london, paris, maybe tokyo (jk not tokyo)

people over places.
my most significant moments in life consist not of staring at huge, historical landmarks or taking incredible pictures of far-off travels and dreamy locations. my most significant moments include people and conversation and deep understanding and togetherness. sometimes those moments have happened on the tip-top of mountains or under stars or in the middle of dreamy, far-off locations. but it’s the people. always, the people.
i only want to see the world if it includes a deepening of friendship and a greater understanding and interaction with the people that live in these places.
last week, one of my dearest friends melissa and i travelled to london, oxford and rounded out our trip with three days in paris.

london was a quick, luggage-less blur. oxford was a walking dream and getting to see my dear friend katherine (the purpose of our trip) was more valuable to me than words can describe. tears and pubs and rainy cobblestones. it was the biggest honor to see her in her place, towards the end of her term studying at oxford, and–as always–a sturdy and anchoring example of the lord’s hesed; loving faithfulness in our lives.

paris was everything you picture it to be and i was filled with little-girl nostalgia at the years i longed to make it to the eiffel tower. i didn’t picture that big ole structure to be so showy and crowded and tourist-filled, but i did imagine my reunion with my cousin to be just as magical and inspiring as it was. there are few people in life you get to share not only your birthday but your three, very specific favorite colors with (mustard yellow, wine-y orangey-red and forest green). people over places.

what a privilege it is to travel; what a privilege it is to know people. i’m thankful for that and thankful for friends like my sweet, steady traveling friend melissa and for the guts to choose buying plane tickets before groceries or clothes or coffee. i was in no financial place to skip a week of school and fly out to europe, but i like to remind myself that i’m twenty and so young and so free and i’m putting off responsibility and steady-mindedness for as long as i can. the bigness of this and the privilege of this is not beyond me. pictures cannot do any of these places or experiences justice. as a photographer, it is forever a deep privilege of mine to be able to take in beauty without photographing it. i try to do that when i travel and worry the least amount about the pictures. england + france, you killed it for me. i carry it in my heart. here is my conglomeration of disposables, iphone captures and a few dslr:

and thus, my month of trips and travels comes to a close as i am gearing up for a final month of school, projects, exams, and moving into a new house. happy spring!