So Long, Farewell

And thus, faithful readers, I reach the end of my tale. I know you're all just itching to know, "But how did she survive the explosion of Iceland while she was in Barcelona? What degree of burns did she get when she missed a spot sunscreening in Palma de Mallorca? How did she manage to navigate Budapest all by herself?" (Don't worry, mom, I met Lilly at the hotel!) and most importantly...

When is she back in town so we can catch up!?!?!?!

Well, I will answer one of those questions. I will be back in my hometown in the good old US of A on May 14th in the afternoon. I would love to see or hear from each and every one of you ASAP after that date! I miss you all like you can't believe!!!

There is much of my journey that didn't make it onto this blog. I'm also about to embark upon 2 more weeks of travel, so there will be many more epic tales to be told! However, the life of this blog has run its course. I created it to keep in touch with everyone back home, and now that I'm going back home, I'll be reverting to the admittedly-slower but infinitely-more-rewarding practices of visits, phone calls, and photo albums to narrate my travels. I really and truly appreciate you all taking an interest in my adventures, and I look forward to hugging you all tight when I see you again. I love you all!

This feels so good to say... I'll be seeing you soon!!!! :)

Hugs and kisses, abrazos y besos,
Lauren :)

Paradise, formally known as Lisbon

Until I went to Lisbon, I had spent about twelve weeks in Europe. One week in London in high school, one week in Paris in college, and of course ten weeks in Spain and Italy this year. Those trips were wonderful experiences- I can't express how great my appreciation is that God has seen fit to bless my life with the experience of travel. Twelve weeks! Somehow, I've managed to become one of the most well-traveled people I know. How did that happen to a homebody like me?!?!

One of the main walking streets in Lisbon- covered in trees and gardens. Just gorgeous.

My only comment on all of that time, (it's not even a full-fledged complaint), is that, well, I still after twelve weeks hadn't seen the sun. More or less, I had spent twelve weeks in European rain and chill. And let me tell you- Europe is cold and wet in the winter!!!

So, let's summarize to say that when I walked off the plane in Lisbon and was met by the warmest weather and brightest sun I have seen anywhere other than Florida, I was enthralled.

Thrilled.

Ecstatic.

Elated!

And there you more or less have the summary of my weekend in Lisbon!

Looking out over the water

My travel buddy was the lovely Heather once again, and both of us being rather exhausted from Holy Week travels, we spent the weekend walking at a leisurely pace beside the river, and wandering the streets of old Lisbon. It was magical. No museums, no lines, no artwork. Just the sun, a good friend, and a slight breeze blowing off the Atlantic.

God is good. :)

Basking in the sun.

We spent some time in the ruins of an old castle. Wouldn't I make a good cannon girl?

Fantastic views over the terra cotta roofs of the city, baking in the sun.

Just your average European fountain. :)

I'm sorry, San Fran, but you have NOTHING on Lisbon... good grief those hills are STEEP!

The main plaza looking out to the river.

This, my friends, is what Europeans do on a weekend. They pick a park, pick up a bottle of wine, and go sit in the park hanging out with their friends and listening to some live music. Why don't we do that here?!?!

A peaceful sunset over the water. A calming end to a wonderful day!