was so surreal being in the same world as that story.

another highlight of paris was the notre dame cathedral. not only were we allowed to sing as a part of the mass, but we were also allowed access to the altar, and asked to process out of the sanctuary behind the priests. the structure itself is exquisite – every bit as breath-taking as one would imagine, and still in such wonderful condition. following the mass, after the public had been dismissed, we were thanked personally by the priest and given total access to the empty cathedral. we were free to explore as we pleased, undisturbed by pushy tourists. it was a truly unforgettable night.

as imagined, shopping in paris was simply delightful. a few of my friends and i traveled to a near-by flea market during one of our free afternoons, which was similar to the street vendors in italy or new york. most spoke little english but were excellent hagglers. the flea market unfortunately didn’t hold any treasures for me, but my eyes certainly feasted.

speaking of feasting, paris’s cuisine definitely influenced the size of our waistlines. i enjoyed some of the best meals i’ve ever eaten there. mushroom soup, smoked salmon, gobs of pastries, and of course, french fries. our hotel breakfasts alone were enough to keep us full all day. i came away from the city with a greater appreciation for meal time. not just the food itself, but the fellowship – savoring every bite, every conversation. parisians take two hours on one meal, three if you're lucky. it’s all about enjoying the experience, which was so new for us. we eat and dash in america, and the glamour of a well-prepared meal is lost, as well as the patience it takes to really appreciate it. i loved being allowed to take my time.

it’s such a magic city paris is, so brimming with electric chemistry. from those lovers on the park bench to the white lights strung across every alley street, it oozes a sense of beauty that is unmatched anywhere else in the world. it is dream-like and romantic – the perfect place, the only place, to really fall in love.

post.5.

hello friends.

my european excursion is now complete, and i am home in the throes of my native land.

it feels so wonderful to be back, but my heart aches for the beauty and simplicity i spent such a short time experiencing. and of course, my stomach aches for a croissant.

i feel a bit empty, to be completely honest, not to be surrounded by the throng of creative and unique individuals that i so recently shared everything with. isn’t it amazing how a group of acquaintances can become such a close family in only a few days? travel encourages relationship with others, i've learned, be it a person you already know, or people you don’t. sometimes it encourages boundaries, but most times it discourages them. we are a unit – in one place at one time, relishing in the community, the culture, and the sights to see.

it struck me, though, as i was reflecting on this most recent journey, that travel is so much more than mere sight-seeing. travel is food. it’s adrenaline. it’s public transportation. it’s asking for directions. it’s knowing people for who they are in unfamiliar surroundings. it’s falling in love – with places, and – if you’re lucky – people, or a person. it’s an art, when done correctly, and something i’ll never give up. travel is waking up early and coming in late. it’s scarves and boots and fashion. it’s a snapshot of a moment – in your mind, not a camera, because i don’t have one. it’s music on the street, laughing over a beer, relishing the complexity of a painting. it’s a quiet conversation with a stranger or a friend, or maybe no conversation at all. it is a gift, such a gift – one that must be appreciated, absorbed. the only gift, i think, perfect for any age, any gender, any person at that.

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i am regretful to have not created a better written version of my travels over the past week; however, rest assured, friends, that all is not lost. my memory is alive and bursting with much to share. therefore, my next posts will be detailed accounts of my adventures and thoughts in and on the cities of paris, bruges, and amsterdam.

the city of love, the city of beauty, and the city of temptation.