CheapCamper Trek: The Voyage Home

Hello Friends and Family of Cheap-Campers!
This is Phil. I have high-jacked the writing for one day to offer my two cents of information.

I can't believe this trip is still going strong. I've never had such a life changing adventure and we still have an amazing two weeks ahead of us before we settle at our new place near Santa Cruz. 

The important upcoming news is, we are leaving Provence today. After three weeks of gracious hosting from Bell-Mere (Mother in Law) Randi, we set out on another week of adventure. Our trip will take us North to Paris, Düsseldorf, Germany and Holland for Queen's Day (the biggest Party in Amsterdam!) WOOOooooHOOOooo... odd thing is, we had no idea it was happening until we tried to book a hostel and found them all to cost almost 100 euros for that one night. So, in true "cheap-camper" style we will huff it out to a wooded area where we're hoping to camp on the hostel grounds. We will spend the next three days after Amsterdam in a slow crooked trip back to Portland. It will be a rough week I'm predicting but we'll land back home after three solid days of Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Literally). 

Highlights thus far for Phil

• Getting Engaged: I never thought the day would come that I'd be ready for a real commitment of any kind. (I don't even like cell phone contracts.) But, when you find someone as special as Stephanie is to me; I can't see life any other way. She is my adventure partner through thick and thin... and often back into thick again. She cracks me up at every turn and makes life richer and more fulfilling than ever before. I'm so happy she said yes and only hope I can offer her as much in this relationship as I feel she offers me (Hokey, but true).
• The Food: WOW. The UK really didn't have much to offer, though we did go to the Jamie Oliver Restaurant "The Naked Chef" in Bath and holy Crap his food is good. I had a simple pasta dish with the best sauce ever had on it and Steph had a chicken Cesar salad served very uniquely, with a gilled chicken quarter chopped and served on the side. 

• In Dublin: We went to the Guinness factory for one of the best beers I've ever tasted at the top of the seven story factory for a 360 view of the city.
• In Rome: The Ice Cream/Gelato is soft and tasty and would have to say is by definition the taste of "Happy".
• In Naples: Hands down the best Pizza I've ever had! Naples is the place Pizza was invented and at one of the oldest pizza shops in Venice I had a traditionally fried Gorgonzola and Prosciutto (Spiced Ham) Pizza. It was strong with a delicious flavor that will never be forgotten by my taste buds.  
• In Sulfatara Italy: I had a Veal Steak from a waiter we couldn't understand. I was sad for the baby cow, but oh so happy for my stomach. 
• Here in Provence: These southern French are awesome foodies. The Steaks and Randi's Birthday Lunch and sausage were amazing, there's goat cheese a plenty and olives growing in almost everyones yard; but hands down my favorite thing here is the Wine. The local Pierrevert wine is fun at every occasion and there's always great Champagne for celebrations (of which we've had a lot to Celebrate). 

I can't wait to try German food in Düsseldorf. 

The rest of the highlights have been really amazing. From great friends in France to amazing historical sites through out the entire trip. I'm happy and feel ready to start making my way home satisfied that I have lived and experienced something exciting on the Bucket list. "Check!"