i was meant to be a moorish princess

i am back!

do you want to hear the good news first or the bad news?

let's start with the bad news: my camera stopped working less than a week into the trip.

what is the good news, you say?

the good news is that it all worked out perfectly!

i panicked for half a day and tried everything i could think of and asked the guy at the hostel if he was a camera person and he was so he tried everything he knew. nothing worked.

then, i found the bright side. (i am good at finding the bright side but i must say that this one took a while.) i decided that it would be a chance to just immerse myself in adventure and inspiration. and, i had my iphone. and, it was really nice to not have a heavy camera in my purse. (so this is how you people without cameras feel all the time, she says with a wink.)

it really did work out perfectly! the camera stopped working on our last evening in cordoba so i had already taken pictures of the mezquita. after that, we were in madrid, and in museums much of the time, so i wouldn't have taken many pictures. after that, we were in marrakesh, and i discovered that i might not have taken many pictures there either.

if this scenario had occurred to me before i left, i would have thought it a disaster, but it turns out it wasn't a disaster at all. now there's a little bit of unexpected magic.

and i do feel inspired. when i used to close my eyes - except during meditation or reiki - i saw black. now, i see colors and patterns and images and light. i am full up with inspiration and beauty.

i woke up at 6.30am yesterday and got home at midnight. in between, i spent 18 hours on planes and 8 hours in airports. needless to say, it might take me a while to go through my photos. for now, here is a glimpse of two places full of beauty and inspiration: the alhambra in granada and the mezquita in cordoba. i fell in love with them both.

Comments

[tammy j]

welcome back!
you and atlas have been missed!
maybe you were meant to just be in the zen moment.
pictures that might have been will be in your mind in word pictures that you do so well!
happy jet lag,
tammy j

[Jerry Critter]

I'm glad you enjoyed the alhambra ( my home in CA). Who was happier, Atlas to see you or you to see Atlas?

[steph]

Welcome back! :)

Those are beautiful - I can see why you fell in love with them!

[Amy]

Yay... glad you're home. I'm assuming Atlas is too? Can't wait to see pictures. :)

[elizabeth @ retinal perspectives]

@tammy: thank you!

@jerry: it's a tough call! i might have missed him more, but he was probably as happy to see me as i was to see him. i have a cute atlas story for next atlas wednesday. :)

@steph: thank you!

@amy: indeed he is. i picked him up on friday. :)

[Helen]

me gusta la segunda foto! :)

[Ann Bimberg]

Welcome back, friend! Glad your journey was so fun.

[Tracy]

Welcome home, Elizabeth! LOVED hearing a little about your trip! Things often have a way of happening for a reason. And much was we love our cameras and capturing every moment...sometimes is is good to stop and just take in the pleasure of the moment, use all the senses, not just the eyes. :o) LOVE what you say about "i am full up with inspiration and beauty" Time away at a different place can do that...it is such a gift, don't you think? Can't wait to hear/see more about your travels. I feel such peace looking at that mezquita inn Cordoba...We're going to Vienna later this week and be away a few days. I will try to stop back before we go. :o) ((HUGS))

[jennifer h]

welcome back moorish princess (that does sound wonderful)! so good to hear your time away was filled with unexpected magic and now you are back with your sweet pup and a heart full of inspiration and beauty. xo