460 km and lots of time to think

Today, I was on the road for six hours on the best and empty highways, rest areas with cleaner toilets than campsites, and beautiful landscape.

And lots of time to think. How am I doing? What is the journey doing to me? Am I traveling the way I imagined? Is it even as I planned?

Many 'difficult' questions. The fact is: no one can take away any of these experiences from me, and every experience strengthens me, makes me grow, and I don't want to miss any of it! I love being on the road; seeing the Wägali dancing in the rearview mirror, always new impressions and always new wow moments. What I am not good at is just being somewhere. The desire to explore drives me forward, lying on the beach for more than two hours is not possible at all. So maybe I also feel that the rest is too short. Is that wrong? I don't know.

When I planned this trip last summer, I was alone and my life seemed to be able to go in any direction. Driving to the distant world and leaving my love at home (yes, it already feels like forever since we said goodbye on Sunday) puts me in a rough dilemma emotionally. I enjoy traveling, the new impressions, and wonderful experiences, and yet I am often in thoughts at home. It can't be wrong, but it doesn't feel optimal either.

My goal was definitely to explore Athens, and I'm glad that Dani will fly to Athens on Friday evening and we can experience the capital together (he feels the same way as me). After that, I definitely want to go all the way down to southern Greece and take the ferry to Italy at some point at the end of May.

What traveling also brings are wonderful acquaintances. Sometimes I write to Ana, the translator, on the phone when we were stuck in the Albanian mountains.

The past few days I had great neighbors. Of course, my neighbors are usually twice as old as me (90% of travelers are retirees). This lovely couple led me to nice conversations without being intrusive (which often happens, but I have the barking Kiran), and we immediately took each other into our hearts. Thank you for that and see you in Salzburg!

Because I experience so many great things, I sometimes wonder: What did I do the day before yesterday? The overload of impressions is great, but luckily I have the blog to read again.

If you haven't fallen asleep yet while reading my thoughts, I wish you a wonderful night! :)