Time for some adventure

For those people to whom I have talked to in the past couple of months, you all know I am about to embark on another crazy, reckless annual adventure. So this blog is created for you, friends, to follow me as I undertake solo adventures in Austria, France and Italy. This means leaving beloved friends and bf in Sherbrooke, family in Sutton, the comforts of Canadian living, and trading in for new cultures, new food, and so on.
So why did I call this blog "Spain pilgrimage"? Fear not, I haven't lost my marbles yet. Plans changed at the last minute, my best friend Lea couldn't come with me, so I glanced at a map of Europe and, after sensible advice from my ever-wise father Fred, chose to tour France. Cities on my list? So far: Albi, Carcassone, Chartres, Corsica and Avignon.
Is this still a pilgrimage? Definitely. Even if this won't be a heroic, back-breaking pilgrimage on a dusty road, this will be a pilgrimage to a French cathedral. Very probably Chartres.
One might ask why do a pilgrimage in the 21st century. After all, we are all individualistic humanists, geared towards technological and scientific accomplishments, aren't we? Haven't we successfully turned our back to religion? Wrong, I dare to say. Yes, secularism is the state of modern society. But no, that doesn't mean we aren't looking for the "meaning of life". Look at ashrams in Tibet flooded by confused Occidentals, look at yoga-practicing Americans and Canadians, look at the never-ending flow of books being written about spirituality. Let's face it: religion may not be today's obsession, but spirituality is.
This blog will try to incorporate both. I would define myself as both religious and spiritual, and heading by myself to seek European cathedrals should awaken some questions within me which I hope will create some reactions. 
Once this journey begins as of June 19th, friends, let me whet your appetite with Vienna, city of music and culture, and then allow me to whisk you through the Austrian Alps. Next up: northern Italy (Turin) and architecture. Main course: a week in Corsica, French island bathed in sunshine and blue skies. Dessert: French towns (mentioned above), French culture and French food of course.
That's the menu offered. I hope it draws you close!