A. We're still in Lisbon. We were meant to be flying to Luanda tonight...alas, because my passport/visa is not here yet, we've changed our flights to Tuesday (there was nothing available on Monday), and await the arrival of my passport with visa on Monday.
This has been a crazy summer.... Madrid was fun, of course, but, I had to function in constant "on mode". I had to be mentally plugged in all the time...even when I was trying to relax, I was always thinking about the paper that was due on Friday, or the reading that was due for tomorrow, or, if it wasn't for the class I was in at the time, then something for the next week's class. Like I said, it was fun, and I don't regret any part of it (um, except *that* Thursday night), but it was stressful none-the-less.
After graduation, Joel and I made our way to Barcelona. I slept the whole way on the train (travel that is possible without a passport!). I napped later on in the hotel too... Joel even remarked, "You're just exhausted from this last month eh?" Yeah. I was.
Barcelona was cool. We didn't do too much one way or the other... we walked a lot. We went to the aquarium (my idea). It was cool, but not the best aquarium I've ever seen. We walked up and down the area know as "Ramblas" a lot. Lots of good people watching there. We went on walks without a map, unaware of where we would end up. It was good. And then of course, there was the day that we spent in the American consulate with me begging for them to do something for me to make me be able to fly to Lisbon. I am now the proud owner of a second passport. It expires in 6 months, and cost, well, a lot, but, it got both of us on that flight to Lisbon. Oh, and it cost a lot less than it would have cost for us to not take the previously booked flights, and get to Lisbon otherwise....
Now in Lisbon, the highlight so far has been the zoo, which we did today. We spent 5 hours there. I got to watch the monkeys (by that I mean chimps) for a while, we saw a bird show and a dolphin show. Joel got some good pictures of everything- I'll post some when I get a chance. We have also walked around a lot here, to the point actually, that one day, I just refused to get up anymore. All of my shoes had rubbed some part of my feet raw, my legs ached from any movement, it just wasn't happening- so I spent the day lounging by the pool and in bed reading. :) Very good. Am VERY sunburned from that day by the pool. Resembling Latvian flag (have worn a one piece bathing suit, you figure it out...). We have also seen a movie and eaten at the mall food court here in Lisbon. Grand eh? I know some of you must be thinking we've simply wasted our time here....but, I have to say, that I'm just too worn out to be a good tourist. We have walked through all of the old town here, and we went and toured the castle on the hill that overlooks Lisbon, so we're not worthless... but, honestly, our time here has been a bit more about trying to relax I guess.
Our hotel in Barcelona was meant to have a wireless connection, and didn't (it was down). Our hotel here advertised wireless- and it only costs 8euro an hour! (HUGE RIPOFF!!!!) So, we have been (as we are now) spending a bit of time in the McDonald's down the street from our hotel because they have FREE wireless. The other day, I heard myself utter words I basically never thought I would again, "Can we go back to McDonald's?" Luckily, McD's ice cream is so little part dairy, that I can eat it without digestive distress, so we've been doing the McFlurry and internet dates... oh, the life.
So, that is what is going on with me/us. We're not in Africa yet. If all goes as planned now, we'll be there early, early Wednesday morning. For what it's worth, I REALLY, REALLY wish we were headed out tonight! Orientation starts on Monday, and I am not excited about not being there for it. The school has been wonderful and, it seems, understanding dealing with us...but I feel like a heel anyway. It is all my fault that we're not getting there on time... and I just keep trying to tell myself that a year, or if I'm lucky, a shorter time, from now it won't matter...
Yeah, so, here looking forward to the next post coming at you from Luanda!
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