eat a peach.

This past month, I have been consistently impressed, surprised, and brought to tears by the kindness of strangers you meet in the places you travel.

A random woman we met in Dublin invited us into her home for Christmas dinner with her amazing daughters. It was incredible.
Someone in Galway let us stay in their home for a WEEK, for FREE.
A Scottish couple in Spain let me into their home for two weeks to harvest their potatoes and meanwhile gave me a place to sleep and great food to eat.

Sometimes my faith in humanity is restored. Then I read the news.

I try to hold on to the former part through everything else. Happy holidays, all!

the bogs.

A LOT OF THE TIME, people in Ireland are harder to understand than people in Argentina.

Customs control guy: "Whyyyre here?"
Me: "What?"
Customs control guy: "Why are you here, in Ireland?"
Me: "Oh, vacation."
Customs control guy: "Wo'ee gon with?"
Me: "....what?"
Customs control guy: "WHO ARE YOU GOING WITH?"
Me: "Oh, that girl over there."
Customs control guy: "somethingaboutchristmasandwhydoiwanttospendchristmasinireland?"
Me: "What?"
Customs: *throws passport back at me through window* "Go through, please."

I LOVE it here. People are so fucking nice. Colleen and I went out to a bunch of pubs last night, danced to Irish music, drank lots and lots of Guinness, fell asleep watching a movie somewhere, woke up at 4 a.m. and had to find our way home. Luckily, people here are soooooooo nice and everyone we asked for directions (approximately five or six people) helped us out (except one girl that ran away from us, scared). Galway is also really walkable and easy to get around. Dublin was nice but I think I like Galway better.

We go back to Dublin Christmas Eve to make a nice holiday dinner for ourselves in this neat little hostel we found, then maybe a nice Christmas breakfast as well. I'm partly bummed I won't be with my family for Christmas, but I think it'll be a great one with Colleen anyway.

One highlight of last night- walking into a pub, hardly saying anything, and a group of three guys asking us "Are you Americans!?"
"Fuck."


p.s. the farm was absolutely incredible and had some of the most amazing mountain views I've ever seen. Every meal we ate was ENTIRELY from the garden, with exceptions like salt and sugar. I think that'll be a longer entry some other day.

I'M GOING TO IRELAND WITH COLLEEN ON FRIDAY!

granada.

I AM IN SPAIN! Granaaaaaada.

UNCLE DAN, I WENT TO LA ALHAMBRA TODAY!!!! I'M SORRY I DIDN'T TELL YOU, BUT I ONLY PLANNED IT 3 DAYS AGO! IT WAS AWESOME.

Tomorrow, Barcelona. Then, a new adventure on Saturday I think.

Anyway, just wanted to stay I'm still alive. I miss my Sams and my Kate and Abe very much. I miss everyone and am excited to see them all again in a few weeks. SO PUMPED FOR WINTER TERM.

besotes, mis amores.

i'll be your baby tonight.

Galesburg was everything I wanted it to be and more. So much love and loving and wonderfulness.

Ooooooh.


Oh, so Sunday I leave for Spain. Gonna live with a Scottish couple on a mountain in southern Spain off the grid planting trees, gardening, learning to cook new things, learning backgammon fucking finally, and hiking around.

Galesburg New Year's. Oh baby oh baby.

mira vosss!

DONE DONE DONE

Going to Peru until next Friday. Gonna hike the Inca Trail and do weird spiritual things in the Sacred Valley.

WOOO FRESH AIR HERE I COME!

sleep is the cousin of death

Alright, alright. Getting better all the time.

ONE exam stands between me and BLISS. I will annihilate that thing tomorrow.

Then it's just gonna be mate-sippin' and blue skies and searching the city for a sleeping pad (for camping in Peru) and a few more souvenirs for amigos back in the states. Oy oy oy. I love bringing people things, but I hate it because I just constantly think of new people to buy gifts for. It ends up being twenty million people and I knowww I'm gonna have to check three bags at the airport. LAME.

PERU PERU PERU!!!!! horse ridin' & inca trailin' & spiritual ritualin' in the mountains