I am almost
embarrassed when people ask me about our recent trip to Europe. We left Chicago on a Monday evening and eight hours later it was Tuesday
morning in Amsterdam. We were very tired but ready for this week of
travel and sightseeing. We eventually made our way to the Viking Ship
Hermod where we spent a beautiful week.
Every day we went to a different city in the
Netherlands, Germany, France and Switzerland.
Every day we took a tour and walked at least 10,000 steps and learned
about history and people and events of the area. And
now, two weeks later, people ask me where I went and I have trouble remembering
the names - Cologne, Speyer,
Strassbourg, Amsterdam. I have
impressions of a week that went so fast and was so full and is almost now like
a dream.
Our first
tour was in the Netherlands seeing the windmills of Kinderdijk . We toured a windmill
that dated from 1738 and heard stories about life lived then. The base of the windmill was the home of the
miller and there could be a family of ten who lived in this small space. It is
clear looking at the beds and the furniture that people were smaller then. The blades are massive and shine bright
against the blue sky of the day. We
learn about how the miller could manually move this large machine to catch the
wind. We marvel at the ingenuity of those who designed this amazing form of
water management which exists to this day.
I take
pictures of all sides of the windmill. I
take a selfie of me and John in front of it, so that we have a record that we
were here. I buy a Christmas ornament that will be a
memento of this trip.
But it is
just a picture, a snapshot that might remind me of the imagining one does traveling
in another country. A country that
speaks another language, with different customs and a older yet shared history
with the United States. I wonder - not only life in 1738 - but also life in the succeeding three
hundred years. Wondering especially
about what effect World War 2 had on this place and these people?
I learn that while the Netherlands was initially
neutral, the country was eventually invaded by the Germans. Rotterdam was blitzed, Amsterdam was occupied
but these windmills were spared.
Throughout
the week we walked through European cities, visiting ancient Cathedrals and seeing medieval Castles. We recognized the distinct gift of - not only windmills - but
important buildings which remain after
the destruction of war to tell a story
of faith and life of ordinary people . I find myself sitting in a thousand year old cathedral and pondering the centuries of people who had walked on
these stone floors and sat in this pew.
It is almost overwhelming. In the midst of the beauty and the wonder, we
frequently were made aware of the scars and the sorrow left behind that exist
to this day. And at the same time the guides remind us of current issues - like climate change,
immigration, pluralism – that affect Europe just like they affect us.
Then we
would leave and return to our ship. We
enjoy delicious gourmet meals, the company of interesting people, afternoon
naps, reading, podcasts and eventually go to bed waiting for the next adventure.
.It was a wonderful vacation. We
travelled thousands of miles and saw many
sights that I had only seen in
pictures. We took lots of pictures and
brought home
souvenirs. And covid.
Henry Miller
said: “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.”
A Viking
cruise is a lot of experiences crammed into one very short week and in many ways it still remains a blur. However, on reflection, I realize that this trip demonstrated for me our common humanity. We are
people who are given the opportunity to do three things:
-
Take
the time to appreciate the wonder of
life
-
Learn
from the mistakes of the past
-
have the courage to move steadfastly into the
unknown future.
I hope I am
doing all three.
