I left my heart in.....

I am a traveler and adventurer at heart. I love to travel and see new sights and experience new things. This love also causes me to fall in love with several places. I have left my heart in several places in my 22 years of life. 

The first place is Boise, Idaho. 

This city has been in my heart since I was a young girl. I grew up here, and it still surprises me with its beauty every time. Boise is a beautiful city, even though it is small. There is much to see and do if you know the right places to go. I love going downtown in the summer to do some shopping and to sit outside at a cafe or restaurant. Julia Davis park is also one of my favorite spots in Boise. The Boise Zoo is nestled there, as well as a small pond where you can rent a paddle-boat. My family would also rent bikes and bikes the miles of greenbelt along the Boise River. This city will always be in my heart, as well as the whole of the state of Idaho itself.

The next place I left my heart in was Villalba, Spain. 

This is the city my aunt and uncle live in just outside of Madrid. It has the amenities of being in a big city, but the beauty and architecture of a small Spanish village. Many of the streets are cobblestone, and walking their lengths around the village takes you back in time. I have been to this city three times, and it never gets old. There is always something new to see. My favorite thing to do is sit at an outdoor cafe after my family's Catholic mass, listening to the hub-bub and boisterous laughter of their Spanish friends, and watching people ride or walk by. They also have wonderful bakeries that always have the smell of just-out-of-the-oven goods. 

The last and most recent place is Colorado Springs.

I was recently driving home from Denver, and I had to drive over Monument Hill before I could see Colorado Springs and the valley it occupies. When I made it to the top of the Hill, I had this feeling of warmness and peace...the feeling you get when you know you are home. I have really fallen in love with this city. Pikes Peak is the most spectacular mountain to gaze upon every morning. I walk outside and thank God for this wonderful view. There is still so much to explore in this city, but I love the view and the mountains when I am standing amidst them. I also love the people we are meeting in this city. So many people from so many different backgrounds and experiences. Because Colorado Springs is a  heavy military city, many of its inhabitants are not native to the area. Just like Josh and I, they bring a story of a different place, where a part of their heart still lies. 

As I look at these three places, I see a resemblance in each of the pictures. A city nestled by the mountains. The mountains in each place are majestic and have its own character. I have been blessed to live by the mountains. They bring so much life and beauty to a place. I think it also brings a humbleness to mankind. I see the city that man created, but in the background, I see the mountains God created. We are not so big after all. We can build skyscrapers, but only God can build mountains. I stand in awe of the beauty He created. 

I hope to travel much more in my lifetime, but for now, I am satisfied exploring our new state of Colorado. There is so much to explore and experience! AND I AM EXCITED!