I shall call it - Travel Journal 1
How boring!
I went to the Churchill War Rooms in London the other day. For
me it was a well spend few pounds for a couple of hours wandering the corridors
of the underground rooms where Churchill and his war time colleagues spent many
hours planning and mapping the strategies of defeating the enemy. I have never understood why, but have always
had a deep interest in anything Churchill.
My favourite reading over the past many years has tended to be the books
in my book shelves about or by Churchill.
After my couple of hours wandering the war rooms there was a
great temptation to purchase yet another Churchill book from the inevitable
souvenir room that one must pass through before being able to exit any museum
or gallery. I browsed over a couple of
books I had not seen before and then resisted the compulsive urge to purchase. I need not read more about him, but more to
the point I need not have any more excess luggage to return to NZ with.
I did however dally over yet another small handbook of
Churchill’s quotes. He was so
magnificent with his quips and quotes – a skill I admire and envy in those who
are adept at the quick and clever retort.
As I was about to set it back on the shelf the page opened to one
particular quote of his which rang some personal tingles for me.
‘It is always wise to look ahead, but difficult to see
further than you can see.’
It gave me the ‘huh’ factor when reading that. His quote sums up how I have been feeling
over the past many months since first heading out on this self-journey of
heading back to the future. I have spent
endless hours trying to think, and look, and fathom what my life plans ahead of
me should be but have found it most difficult to see any further than tomorrow,
or the day after. Not due to lack of vision
or drive, but due to circumstances and lack of clarity to accept what has
passed is actually in the past.
Since March last year each day has had so much past in it I
could not see further ahead. Thus, this
is one of the reasons I am now on the other side of the world, seemingly
meandering aimlessly. It is my big (and
expensive) step into clearing the past, not dismissing it, merely clearing it
so that I can see further than the fog. So that I can see clear, fogless space
ahead.
Only time will tell me when that fog has completely cleared;
but something inside me tells me that what I am doing is right, is my only way
of having it settle, emerging through it and being focused on a clear and
positive future. Sadly, I have to be
realistic too – there is not a great deal of time in the future, thus need to
make it worthwhile.
Hence, here I am. In
Rome. With my sister. Pooped, from a day of wandering the cobbled
streets of ancient history, shouldering and being shouldered by thousands of
tourists all on their personal urgent missions to get from one ruin to another,
whilst ruining the other humans experiences of heading in the other directions.
Has been a good day though.
An excellent training day for those soon to come when we are to be
walking anything from 14 to 19 kilometres a day for seven or eight days. Indeed, on those days we may be yearning to
be back in the city with thousands as at least when we needed it, there were
ample cafes, restaurants, museums, churches, galleries, shops, parks and shaded
trees we could take shelter under or in.
And we did. We also
kept coming across yet new ruins of history that we had forgotten were in
Rome. It seemed that each turning of
each corner there was yet another postcard picture to be had. Amusingly, we became bored with ruins. Or maybe it was self-concern over our sore
soles on our feet and weary souls of being a mere tourist among thousands?
Funnily enough, have come to the conclusion that this trip
is more timely for me than I would have ever imagined. I am already ‘city-ed’ out, and have been
pondering for weeks now on why I had not been in my usual state of travel
excitement leading up to all that has happened so far, and all that I have
planned for while I am up in the Northern Hemisphere. All the amazing plans that have been in
place. Such a lot most folk would only
dream of. That excitement that others
have felt for me, just has not ignited.
It is most peculiar. Most
unusual. It has bothered me why. All I really felt the need to do was to get
on the plane and get to England, Surrey.
Then get my feet on Italian soil.
Why? More on that next blog update.
I must stop, I fear my typing is disturbing a slumbering one.
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