Arriverderci, Au Revoir, AufWiedersehen, Farewell

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Trip Start Apr 12, 2006 Previous
Entry Trip End Ongoing

  Melbourne, Australia
Tuesday, August 15, 2006

It's 11.32am on my final day in London, England, Europe, the Northern Hemisphere. The trip is over, the four months have elapsed, the memories of the journey are returning thick and at a hefty pace, and i cannot really believe that this time is finally upon me.
Gazing out the bus window on the way to Cadiz, Spain, looking down over Austria on a RyanAir flight back to Ireland via London, soul-searching as Italian landscapes scurried past in the train window on the way to Rome, just a handful of moments where the concept of going home seemed so unbelievably distant and elusive, so far away that it seemed like an eternity before i would reach it. In the emotionally tougher moments, i struggled to imagine how i was going to make it past the two months, let alone double that amount of time in the end. I lapped up every moment in every new, amazing location, but always had that fond, looming desire to be at the end point, and the culmination of the trip, ready to roll, home and hosed, back on the Malaysia Airlines 747 to Melbourne via Kuala Lumpur.

The trip has been remarkable, everything i expected, and then some. Again, here is another instance where words have but a nodding acquaintance with reality. It's hard to describe just how wonderful, unbelievably tremendous and stimulating the journey has been, and additionally, how great it's been to have had you guys all along for the ride. I hope you've enjoyed the stories as much as i've had writing them.
So it is with hearty, heartfelt sentiment that i sit here in the Belsize Park apartment, immersed amongst my final hours before my flight out of Heathrow, sentimentally contemplating every little memory on the reel of memory film, the extended movie in my own mind, the remarkable sights, the life changing experiences. My eyes, these days, are open wide.

So, Cheers gang. Thanks for reading. And until the next wild, transcontinental adventure, i hereby call it a day. Time to head back to the 'real' world, sort some things out, continue on the path that this trip has put me on. I'm pumped.
Farewell, Arriverderci, Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Hasta La Vista.........baby.

A special mention goes out to the characters that made the journey, the multitide of cameos that spiced the life out of these blogs, and made the trip worthwhile:

An honorary, first class shout out to:
The Travelling Freakshow - Their excellencies, The Reverand and Brooks

Pam and Philly D the Canucks
Nick, Nick (Little salad) and Zweli
Freddy the Opium smoking Brazilian
The Herd of Spanish Mullet men
The Barber of Seville
Con the Canuck
Mamma Rossa of Riomaggiore
The Italian lass on the bottom bunk in Rome
Filippo Amalfi
Cassanova the ladies man
Big Kevin and Fookindornald
Yanni the sleazy Greek
Ryan and Catie the Yanks
Wild Bill
Michael, Berrin and Rhiannon the balloon buddies
Erika and Rudigger von Saldern
Trish the Canadian
Michael the coolest ten year old kid in the world
Harry the palm reading Tiki Bar proprietor
Chris the Preacher
The Harem of Cesky Chicks
Tubin' Mike the Krumlov House dude
Sarah, Johnny and Ben the Belsize crew
Death Metal Danish Simon
Unknown German blonde in Cork
Ernesto and Nile my coffee shop pals
The Brussels contingent
Martin, Polish Bart and Evelyn Dandruff
Macho Italiano
The Belgians
Legion Dave

And the list could go on and on....Its really is all about the people you meet along the way....

ADIOS!

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