INTIRE OF IT’ SELFE;
Every man is a peece of the
CONTINENT, a part of the
MAINE; if a CLOD bee washed
Away by the SEA, EUROPE is
The lesse, as well as if a Promontorie
Were, as well as if a MANNOR
Of thy FRIENDS or of THINE
OWNE were; any man’s DEATH
Diminishes ME, because I am
Involved in Mandkinde. And
Therefore never send to know for
Whom the BELL tolls; it tolls
For THEE.
I’ve always liked this piece written by John Donne, and when I saw it on a card in the shop at St. Paul's Cathedral in London, it made me reflect on my present journey.
While social by nature, I also appreciate solitude. When I embarked on this adventure, I was looking forward to taking advantage of the freedom that traveling independently would afford me. And yet, I have always subscribed to the tapestry metaphor for humanity - pull a thread somewhere and imagine what is happening all across the fabric. And while solitary reflection can be a tremendous way to clear one's head and set new goals for the future, there is such great pleasure in sharing the discoveries of the road with family and friends.
Fortunately for me, I had the opportunity to enjoy the best company I could have hoped for last month while in Zurich, London, and Paris.
In Zurich I caught up with Alex Escher, who was visiting her family there. Always the gracious hostess, Alex invited me to tag along on family outings with her aunt and sister. Of course you will just have to take my word that she was there, since the notoriously camera-shy Alex managed to duck my digital throughout. What I appreciate about many of my friends, and Alex in particular, is that we often discuss issues - sometimes social and political - on which we do not entirely agree. But we really do try to see each other's point of view - becauce I believe we respect each other - and it never breaks down into incivility. On today - America's election day - I hope that friends of differing political stripes will try to do the same.
From Zurich, I flew into London and met up with one of the best roommates a girl could have - Kathy Andre! We stayed at Club Quarters Saint Paul, a perfect base for exploring the city. We ate only a few blocks away at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese on Thursday night, which is apparantly one of the oldest pubs in London, the earliest incarnation being a guest house belonging to a 13th century Carmelite monastery. Johnson, Boswell, Voltaire, and Dickens were all famous patrons of the Cheshire Cheese, where we resisted a tempting dessert of spotted dick in favor of the sticky toffee pudding. On Friday, Marni Allen - just in from the beaches of San Tropez - hooked up with us and we had a delightful dinner at one of Marni’s favorite spots, Smiths of Smithfields (www.smithsofsmithfield.co.uk). Since we were there for the weekend as well, Marni got us together with some of her college friends - now living in London - for dinner and carousing.
Breakfast with Sue at Ladurée on the Champs Elysées
On Monday, I took the Eurostar to Paris to meet up with another roommate, this one from college. Susan, who works for HSBC, was on a business trip (and had, as an extra bonus, gotten to bring along her husband Courtney). During most of my marriage, Sue lived the swinging single life in Manhattan. At the drop of a hat, I would meet her at one black tie or another at the Athletic Club, or the Yale Club, or Top of the Sixes to ring in the new millennium. Her crowd became my crowd. And we would drink martinis, and pour ourselves into cabs, and drink more cocktails, and stumble around Manhattan teetering on high heels not noticing the cold for all the alcohol in our veins, laughing until the wee hours of the morning, when we would go to The Coffee Shop for breakfast.
Then in one year, Sue got married, moved to Westport, and had a baby! How unjust! I would have to find my own fun. And of course, I did. Naturally, since Sue is now a working mommy, she can never take me up on invites to Philly black ties. But I got to share a little fun with her by taking her and Courtney to lunch at the Cercle de L’Union Interalliee (33, rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore, 75008; 01 42 65 96 00), the RCOP reciprocal club in Paris. It was divine. The room, the view, the service, the food. Just go. (BTW, a big thank you to John Broussard, Marni Allan, and Eamon Egan - all of whom encouraged me to check it out)!
Being with my friends both nurtures and renews my spirit, giving me at once the focus and the energy to travel by myself. Bringing their perspectives along with me on my travels helps me see the world in a fresh way.
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