I have been slowly packing up my stuff all week but the bike was sort of a burden that I didn't deal with until thursday night. I got it packed up and then carried it to the post office friday morning--but was told by the austrian post that "it is not allowed to send such a big box to the US". I was just sort of frozen for a few seconds and tried to grasp what they were saying, but it just felt wrong. I argued for a few minutes but they weren't budging on the issue, and I left with this really terrible feeling that I would not be able to bring the bike with me. I came into work and Klemens started calling around to UPS and DHL and a few other places to try and help me arrange the shipment....but no matter what, they all said the same thing as the Post and that even if they could send it, it would be about 350 euro.
I was really stressed out and just sort of said out loud "I guess I have to try and sell it". And then Klemens said "I'd buy it".......
I don't really know how to describe it well, but I don't think things could have worked out any better. Klemens has become such a good friend over the last 5 months and it just felt perfect to leave him with the bike. He has loved it since I first got it, and was always talking about how he wanted to get his own soon. I am just at total peace with knowing that I left that beautiful bike with such a special person and dear friend and I don't think either of us could be more happy with how the deal worked out.
I spent my last day in vienna at the shops in the morning and then with friends in the evening. I was able to buy some gifts for my family before everything shut down in the city, and then came back home just as it started to rain. Klemens called around 5 and I went out for dinner with him and all of his closest friends. There were about 7 of us and it was a great group. I had met them all before while hanging with Klemens, but it was really cool to see them all together and I appreciated their coming together to send me off. We ate a HUGE wiener schnitzel at a beer garden and then went to a small crepe shop for desert. We left around 11 and came back to the dorm where I said my goodbye's to Klemens.
Fabio and Miljan were waiting for me when i got back to the room and we went right back out to a local bar. We talked for 3 hours and had a great last night together. We got home a few minutes ago around 2, and my taxi comes at 4....so I think I am just going to stay up and hopefully ensure that I will sleep through the flight.
This has really been the experience of a lifetime and I am so thankful to everyone that helped arrange it; especially to my parents who supported me whole heart-idly since the beginning. I have learned and grown so much over these last 5 months and will have this experience with me for the rest of my life. Thank you for being a part of it, and I hope you enjoyed following along.
......
new adventure in boulder, Co with CP+B.....starting soon
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