Springtime in Europe

Two things: I must learn French, and Switzerland is quickly becoming one of my favorite countries. Our shows in both Zurich and Geneva were incredible, the crowds were warm, supportive and welcoming. As for the cities themselves...wow. While we were in Zurich, Switzerland was celebrating the arrival of spring with a huge parade and holiday. Everywhere you looked there were people dressed in traditional attire, little girls carrying baskets of flowers, and street vendors in tents selling fresh fruit juices and sweet crepes. While waiting for my friends in the lobby of our hotel, one such little girl, about 7 years old, came up to me, handed me a little yellow rose and said "bonjour, this is for you!" in a thick French accent. So cute. She was dressed like Belle from Beauty and the Beast (when she wears the yellow gown when they dance in the ballroom).

I have never toured Europe in the springtime. It is incredible. What to me before were beautiful, but icy and gloomy cities have blossomed into vibrant, bustling, life-sized paintings. Walking around these incredible places is like living in a film. I took pictures that don't do their subject justice, but I will post a few anyway. We just left Paris, and I spent the majority of my two days off walking around taking pictures and window shopping. I did buy my first bottle of French perfume. It smells so lovely! Lavender and Vanilla with a hint of cinnamon and clove. A feast for the nose. Speaking of feasts, did I mention I love soupe a l'oignon au fromage (French onion soup)? Because I do. Right next to the best macaroon shop in Paris, Pierre Herme (try the passionfruit/chocolate and the strawberry/balsamic, they are make-your-knees-weak delicious), is an adorable cafe that sells the best french onion soup I have ever tasted. I can't wait for the opportunity to return.

Opportunity. What a fickle beast. The thing about opportunities is that you must be prepared to take advantage of them when they arise. Hesitation and deliberation can be devastating to a person at times. If you are confident in your own abilities, and in the source of the opportunity, what is the hesitation? Don't be afraid of life. If you act and it turns out to be the wrong decision, you can always fix it. There is always an answer. Or an alternate - but usually your first instincts are correct. "Trust thyself: every heart vibrates to that iron string. Accept the place the Divine Providence has found for you, the society of your contemporaries, the connection of events." - One of my favorite quotes from Ralph Waldo Emerson's 'Self Reliance'.

I don't know why I just felt that, but I did, so there you go. Here are some pictures...