This trip began in an instant message conversation between Pat and I back in April of 2008 while I was studying in Rome. I asked him if he would ever be interested in taking a backpacking trip through Europe, and somewhat to my surprise, he said yes. When I came home from Italy he and I were talking about the trip, still unsure if it would actually happen, and mentioned it to Ryan. Ryan said that although he didn't have the money, this was a once in a lifetime opportunity that he couldn't miss. Now here's where Alex comes in. Two days before booking our flights Alex hears us talking about the trip and expresses his interest in it. Low and behold, two days later, all four of us had booked flights to Oslo, Norway on December 27th, 2008. We were locked in, and the planning began.
After four months of solid scheduling, booking, researching, and purchasing everything we needed, we left for the trip of a lifetime. It truly was that. The four of us saw places in one month at the age of 21 that most people will not see in a lifetime. We have learned more in this month of our college years than the four years will ever teach us. We have become friends who know how to deal with sudden changes, new places, and the amazement of exploration. I think all four of us can honestly say that we are different people than we were one month ago when we left, and that we will never be the same. I only hope that none of us ever lose that passion to explore that we have now as we age. I hope that there is not a corner of the earth that we are unable to uncover, and that we steer clear of the beaten path and stick to the road less traveled. I hope that all four of us remember to be travelers and not tourists. I hope that we all are one day able to go back to each and every place we visited and show our friends and families what we did and saw back in college.
To Pat, Ryan, and Alex - thanks for making this trip one of the most memorable experiences of my life. I hope all three of you have the chance to travel as much as possible, testing every new beer along the way. Never forget what it was like to live out of a backpack while sleeping in hostels and on trains. I don't think you'll ever enjoy smelling so terribly again.
To my mom and dad - Thanks for supporting me (and the other three guys) on this journey. I can't express how thankful I am that you guys have given me the opportunities that you have. I truly owe it all to both of you for being so supportive.
Abby - I believe you deserve a special thank you for spending a month not knowing where I was, with very little contact and no phone calls. Thank you for having the patience and understanding to be the supportive person that you are. I love you.
To everyone else who has followed my travels, including the parents of Pat, Ryan, and Alex - thank you. Thank you for letting me share this with you. Traveling is nothing if you don't get to share it with someone. Thank you all for taking the time to read this blog, and thank you for supporting us in our adventures. As always, I must leave everyone with my favorite quote from the great Mark Twain. I hope that you all try to live by it, and someday get to see every part of the world that you want to.
"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover."
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