La ville de la Paris

What a magical adventure Paris was! Extravagant in architecture and history, while subtle in language and cuisine. Gorgeous hot days lingered into balmy bright nights. The Parisiens humoured us with our flakey French conversation and charmingly offered snippets of tuition. We indulged in light, interesting meals that lulled our tastebuds into strange new dances. The Mona Lisa, the Moulin Rouge, the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and so much more. So much to see - it was almost overwhelming - until the faint outline of the Eiffel Tower in the distance, or the calm sparkle of the Seine, lifted us again. Tres beau! And all just a train ride away.

Westward

Europe. I didn't even have to leave the airport at Amsterdam to be reminded why I'm making this trip: the lure of the unfamiliar.

Walking through the calmly chaotic airport, I felt like a piece of dry white bread, dunked into a delicious soup. People's clothes, mannerisms, faces and skin were warm juices and their constant uttering of foreign phrases was like a subtle mix of herbs to enliven the brew. Dutch, German, French. Patisseries, Beethoven, cathedrals, wine.

And now I sit in Norwich. Finally, here. Though the seed has barely sent off a shoot, it has been planted. The new phase of my life has begun.