This trip has been filled with surprises. But the quirkiest one is the IKEA connection. Every single place we go there’s an IKEA reference, a tip, a symbol and most importantly, a CATALOGUE!

The night before we left Manchester, our IKEA catalogue arrived on our doorstep. It was the first correspondence we’ve got in our new house – even though we’ve never ordered IKEA before. Gillian thought it was such a shame we wouldn’t have time to browse the catalog, but little did we know…

When in Brussels, at the entrance to Verity’s apartment was an IKEA catalog. Of course, her flat is furnished with IKEA and that’s ok, a coincidence. But when we got to Turin, not only Francesca’s apartment was filled with IKEA boxes and furniture but we had a surprise as we walked down the Porta Palazzio. Holding our hot Pizzas ao Taglio, ready to eat them, we stumbled upon two IKEA catalogues, delicately balanced on a hydrant.  There were two, so we took one to Francesca’s apartment.

So far, no IKEA in Spain.  We’re loving Palma and we can’t wait to show you some of the good times we’ve had.

Love from Palma,

Gillian y Fritz

I know I’ve been relatively silent until now.  It’s been an exciting and hectic few weeks.  At home, we are moving house and it seems like the whole world is turned upside down in the most delightful way.  September is truly bringing the kind of change I suspected and I’m really, really grateful.

And we’re going to (continental) Europe!

So after packing our bags we are going to see one of my best friends, Verity at our first stop in Brussels.  I’m quite excited really.  I haven’t been to any of the cities which we are visiting.  In places like Tarragona, for example, Fritz is going to be a bit of a tour guide, but in Brussels and in most of them we will be meandering about like new children amazed at how big and shiny the world is.  I am looking forward to the type of temperature variance that autumn brings… cool in one place, warm in another, sun and rain.  It’s really going to be marvelous.

I want to thank everyone for visiting ImInEurope.com and taking part in the fun.  It’s all very exciting and we love having you along.

Bless x

Gillian

Fritz and I tend to have a nomadic bent.  We may have inclinations to wander the earth, but not senselessly.  I think the drive towards travel is to see the world with new eyes and new experiences.  When you are home, it’s easy to get lost in the shuffle of everyday and lose perspective.  I think for that reason humans, metaphorically speaking, have needed to travel to survive.  The world is constantly in flux, it changes our view.  We chase nourishment into strange territory, refresh our senses with the new, and come home to the familiar, but suddenly vibrant place we love to live.

So, we are traveling again in September.  I’ve never been to any of these places, and Fritz will be showing me some of his favorites.  Hopefully they will be our new favorite places to visit.  I’m going to get to see a friend I haven’t seen since 2003 at least, my dear Verity.  It’s a bit of an epic trek across portions of the continent that will make me hit the pause button on everything I’ve been working on since I’ve arrived, but I have this sneaking feeling it will not only be worth it (obvious), but will be necessary for my sanity at the end of a long, hot summer.

So salut – to Fritz and I, to refreshments and travel, to new places and tying it all together. I’m excited.  Especially about the postcards :)