you can't be that

I told them:


When I grow up


I'm not going to be a scientist


Or someone who reads the news on TV.


No, a million birds will fly through me.


I'M GOING TO BE A TREE!
 

They said,
You can't be that. 

No, you can't be that.
 

I told them:


When I grow up


I'm not going to be an airline pilot,


A dancer, a lawyer or an MC.


No, huge whales will swim in me.


I'M GOING TO BE AN OCEAN!
 

They said,


You can't be that. 

No, you can't be that.
 

I told them:


I'm not going to be a DJ,


A computer programmer, a musician or beautician.


No, streams will flow through me,
  

I'll be the home of eagles;


I'll be full of nooks, crannies, valleys and fountains.


I'M GOING TO BE A RANGE OF MOUNTAINS!
 

They said,


You can't be that. 

No, you can't be that.
 

I asked them:


Just what do you think I am?


Just a child, they said,


And children always become


At least one of the things


We want them to be.
 

They do not understand me.


I'll be a stable if I want, smelling of fresh hay,


I'll be a lost glade in which unicorns still play.


They do not realize I can fulfil any ambition.


They do not realize among them
Walks a magician.
- Brian Patten

So that's just a little bit of fun for you.  In other news, I finished my last paper!  Hooray!  So what if I was up until 5 in the morning finishing it?  Anyways, I'm headed to Edinburgh, Scotland for the weekend.  Can't wait!  The Royal Wedding is tomorrow, I'll be able to go to the Elephant House... just so many good things are happening.  Also, there is just a little over three weeks left until I'm twenty one.  HOLY MOLY!  Okay, that is all for now, I must shower.  Hugs!

Hallows, not Horcruxes, 

LPRO

epic photos

If you ever wondered what I do with my spare time....

(ps, which is you favorite?) 

Click on a photo to enlarge it.  

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in which i am determined to not have a farmer's tan

There are some simple pleasures in life that really, when added together, make you feel like even your soul is smiling and you just radiate happiness.  For instance, this week has consisted of a visit from Jen, the Roman Baths and the Bath Abbey, a fancy dress party that found me dressed as Harry Potter, a seven mile hike along the gorgeous English coast, more picnics than I can count, and beautiful weather.  I am tan in April.  What, what?  This is pretty outstanding, I have to say.  I feel like I might just be the luckiest girl alive, as I sit here with my sparkling rose and an entire pint of Ben and Jerry's (it was on sale!).  But, this past week has been amazing (ps--omg, it's already been a WEEK!  Monday was yesterday!  What is going on?  Summer, that's what). 

Jen got here on Monday night, at what I thought was one in the morning.  So, I walked very promptly to the Bath train station at one am, with a cookie in one hand and a steaming cup of tea in the other.  Let me rephrase: I walked with a cookie and a cup of tea in my pajamas past all the drunkers pouring out of the clubs.  I'm sure I looked quite amusing.  But anyways, I got to the train station at about five to one, and I think, hmmm.  It looks pretty dead.  So I called Martha, and here is our conversation.

Me: Hey, could you check my facebook messages and make sure her bus gets in at one? And also, make sure it's a bus?
Martha: Yeah sure. (Then I talked her through getting onto my facebook.) Okay! Found it.  She gets in at 1:40.
Me: What?
Martha: 1:40.
Me: You're kidding.
Martha: Nope.
Me: What time is it?
Martha: One oh eight.
Me: Mother Cornelius Fudger.  (Or something to that effect.)

So, all in all, I was up until four in the morning writing my paper. BUT that was all fine, for two main reasons: Jen was here (which made me extremely happy), and the paper writing was interspersed with clips from Boy Meets World (my favorite of which can be seen here) and A Very Potter Musical.  I'm now watching AVPM with Martha in installments.  Also, don't worry, I finished my paper.

she was so joyful for chocolat

trying to catch the snitch

Then on Tuesday Jen and I had our first picnic in the Parade Gardens, which is now open (yay!).  It was great to just take a break in the middle of my four hours of class and just sit and talk with Jen.  Then that night we went to see Little White Lies at the Little.  It was french and very good, actually.  Though it was about two and a half hours (really, it was giving the extended versions of LOTR a run for their money).  But I do love the Little.  Over the next two days, then, we saw the Roman Baths (finally), had a tower tour, ate Moroccan food and strudel, and went to a fancy dress party in which Jen was the snitch and I was Harry Potter. Of note: we bizarrely didn't win the costume contest, but I did hear some man in the square play "Alice's Restaurant" and music from Chocolat and it made it extremely happy. 

Those stairs are a lot scarier than they look!

Jen left altogether too soon (or rather, I left her, as I got on the bus around eight in the morning).  We then drove for about two hours directly south until we reached the coast (the coast that's close to Corfe Castle).  The beginning of the walk was rather misleading, I must say.  Very nice and flat and leisurely.  It was beautiful as well, but the whole hike was just gorgeous.  We walked for about ten minutes before reaching the most breath taking cliffs I have ever walked along.  (Though admittedly I have not walked along many cliffs.) Then, after we had been lulled into a false sense of security, the path took a very downward turn.  Literally.  It was the kind of downhill walking that makes your legs shakes and your brain to say to itself "well, if I fall and die, at least it's somewhere beautiful."  Terrifying.  I did not like going down, until I realized that going down meant going up.  Which I also didn't like.  Rough.  (PS When I told my mother I was going on a seven mile hike, she said, "Oh good.  You're supposed to suffer on Good Friday." Lovely.)  We had two different down and ups to do, the second of which I was much less excited about.  And if you can imagine how excited I was about the first one, you'll know just how happy my legs were.

You see? Lots of stairs!

However, it was SO WORTH IT.  One, because my legs feel very proud of themselves, two because I am now TAN (not red, like most of my pictures suggest), and three because I'm telling you--I have never been on a more picturesque hike.  Though it was not picturesque in the intellectually Jane Austen sense (oh silly Mr. Tilney), but rather in the sense that my pictures are gorgeous.  It was fabulous to talk to all my friends and just walk further up and further in (got it yet?).  I mean, yes, we did walk along the British coastline, but really, we walked from The Shire to Cair Paravel and back again.  It was just... so amazing and relaxing.  We definitely earned the delicious pasty and drink purchased for us by ASE.  (The full album can be viewed here.)

Then we were taken to Corfe Castle, which I was too tired to learn about, regrettably.  But, we walked around the castle enjoying the views and the steam engine train that I swear to Godric's Hallow pulled up to Hogsmeade Station.  Although I checked, it wasn't Hogsmeade, just a very good look alike.  Also, I watched The Sorcerer's Stone with Jen and said, "Oh! I've been there!" At least fifteen times during the movie.  How exciting.

Anyways, I came back very tan (alright, I was red, but it has turned to tan).  Martha and I had a very funny conversation about being tan, although I'm not entirely sure if it was actually funny or just funny because the sun had inhabited my body and was not letting me think straight.

Martha: Well, tanning solves everything.
Me: Except cancer.

So today, then, I went to the park again and read Bridget Jones Diary: The Edge of Reason.  It is quite good (I have to read this for my Jane Austen class, then Catcher in the Rye for creative writing, and The Return of the King for Worlds Beyond Oxford.  My life is awesome.)  So, that's it!  Happy Easter to all, and to all a good night!

Sunshine, daisies, and buttermellow,
-LPRO

further up and further in

Me and Good Ol' Staples

I wonder how many of you know what the title is referencing... Well, I won't tell you, but here's a hint: I feel like I've been going further up and further in these past few months, what with having the time of my life and all.  But anyways, these past few days have full of much needed recuperation and rest and avoidance of grocery shopping and errands.  I think I'm in a post spring break fog. Probably when I get back for good (ayy yi yi that is a scary thought), it will take me a month to get my feet and head back on the ground. Which I feel is a perfect amount of time, as I will have exactly a month left of summer when I return before I head back to Denison for SENIOR YEAR and an UPPER ELM apartment!  Hazah!

Interesting factoid one: J.R.R Tolkien is John Ronald Reuel Tolkien.
Interesting factoid two: C.S. Lewis is Clive Staples Lewis.
Interesting factoid three: My child will be J.O. Raino-Ogden, or James OfficeMax Raino-Ogden.

I mean, not really, but Staples?? I'm concerned. And perplexed.  Regardless of crazy middle names, though, old Clive Staples (who I will now refer to as ol' Staples, because I can), is amazing.  Waking up at seven in order to go back to Oxford was actually a lot more fun that I thought it would be.  We had a great tour guide who knew so much about the different writers who had lived and studied in Oxford.  Example: Percy Bysse Shelley (of whom there was a creepy naked monument on the way to my room in Oxford) was apparently a big practical joker.  Sometimes mothers would leave their children in prams while they popped into stores to grab a quick something.  Percy would then, very sneakily, switch one woman's baby with another, so they inevitably came into Univ and told the porter, "He's doing it again!  This is not my baby!"  How very amusing. I will now read Ozymandius will a new appreciation.

The topmost window is Tolkien's!

Our tour guide also pointed out D.H. Lawrence's window and J.R.R Tolkien's window and his bust in the chapel at Exeter College.  It was awesome.  Sidenote: C.S. Lewis studied at University College, which is where I studied for a week!  HOLLA atchu Aslan!  Also, so did Mr. Bean.  (Incidentally, here is a great scene from Love Actually, involving Mr. Bean and Snape.  Lovely.)  Anyways, we walked around Oxford (we even made it into Blackwells, Dad--it was amazing).  We should have spent two hours just in the bookstore.  Then we saw the house where Tolkien wrote the majority of The Lord of the Rings.  Apparently, he used to go outside in the summer and read it to neighborhood children, just to see how he was getting on.  Aggerlack, I'm jealous.

Then we had a lovely lunch in the Eagle and Child in the Rabbit Room, and discussed The Lord of the Rings and Narnia and Harry Potter.  What could possibly be better?  A discussion with cider and black, that's what.  Which is what I had. Then we headed out to the Kilns--C.S. Lewis' home.  It was awesome, and here is yet another interesting factoid: the wardrobe that claims to be the inspiration is currently in "Chicago."  And by "Chicago," I mean Wheaton.

But anyways, C.S. Lewis was also quite the prankster.  In later life, he needed a live in nurse.  Now, this nurse was not too happy that Lewis' walls and shelves and life were completely covered in books. You could really make something of this house, if you got rid of the book, he said.  Lewis did not like this.  After, what is a life without books?  Fortunately, he didn't listen to the nurse, and needed to have his office cleaned out.  So, he told his friends to pack up ALL the books from his office and bring them over.  They did, and then piled them around the nurse's bed during the night, so that when he woke up, he was in a cage of books that inevitably fell on top of him.  They became friends after that, though.

The corner where the wardrobe would have been.

There was also once an American man who came to see Lewis, and after having three pots of tea with him, asked where the washroom was.  Lewis then led him to the wardrobe in the corner, took out a few towels and a bar of soap, and then directed him to a door down the hallway.  Through which, of course, was the washroom.  With only a bath and a sink.  Then he shut the door and walked back to the study, leaving the man to stand there for a few moments wondering what on earth he was going to do.  He finally came back out to the study and said, "I think there's been a misunderstanding..." To which Lewis replied, "Well that ought to cure you of those useless American euphemisms..."  Bahahahaha.

One more little story, then I swear I'm done.  Lewis had a cat named Tomcat who began to get quite old.  His housekeeper asked him, one day, if it wouldn't be better to put the thing down.  Lewis said no, and told the housekeeper that he was a pensioner, and that he should eat only fresh fish in his retirement.  So, for the rest of its life, Tomcat ate fresh fish.  Then one day, as Lewis and his American friend (Walter Hooper, I think) were walking down the street, Tomcat was walking in the opposite direction. As they passed, Lewis Tipped his hat to the cat, earning him a weird look from Hooper.  Lewis, however, just winked and said, "Well, he's a pensioner, you know."  Anyways, I did make it back to Bath after exploring the area around the Kilns (which really is Narnia). 

Then today was the Rugby game (Bath won!!!).  It was interesting to see a gaggle of men in unisuits--especially the one dressed like a chicken. The general feeling was of goodwill and help for poor Americans who had no idea what was happening in the game.  I got it by the end, don't worry.  Although the halftime show was something special--it involved a bunch of kids standing and waving Bath Rugby flags while six people raced down the field on those bouncy balls kids have.  The chicken was also involved in this, by the way.  Highly amusing.

So there you have it. Life a la Liza.

Hugs!
LPRO

Here is the chicken, who had stumbled away from the pack.

gelato once, gelato twice, gelato three times a day is nice

One of many gelatos on the Ponte Vecchio

So.  I made it back alive.  Over the past twelve days, I have spent forty seven hours traveling.  My first day was a sixteen hour travel day, and the second travel day found me in an asleepish state on the Barcelona airport floor.  Interesting sidenote: you know how when your clothes are "dirty," they're really just stained or something and you could wear them to sleep in without feeling too gross?  Well, the clothes that I slept in on the airport floor are not those kind of clothes.  They are smelly on a level you would not believe.  I now very much need to do some laundry... Also, I felt disgusting that next day.  But regardless, I was not mugged, did not die, and I'm pretty sure that everything I left with came back with me.

Not the Boboli Gardens, but gorgeous!

Anyways, I think when I left you last I was in Florence, but had not yet had the time to tell you about it, no? Well, I will tell you all about it now, as I have forty minutes before my next class.  I got to Roma Termini train station without a hitch, and then wandered around for sometime wondering where on earth the train was that I was supposed to board, when HOLY AS to the E, there were Martha and Elizabeth and Emily, all standing together looking about as lost as I felt.  Though finding them, in some strange way, made me feel less lost, even though it got me no closer to the train.  (PS AS to the E is Advanced Studies in England, which is my program.  Usually it goes by ASE though, I just ghetto-fied it.)  Anyways, we then eventually found the train and were on our way to Florence.

Now, let me tell you something we learned about cab drivers.  They are VERY conscious of just how stupid you are when you first get to a new city.  We had a twenty minute car ride to finally get to a place in walking distance.  How very... sneaky.  But anyways (it is now a day later from when I started writing), we finally did get to our hotel, which was very close to the Duomo.  It had a courtyard and a GIGANTIC door that we only figured out on the last day was automated.  We also had issues getting into the front door of Hotel Bavaria (the door up two flights of stairs in the courtyard), as it was a very temperamental door that would not open unless you gave it the proper amount of respect.  But I IMMEDIATELY jumped into the shower once we got there (a shower that, btw, was just standing in the corner of the room--with frosted glass...).  It felt SO GOOD to be clean.

Martha and I at sunset, with the Duomo in the background

Then Elizabeth and Emily went off to meet Paige, and Martha and I had a relaxing lunch underneath the Duomo, got some Gelato, then headed over to the Boboli Gardens to lay out in the sun on the grass.  I had a lovely nap in the sunshine after which we decided that Sangria was a must.  So we found a place and got some strawberry daquris.  DELICIOUS.  It was such a good decision. I also realize that a daqueri is not the same as sangria--but they cost the same and there's something so empowering about leaving the virgin out of a strawberry daqueri.  We eventually met up with the other two for a hike up to the lookout point during sunset.  It was so beautiful (but a long hike up, especially for Martha as she had a hurt foot).  The we eventually abandoned the beauty and headed to dinner (a delicious dinner of TORTELLINI bolognese).

And then, THEN, I finally got to go to bed.  Keep in mind that at this point, I had been awake since 5:30 the day before.  YIKES.  I had such a great sleep that I didn't even mind waking up at seven so we could be back at the train station at eight so we could board our tour bus to San Gimignano, Siena, and Pisa.  SUCH GREAT FUN! Although I have never in my life felt more like a tourist.  But I will not lie--it was all worth it, just for the lunch.  So our first stop was to Siena, where we saw the oldest working bank in the world (Monte dei Paschi di Siena), founded in 1472.  We also saw Siena's Duomo--in which there is a room filled with beautiful paintings.  Our tour guide at this point (she was Italian, of course) told us that "if we breathe in there, we destroy the paintings.  But if we don't breathe, we destroy ourselves.  So we must keep on destroying them."  Oh, she was a hoot.

Our little group at San Gimignano

Our next stop was to a vineyard, where we had a tour of the vineyard and the cows they keep there, and then had our epic lunch with a lovely view of the surrounding countryside and San Gimignano.  We had some bruschetta (with no tomatoes! bummer), spaghetti bolognese (yessssss), a light salad and cheese and prosciutto, and then almond biscotti for dessert (well, first dessert). Praise to the Tuscan sun, it was all delicious.  Then we were off to San Gimignano where we sampled the best Gelato in the world (yes, there is an award), and sat listening to music that sounded like it belonged in the movie Chocolat and just gazing out and the amazing Tuscan scenery.  God it was heaven, just sitting there with Martha with not a care in the world (apart from the fact that I had a MONSTER farmer's tan that day... yikes).

Just making sure it doesn't fall over.

Then we ran back to bus (we were inevitably running late), and jumped on to have a scenic drive to Pisa, during which they played a movie about the Siena horse race, which for some reason unbeknownst to me, brought me to tears.  THOSE HORSES JUST HAD SO MUCH EMOTION!!  Anyways, after wondering why on earth horse races were making me cry, I watched the gorgeous countryside drive by.  Then we got to Pisa and took some crazy tourist photos (you know the ones).  Then we headed back, had dinner, and went immediately to bed.

The next day was more relaxing--we saw the David, got some Gelato, and really just walked around for a while.  It was very nice.  We then had a great dinner at a family place called "Il Latino" where I had a caprese salad and ravioli and then some sparkling yumminess afterwards on the house.  It was all delicious.  Then we rode a merry go round, and went to bed early in preparation for our early day of travel.  I took an earlier train, and met these guys from Texas (who I sat next to because one was reading Atlas Shrugged, always a good sign).  They were a lot of fun, and actually turned out to have gone on the same tour I did, on the day after.  Then I made another friend at the airport--which was very nice, as I didn't have to sit next to a grumpy old man or a smelly young one (our flight was filled with annoying Italian teenagers.... bleh).  Anyways, that's that!  I made it home okay, and all is well. I miss you all incredibly, and wish you could have traveled with me! Hugs,

LPRO

i love the beach.

So, a lot has happened since our last meeting.  True, I was proud of my navigation abilities, a little tired, but still gung ho for more adventure.  Well, I can now say I CAN DO ANYTHING.  Truly--I toured Barcelona in about 13 hours.  I mean, I toured as much as I could of Barcelona in 13 hours.  A lot of which included Gaudi sights (DAD you should have been there...).  But, that experience taught me a few things. 

1) I am very good at figuring out public transportation.
2) Traveling alone makes you more apt to talk to strangers--even if they don't speak your language and clearly can't understand what you're saying.
3) Sitting on the beach in jeans and boat shoes is very relaxing.
4) My hair looks ridiculous after a day of travel.
5) Gaudi is amazing, but his house was not worth 4.50 euros to go into.
6) His cathedral, however, was definitely worth 10.50 euros.   It was amazing.
7) I don't speak spanish.

Of course I learned much more than that in my few hours in Barcelona, but that's it in a nutshell.  Also--let's back track a bit, back to Margaret.  When we left, we walked down to the Alhambra (actually the one across the way that I can't remember the name of--Al Bazir? I don't think so).  It was such a beautiful walk and the Alhambra looked gorgeous and mystical and it was great to just sit there with Margaret listening to the music and talking.  Pure bliss.  But also, on our way up, we passed a convent where these nuns live.  These AWESOME nuns who have decided to close themselves off from the outside world and don't ever go outside.  However, to sustain themselves, these nuns make candy and then sell it to the public. Hmmm, you are thinking, because how can they sell it if they've sworn off the outside world??  Well, let me tell you, it is awesome.  There is a little turntable built into the wall (like a wooden revolving door with shelves) with a bell next to it.  You ring the bell, then wait for a nun to answer you via na intercom, at which point you say, "Yo quiero buy candy" (only entirely in spanish), and then they say, "Which kind?" and then you tell them, put money on the revolving door, and they switch the candy for the money.  HOW AMAZING IS THIS??? I wonder what they really do in there... apart from being holy, I mean. 

Anyways, sadly, they did not answer the bell when we rang, so we didn't get any candy.  Sidenote: someone must be in contact with the world, or else how would they get food? But there you go.  Then after that we went to a Tetteria (is that right?) to get tea and almond cakes, cause Margaret said they were a lot like Moroccan almond thingys, and the tea was amazing.  THEN we went back to the apartment for a hot second, before heading back out to go to La Belle y Bestia and Labrador.  It was really a great time just having tapas and drinks and laughing about high school and college and the future.  Truly, that was one of the best days of break. 

I was therefore VERY sad to leave my dear Margaret, but I was up and out the door with enough time to get to the airport and on the plane to Barcelona. But anyways, that's all I have time for now, I must go and have my last dinner (and last gelato, of course) in Italy.  I'll be back in Bath tomorrow (I hope) so I'll be more available.  Hugs and Italian kisses,

LPRO

granada means pomegranate

There is an interesting tidbit of information for you.  Here's another--I somehow managed to make it from London to Granada without getting lost and without dying.  To do this I took a taxi to a bus to the airport to another bus to ANOTHER bus to a bus that took me to Margaret's door.  That's six different transfers.  Mother of pearl, I am amazed at myself.  Especially because I realized that I don't speak a word of Spanish.  And surprisingly enough, the colors and days of the week don't help very much.  I could't even remember how to say "I don't speak Spanish."  So, I now have a newfound gratitude that all the people in England speak English.  But anyways, the quick sum up of the family's visit:

That Monday the parents got into Bath around seven, so naturally we had dinner around 8:30.  We went to the BEST Indian restaurant, my favorite anyways, as it overlooks the abbey.  Martha came with us too, and we had some great nan and curry and deliciousness.  Then I read an entire 333 page book in a night, and the next day we walked around Bath and had dinner at a thai place that overlooked the water, after shopping and having a pint in the Huntsman.  I think this was also the day we went to the model museum and saw how they make all the models of the little houses that my dad loves.  It was really very cool--the woman let us come into the workshop to see how they do it.  The next day, then, was spent going to the fashion museum, the Jane Austen center, and the streudle shop.  YUM.  It was a good day.  Then we went to Lacock again, where we were able to get into the abbey and see the Harry Potter sites, as well as walk around the cute town and enjoy some lovely soup and a brie and bacon sandwich.  YUM. But alas, all good things must come to an end, and the parents left me for London, and I had to go to class in the morning on Thursday.  

I made it to London myself around six, and immediately after getting to the Vicarage Hotel (with 100ish stairs--whoa), we went to see "The End of the Rainbow," which was about the downward spiral of Judy Garland.  It was amazing--the woman playing Judy Garland was fabulous, and the British guy was awesome.  Then, as we didn't have dinner, we went to the Spaghetti house (at 10:30) and I was reminded how much I love Spaghetti Bolognese.  I cannot wait to get to Italy.  We had an amazing dinner and then stumbled home around midnight when they were closing up. The next morning we woke up bright and early to go get tickets for Billy Elliot, then walked over to meet Mira and Mclean (AND we got fro yo at a place called SNOG.  This was amazing.).  Then we stopped by John Soane's house turned museum which was really cool--he had so much stuff to shove in there that he added some moveable panels to his walls so he could hang all his pictures.  How nice.  There was so much stuff in there that they made you either drop off your bag, or carry it in a plastic bag by your side so it wouldn't bump into anything.  Then we made our way over to the British museum where we saw the Rosetta Stone and parts of the Parthenon and things.  It was very cool.  Then we saw Billy Elliot which, I have to say, might be the best musical production I've seen.  I mea WHOA that 12 year old can dance.  And act, and sing.  Now that is talent.  And there was a woman sitting in front of us having more fun than I did the first time we saw Get Smart.  And that is saying something.  Snorting like mad, this woman was.  Sometimes een before the joke was out.  Bizarre. 

But that night we had one of the best dinners yet, and we scarfed it down in under a half hour.  I had a great quiche and french onion soup.  Delisc.  I reccommend Maggie Jones to anyone in London.  Then the next day we went to Portobello Road, rode the London Eye, took a boat to the Globe, walked oer Millenium Bridge (don't worry, the Death Eaters weren't trying to destroy it at the time), went to Evensong at St. Paul's, had ice cream at Harrod's, and then ended the night at a wine bar for dinner.  GREAT day.  Truly, one of my favorite days ever, I would have to say.  And parents, thank you SO MUCH for everything we did while you were here, I could not be more grateful or appreciative that you came.  It was great to be with you and Mira and Mclean and I miss you a lot already. 

Anyways, I said goodbye to the family around 5:30 in the morning, and then high tailed it to a cab to get me to the bus.  Which then got me to the airport two hours early.  So I had a little nap and then got myself to the gate.  Now, let me tell you all something about Ryanair.  While it is nice that it is inexpensive, it is awful.  There is a 10 kg weight limit on bags, which means that I had to take stuff out of my bag and shove things in my pockets, the seats are cramped, you have to pay for drinks, and I somehow managed to pick the only window seat without a window.  Yikes.  But, it got me to my destination, so all is well.  Once in Spain, I simply walked into the country through an empty border control booth.  Righteous.  Then I met a girl who asked me in Spanish where the busses were, and I said, "I have no idea," and then she turned out to be Scottish and we found our way together.  Then I took the two busses to Murcia and Granada, where Margaret came to pick me up. I have never been so happy to see her.  And now I have to go and see some sights!  Love you all!

-LPRO