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 :)

Ready, Set, Go!!!

My visa came in the mail, thanks to many prayers and despite some paperwork nightmares! It's really happening, folks! Espana, here I come!!!! :)

Starting in a Winter Wonderland

Dear Family and Friends,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! Since most of you are buried under a foot of snow, I hope you're taking the chance to bake and decorate and wrap like crazy!

Since there are so many wonderful people with whom I want to keep in contact over the next few months, I have created this blog as the most effective way for anyone who is interested (or desperately procrastinating a paper) to see what I'm up to over there "across the pond." I will be more than excited to receive and exchange emails and letters, but rather than send 53 people the same photo of me at the Vatican (!!!), why not just post it here?

I'm excited to finalize my preparations, and hope to see many of you before I go! If not, have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year... you'll be hearing from me soon!

Sincerely,
Lauren :)