Journal Entry One, June 27th, 2006.
Alright, we just landed in Paris, France. So far, with Edward's fluency in the language, there hasn't been any problems. Of course, the first place he takes me is the city of love. Before you guess, yes I am rolling my eyes.
We're staying in a fancy hotel that has a diner that serves as a restaurant even for people who aren't staying in the hotel itself. I attempted to speak some French using Edward's guidance, but no one wanted to talk to me because my accent wasn't right.
We don't have much planned for today, other than me sleeping off the jetlag for the next 13 hours.
On a different note, my mother had handed me an old worn box, a note taped to the top of it. Her eyes were shimmering with both happiness and sadness.
After getting to our hotel room was when I decided to open it. The note explained that the contents of the box was a gift from my grandmother, who was gravely ill and didn't think she would live long enough to see me get married.
In the box was a delicate pearl bracelet. The pearls were small and separated by carefully crafted wires that were designed to look like vines. It was the most beautiful bracelet I had ever seen.
Needless to say I cried for quite a while.
Journal Entry Two, June 28th, 2006.
We plan to stay in Paris for the next week before exploring the neighboring towns and cities for almost the same amount of time. Today Edward wanted to take me to see the Louvre, this big museum full of art. To be honest I am more excited about that than the food which Angela would call me a liar, because I apparently love food more than anything. But I can't wait to see all the art from all through time… I think Jetlag is still getting me, that sentence makes no sense, but whatever.
Journal entry 5 July 3rd, 2006
As a joke I decided to smear sunscreen on Edward's face. Literally all over it. And he decided to humor me by standing in the sunlight in our hotel room. His face didn't sparkle but the rest of him did. Shocking us both.
Who would have thought Sunscreen would protect a vampire's skin from sparkling.
Journal entry 7, July 5th, 2006
Using our new found knowledge that sunscreen works, Edward took me on our first daytime date. We went on a nature hike and had a picnic in a park. It was fun.
Not much else happened today.
Journal entry 10, July 8th, 2006
We decided to travel around Europe for a few weeks before flying to Canada. I don't know exactly what he has planned, but he promised that I will enjoy it. I'm trusting him with this one.
Journal Entry 12, July 10th, 2006
Today we didn't do much. We went swimming, well I went swimming, and Edward just watched from a distance. I got startled because a fish touched my foot. Which is apparently hilarious to Edward who couldn't stop laughing at the noise I made. It was fun but was a startling experience.
Journal entry 13, August 3rd, 2006
Our second week in Canada and Edward decided we needed to do some exploring. So, dressed in our warmest gear (Edward didn't want to look weird, it's cute) we headed out into the frozen tundra. AND WE SAW A WOLVERINE! It was so cute and fluffy and when it spotted us it was so angry! This was the first time I saw Edward express pure fear towards a non-vampire threat and I'm still laughing as I'm writing. He said I have no idea what it's thinking, but I do. I know about the snow version of the honey badger.
Journal entry 14, September 7th, 2006
There was a festival in the town we were staying at in Japan. That was my first time dressing in a yukata and eating so many different types of food! There was a, I think it's called a taiko performance and I could still feel the beat of the drums in my bones. Edward was actually pretty lost most of the time, I guess the Cullens never visited Japan.
Journal Entry 15, September 28th, 2006
Edward is afraid of squid. He should have considered that before we decided to go to an aquarium in Japan and a squid decided it wanted to say hi. He was also startled by a peeved pufferfish… Do vampires just not like the ocean? Wait… can vampires even float?!
Journal Entry 16, December 23rd, 2006
Even though there's so much to do in Poland, the first thing we did was go to Auschwitz. I vaguely remember an old friend who studied the Holocaust and… God… it was hard to breathe there. I wanted to cry as our tour guide described the camp. Edward and I stayed in the back of the group. He said that most of the Cullen family regretted staying out of the war, but had to follow the Volturi's laws.
Journal Entry 17, January 4th, 2007
He was in Germany, before Hitler came to power and he helped a girl get away from some men. She was Jewish, and those men knew she was too. When the war ended, Edward tried to find her but never did. He doesn't know what happened to her. Our tour guide said women and children never lasted long in many of the camps like Auschwitz.
By the time we got to the hotel Edward was physically drained. Alice texted me while I was out getting some food. I'm going to have to keep my mind focused on other stuff for the next couple weeks.
Journal Entry 18, February 13th, 2007
I had a special surprise for Edward when we got to Jerusalem. Alice was able to find out the girl not only survived, but she's still alive. We visited her, a tiny old woman, with eyes that seemed to light up at the sight of Edward. We had to lie and say that the man she met was his grandfather, but I have a feeling she knew we were lying. Her name was Esther and she had been sent to a women's work camp during the war, that was the only reason she survived. Esther shared with us her story in a mix of German and some broken English, both Edward could understand. By the end of our visit, we met her daughter and granddaughter who was pregnant with Esther's first great-grandson.
Edward cried when we returned to the hotel, there weren't any tears or breathing, but I could tell he wanted to. We cuddled together, talked for a bit and now I'm writing this journal entry before we head out again to enjoy all this country has to offer. He's slathering on a thick layer of water-proof sunscreen and muttering about the dead sea… looks like we're going swimming!
Journal Entry 19, May 2nd, 2007
I completely forgot to add this one in. Edward has been giving strange hints about our wedding (It's still so weird and makes my heart race when I remember we're ENGAGED!) At some point we stopped by a church with a wedding in progress, we didn't crash it or anything like that, we just observed for a moment at a respectable distance. Then we stopped by a shop that makes special and personal wedding cakes, and then at some point we stopped by a wedding boutique. I know he wants me to take it more seriously but really, I can't help but get nervous when I think about it.
Journal Entry 20, June 22nd, 2007
We have been in London England for about a week. He had approached a bunch of middle aged women (There were three of them) probably in their 40s, and asked them to take me dress shopping. The moment he said money wasn't an issue the women got all excited, especially when he said that we're planning to get married soon and that I haven't chosen a dress yet.
Most terrifying experience of my entire life. It was scarier than when I faced the Volturi. I still shudder when I remember it. I wasn't able to return to our hotel room until sundown. I refused to acknowledge Edward's existence for the rest of the week. I did my own thing for the week until Edward apologized with flowers and good food.
Journal entry 21, December 8th, 2007
We're in Australia, Edward had immediately taken me to Tasmania, talking up a specific meal I've never heard of. It's supposed to taste really good. What was it you ask? I tried Spiny Lobster… It was so gooood.
At some point during this trip we came across a wild Koala which immediately clung to Edward, our tour guide thought it was hilarious. I personally thought it was cute. The koala even allowed me to pet it.
Journal Entry 22, May 5th, 2008
We've made it to Egypt. Edward said that this is the last spot we're going before we head back to America. It's so beautiful, but we had to keep with a tour guide since many spots in the country are unsafe. Edward bought me this beautiful sunset colored, long flowing skirt. It protected my legs from the sun while also being modest in the heat. We took both serious pictures and also a few goofy, typical American tourist pictures like me "petting" the Sphinx. This was also my only trip that resulted in a slight tanning of my skin, thanks to the sunscreen I wore.
Journal Entry 23, May 8th, 2008
Well journal, this is the last entry I'm writing. It is currently 3:26 in the morning, Egypt time, and we are about to board a plane to head home. In my carry-on are three books that I purchased the last few months in our travels to read (Edward told me to save them for the plane), a travel pillow to sleep, and some snacks. Edward is laughing beside me, probably because I am writing on three cups of coffee, a full sized cup of tea, and he had to drag me away from buying energy drinks… jerk. I'm sleeping on the plane. But, we're going home.
We took a break from the normal chapter stuff and decided to give you this little journal bit! This was honestly a lot of fun to write, I'm not gonna lie xD
We hope you enjoyed this chapter! Just 2 more to go!