I felt my eyes saturated with the scenery. 

A gentle kiss from God embracing, loving, purifying me internally by the external magnificence of His gift of nature. Perhaps the truest path to appreciate life, begins with one of the gifts God first gave to man — the land, wildlife and seas. Did He leave fragments of the Garden of Eden for us all to find… On my travels, I believe I did.

The essence of Europe is ancient, permeating with history, adorned with masterpieces of all artistic DNA and virtuosos of every field — from art, architecture, poetry, music and more. Human-made and divine spirituality thrives here. And, they all collide with the splendor and grandeur of nature.

While borders separate countries of the European Union, the ever-changing external boundaries fade when nature unites countries and rolls from one to the other, with her soft, poetic enchantment.

Her tears turn to rivers flowing through numerous cultures and traditions; her smiles broaden into the Pyrenees Mountains; with each blink of her eye she spreads various aromatic flowers through the land. All we need do is breathe in her magic aroma and find the path to her heart.

It is nature that connects us all. Sunshine kisses every flower petal in our world; moonbeams beckon to the sea and the tides quietly obey. Winds travel without passports, caressing our bodies. Raindrops freckle our skin with waters of the world countlessly evaporated and transformed into an everlasting cycle. These are the treasures of nature connecting us, making us one and integrating us into nature’s intrinsic caress.

Traveling through the countries of Portugal, Spain, France and Italy left my soul overflowing with the vision of nature. Languages changed. People, buildings and architecture conformed to their locations. Yet nature didn’t succumb to man-made rules. She laid out her tapestry of flora and fauna, inviting all who wished to dance in their aromatic, tempting midst.

Young olive trees grew in nearly untouched paths.

The 112.7-mile Gave de Pau River rustled over rocks and along the banks of Lourdes replacing the sounds of podcasts and music, with her replenishing rustle. The Grotto of Apparitions stood guard over the river’s peaceful song and the millions of pilgrims consuming, in various forms, its healing waters.

Balconies invited nature’s beauty, leaving colorful emphasis of flowers as their focal point. Roses and geraniums broke through the corners of old homes accentuating stone with flower.

Stephen King wrote, "Maybe there's a whole other universe where a square moon rises in the sky, and the stars laugh in cold voices, and some of the triangles have four sides, and some have five, and some have five raised to the fifth power of sides. In this universe there might grow roses which sing. Everything leads to everything."

While squares were squares and triangles had three sides, I might have heard a rose or two sing in honor and praise of God's love for humanity and humanity's love for God. Everything did lead to everything.

Stonecrop, one of its 600 species, grew between the shingles of clay tiles and from the cracks of old, stone buildings and trees. Santa Barbara Daisies reached toward the river, flourishing in fractures of bridges and pathways, gently whispering, “pause for a moment and appreciate me.”

Cork Oaks grasped for the sky preparing to donate their bark for purses, bookmarks, coin purses, and, of course, corks.

Oriental Plane Trees, or Old World Sycamore trees pruned into delightful poses by a delicate touch, held hands welcoming you to the streets in which they grew their roots.

Moss, shrubs and plants of all varieties decorated tree bark and river banks in fancy displays.

Fields of European Aspen trees lined up like soldiers protecting and watching over their home.

Asp of Jerusalem covered the countryside in a vivid, yellow carpet, while bright red poppies sprang out in jovial ornamental fashion as bright as decorative lights on a Christmas tree. Sow thistle left wishes to be made.

Italian Bugloss’ tiny blue flowers transformed into a near purple under the sun’s enduring brightness.

Pristine white plum flowers welcomed spring, while tiny, cheerful, daisies grew wildly throughout the countryside.

Optimistic orange Treasure Flowers lined a path to the woods, summoning a majestic walk through the fields of imagination and delicate dreams.

Nature from, through, within and across countries called to me and merged with me. She sang her melody bringing peace to my soul. Her beauty infused my veins, circulated through my body imparting her magnificence and peace.

This was a trip of other purpose--a pilgrimage for my soul--and that it very much was. However, I also chose to pause in brief moments, taking in God’s gifts of nature that surrounded me. While ancient churches, basilicas, cathedrals and buildings invited, captivated and engaged my spiritual attention, I found the gentle whisper of nature’s beauty worthy of more than a glance, worthy of a moment, worthy of appreciation and immersion. The gift she gave me was indescribable and merited every glimpse.

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influence of the earth.” — Henry David Thoreau, Walden