Well, the vino quickly wore off and the endorphins kicked in, as the initial part of the hike was nearly completely vertical. It is a bit more challenging than I expected, and several hikers gave up and turned back, but after the first hour, I felt pot-committed and was not about to give up. The path is so narrow that, in most places, for someone to pass in either direction, one person has to kiss the wall. That sort of proximity builds an easy camaraderie that is undeniably encouraging.
Why the Weekend Duchess won’t be going to Chick-fil-A or Belize
These may be small steps, but a journey is not composed solely of leaps. Yes, you can drive yourself crazy trying to avoid sponsoring any business whose policies differ from your own, but when the commitment to celebrate hatred is cheered so loudly, you owe it to yourself to walk your wallet out the door. One American value is undeniably true: the votes you make with your money are counted.
Perfect evening: Leonard Cohen concert in Ghent, Belgium
Not since I was a teenager in Atlanta had the universality of music struck such a strong chord in me. How bad can things be if Leonard Cohen can still sell out five nights in Ghent, right? In a town I never thought I’d see, watching the words of one of my idols wash over a worshipful crowd in a deliciously divine setting, I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be.