Shoutout to Wes Kent for reminding me of how truly idiotic I am and correcting my original blog dates of June to the actual May dates. Slow down tiger.... You have a long way to go yet. Stick around until June though everyone- if you can stomach it.
Think about the concept for a minute though: I am able to get my "feelings" out and voice all frustrations and fears and how ever many other emotions I am feelings at an singular point in time. All the while, I am not bending anyone else's ear to complain or brag, etc. Still, I am able to be alone with my thoughts and get away from whatever is around me at the moment if necessary. I feel better after this. I look forward to writing about the day each day and it has become somewhat of a joke on the trip; "Jane! Is that going to make the blog?" "Quick write down *insert ridiculous thing Cybil said now here*!" But honestly, I like to keep these memories "on paper." I really hate how bad my memory is. I have so many wonderful experiences that I want to remember and so many images I want to remain burned into my memory, but the time fades them until they are gone altogether. My writing lets my mind rest because even while they are forgotten, as soon as I read them its like Christmas Morning; almost as if I have never experienced them before and it's the first time again. Not-surprisingly, I enjoy them just as much.
Now for the part you all read the blog for in the first place, I assume. Today was a half day in Belem, Portugal. We went for one reason and one reason only: Pastel de Nata- the specialty dessert of Portugal. It is more or less a custard cup, but when you go to Pasteis de Belem, it is a dream. Crunchy phylo dough on the outside with a warm, almost creme brulee type, filling on the inside. The flavor is much like Creme Brulee as well, but this pastry melts in your mouth and makes you forget those aching dogs and sweat dripping down your back that was sacrificed to get there. There are definitely other parts of Belem that are good to see like the monastary and the Belem tower, but if you are in a crunch, the pastry is more than enough.
For you future travelers of Portugal a little tip: check the schedules of the trains before you get on one. I know this seems relatively obvious and it may be, but for us, we were unaware that not every train on a particular route stopped at each station. SURPRISE. When we finally got to Belem, we knew never to make that mistake again. Apparently its also against the law to ride the train past the station whose ticket you purchase. Detainment is my middle name guys.... But really, we finally got it right and got the dang pastry on empty bellies and frustration. On the way back to the Cais de Sodre station to catch the metro, I was locked into the train station. This is a funny story but I can't find the humor just yet. When I tell you that Katelyn and I have had trouble with every single metro ticket we have purchased, I am hardly exaggerating. So everyone gets through the electric gates and then there is me. Panic setting in that I can't get back through. You can't just buy another ticket, because there is no stand, kiosk, booth to run to. So Cybil says, "Here let me swipe from this side and just run through really fast." And honestly, I don't know why this felt like a probable solution, but desperate times yadda yadda. She swipes, I run. I smack, they laugh. Apparently there is an um like sensor to block people from doing things like this. Well I have bruises on the face, leg, and pride to let them know that their technology is fine and well and works wonderful for its design. Congrats. In the end, Cybil handed me the card so that I could swipe through and that made a lot more sense and a lot less commotion. Although, one thing I do feel pretty badly about is that there was another woman who was trapped on the other side and I just left her. I don't think I will forgive myself. She didn't have friends with her. I hope another kinder person came along to offer assistance.
Finally to the airport, on the plane and in the air. I am currently reading "The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green and it is moving to say the least. I cannot seem to put it down, and I don't want it to end, though I know it will. This will make more sense for those of you who have also read it, or who know the story. I do highly recommend this by the way and I am not even to the end. This is a book so wonderful that at this point, the end doesn't matter. No matter how it ends, I know it was worth the read. Something that dawns on me while reading this existintially moving book is that there is a thing about lessons- you don't know you are learning them. And obviously I am not talking about English lessons and that bullshit, but the lessons of life. I feel like I spend a lot of time waiting to learn some huge life-changing lesson when in reality, I am learning something everyday. I want this great story for my book on the big lesson of your 20s, or the thing that taught me what I wanted to be or do or whatever the lesson of the hour is, but I am never going to get that. Not if I keep staring at it in the face at least. I, like everyone else out there, just need to step back and live and learn the lessons life throws at me. Sometimes they are simple and they make sense and other times, they are extrodinary and take a really long time to develop or figure out their purpose. Always though, they are worth it. Another thing about lessons is that you can't teach them to anyone else. You can certainly share experiences and sage wisdom if you think you have it, but a lesson is only really grasped when you yourself are in the midst of it.
Also, we made it to Amsterdam. It's awesome.
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