I walk outside my apartment and feel the warm air on my skin. It is spring here in Nicosia, Cyprus, and there is that sweet smell of flowers blooming in the air. I notice the smell and think back about growing up in Idaho, and the time of year when the air smelled quite similar.
As I continue walking I dodge kids left and right. There is a school under our apartment. Wait; maybe it is a tutoring service? I don’t know what exactly it is. There are a lot of kids coming out of the building this time of day though.
A young boy runs outside to a small orange pickup truck that just beeped its horn. The tenor of the horn sounds hollow and worn out, but it makes me smile. The sound reminds me of my dad. Dad had a Chevy Luv pickup that had a horn with the same sound. Dad even picked me up from school in it sometimes, and I am quite sure he beeped the horn for me to hurry; much like this dad did for his boy. Yes the memories started to flow.
I was on a bit of a reminiscing crusade you might reckon. Then, all at once I asked myself the question and made the decision. I am leaving Cyprus. Well sort of. Actually, I am leaving Cyprus early. Yes, indeed. While you read this, I am somewhere in Europe traveling. We will be visiting eight new countries in the next three weeks. But after that, I will be in Cyprus for just two days, and then fly to New York, with a crooked smile on my face. I cannot say it will be anything as beautiful as the Mona Lisa’s smile, but Lisa and I will have the same happiness, but crossness about ourselves.
Yes, just after I heard the sound of that horn, I went to visit the ladies at the British Airways office in Nicosia. After some intense wrangling-on their part, and mine, naturally-I had a flight back to New York.
There comes a time in every young traveler's life when they have to make a critical decision. Mine was, “Do I stay in Cyprus after the big tour, or fly back to New York early?” Well, I chose the latter.
I will be missing out on quite a bit here in Cyprus. There were more adventures planned on the island, an escapade to a beach town for a party, a graduation ceremony, and some other events too. I was also going to try to swing a trip to Jordan, Israel, or maybe Dubai. Well, as a good friend of mine said, “You have to save something for next time.”
There will be a next time also. There is just a part of me who wants to be back in New York. If nothing more to think, but I am sure there will be more. I have told you many times, “do what you want, don’t let anything get in your way, be crazy,” I preach. So I am doing something a lot of travelers would think would be crazy. I am going home.
Heck, 30 countries in two years, I think it is about time. Don’t you?
So, as I travel around Europe I am looking forward to setting foot in my apartment, peering up at the Empire State Building in wonder, and walking down Broadway at the pace of a basset hound. I plan New York just to be a bit of a pit stop though.
Oh I cannot sit still for long. I will be out and about somewhere about the world, you can bet your boots. Just where am I going? Oh that is just the fun of it, I don’t quite know yet. I have to see how much money is in the kitty before I decide. With that said, it is for sure that I will be jumping with the kangaroos again soon, if that gives you a hint. Also it is my dream to go to Antarctica.
So stay tuned for the latest. It will continue to be one heck of a ride.
cyprus
