From Our Corner of the World: Our European Adventure (Issue#3)

The Month in Review: June/July

Alhambra – Scroll to the end for all the wonderful pictures!

We’re writing to you from the other side of an adventure that stretched us, exhausted us, and — in the best possible way — changed us. This past June, we packed our bags and traveled across three countries, nine cities, and what felt like a thousand modes of transportation.

It was our biggest trip yet. But as I unpacked our memories (and our digital camera), I realized that the imperfect moments were the ones that taught us the most. Here’s what June and July looked like from our corner of the world.

Our European Adventure

We traveled to London, Paris, Amboise, Málaga, Nerja, Ronda, Granada, Barcelona, Tossa de Mar and one very memorable Uber ride.

We walked centuries-old streets and neighborhoods, visited palaces and castles once reserved for the wealthiest of society, and saw more naked artwork than the girls expected. Ruth had many questions and giggles. We ate baguettes almost every morning, as if that simple ritual meant we were truly becoming locals in France and Spain. We experienced flamenco dancing in a cave, and saw Versailles and the Alhambra lit up at night — sights that felt almost unreal.

But it wasn’t all postcard-perfect.

We faced record-high heat and frustrating moments that would have ended most trips. We purchased the wrong train pass in Paris, and in our most American way, let the attendant know we were American, as if that single word explained everything. Then there was the train that broke down outside Amboise, forcing us into an Uber where the driver’s car actually ran out of fuel less than halfway back to Paris.

At the time, none of it seemed funny. But in reflection, we realize it was those imperfect moments, the ones that didn’t go according to plan, that showed us how capable we are, no matter where we are.

Was It Worth It?

Despite it all, I couldn’t help but wonder: Was it worth it? Was it worth saving and planning for a trip with my 18 and 6-year-old daughters, knowing they may never cherish it as much as I do?

Here’s what I’ve landed on.

For me, travel has always been about more than seeing new places. I wanted this trip to be a living experience. The same way homeschooling parents talk about “living books.” A living book isn’t dry facts; it’s a story that pulls you in, teaches you something about the world and yourself, and stays with you long after you finish it. That’s what I wanted for our daughters. Not a checklist of castles and train rides, but a story that keeps unfolding: in our photos, in our conversations, in the books we read together, and in the movies that now feel like they have our own memories woven into them.

And besides my thoughts, both girls have given me a BIG Yes — it was worth it!

Now the question isn’t whether they’ll remember every castle or every train ride. The question is: What kind of story will now unfold in their lives from our lived experience?