There's a bug for travel and there's a heart for travel...

These pictures above are of my first trip to Venice. It's about an hour train ride from Padova to Venezia (Venice) and we went on Thursday night after getting all dressed up to spend time together and go out to eat. We only stayed in the city for a few hours, but we were able to walk around and see the city at night, which i loved. I was so anxious to walk into the city after we rode over the water on the train tracks. For those of you who don't know, Venice is sitting on water and so that's why they are famous for transportation on their canals.

The sight was so beautiful to say the least...it nearly took my breath away. It wasn't the fact that the architecture was in fact one of a kind or that i was walking the streets of the city i had seen in movies for years, but more of  the idea that i'm actually starting to live out my dream. I was in Venice, i had worked to get there, i am living in Italy for a summer, and i know that I'll be traveling and learning culture for the rest of my life...

The first fascination that so easily takes over while traveling Italy or any country really is defined at the "travel bug". So many people dream of traveling italy and europe and sometimes japan or australia and new zealand...the tourist bug comes alive inside people for so many different reasons. Sometime the culture attracts people, or the food, or the adventure, maybe the history, but mostly people have a desire to get out and experience that which they do not know. With that desire comes really the only option of traveling places that are safe or easy to get in and out of. closed countries are out of the question and touristy places are often that which is most attractive. these things are all great and are often the makings of a great adventure by those who have the travel bug!

however, i believe that there is such a thing as the heart for traveling. i think it's common in only those who truly feel other cultures besides just learning about them. they have the desire to actually live with people they do not know and they feel dumb because they do not know italian (or the language of the country) vs making the nationals feel inadequate because they do not know English. There's truly a piece of their heart attached to every place they go. They understand people more than they understand adventure or history or a stamp on a passport. It's truly a miracle that is given by the Lord when one begins to understand that they do have a heart for travel and culture. I know i'm one of these people and it's one of the most rare things in the world. For a long time, i have said that i want to travel, live out of the states, learn languages and move away from where i started. I have know that the calling on my life from the Lord has been big and it will take a lot of sacrifice. However, it's hard to explain this to many people especially when some believe that the words coming out of the my mouth were only the foolishness of my youth and not the promises of my God.

Well, i fundraised and planned an internship in Italy. in august, i'll travel to at least five more cities in europe and so begins this divine adventure of going where the Lord takes me to fit in my custom niche that includes things that sound crazy. i was made to travel. i was made for culture and i learn more and more about it every day. So, if you are new to this desire and this dream that i have, welcome. It's going to be an adventure. i would love to tell you about it along the way....

*the pictures were taken in Venice