We Survived!

It's a new dawn.  It's a new day.  It's a new year!  Somehow we made it through 2012, end of the world and all.  It certainly had it's ups and down, as I suppose all years do, but here we are, alive and well and ready to face 2013.  And that means sticking with some new resolutions, keeping up with certain blogs…eh hem.  I know I have a lot of filling-in-the-blanks to do since the summer, and I intend to do that as well as keep the updates coming as the year continues.
So on Day 1, I will say this: I am exceedingly happy to have celebrated the transition to the new year in Chicago with some of the most marvelous people I have the good fortune to know.  I will miss them (and more!) as January takes me to Baja California Sur to volunteer at a 350-acre ranch for as long as they'll allow.  That's right: I'm migrating south for winter because they just don't make boots or coats warm enough for this chica.  I wasn't really thrilled at the thought of spending another 3 months looking like a shivering marshmallow anyway.  So off I go in about a week!  I'm ready!  I'm excited!
I'm feelin' good.  ;)

Madrid

When I travel, it sometimes takes a few days to become adjusted to the rhythm, the new environment, the uncertainties.  For this reason, I thought Ireland would be a nice place to start, if only because they speak English.  I still think this was a good idea.  However, since arriving in Madrid, my happy points are up by at least eleven - and mainly because of the simple pleasure of using a new language to do even such normal, mundane tasks as ordering a meal, buying a train ticket, or asking for directions.  But it also might have something to do with the friendly people and the beautiful buildings, the sun and the heat (finally), all the dogs who follow their owners off leash, the uninhibited PDA, the really talented street performers.  Of the performers, most of all the juggler who started talking to me, but then ran away, "No! No! No!" when I tried to give him money.  And especially El Parque del Retiro.  Something about me: I love parks.  Especially big green parks full of fountains and sculptures and trails and little rows of booksellers, and massive congregations of rollerbladers (my people) and playgrounds full of tan, shirtless guys working out, (sorry Dileep ;), never mind all the museums, palaces, and gardens inside.  El Parque del Retiro happens to have all of this, plus some, and I would recommend the place to anyone visiting Madrid.  Sadly, I have to skip off to Portugal after only two days, so I will have to explore the city more another day.

Complaints

If I could just take a moment to complain, I think I'd feel better.  So…backpacking sucks.  My pack is even smallish, and not that heavy.  But my back, neck, and shoulders hurt.  My knees ache, my legs are sore, my ankles swollen, my feet battered.  The only reason you should need a backpack is if you are actually hiking on some inclined, or rough terrain.  Or if you're dealing with a lot of stairs.  But this is unnecessary.  Next time, I'm bringing a rolly suitcase.

The Island of Lost Socks

Socks are tricky fellers.  It's always only one from a pair that disappears to the Island of Lost Socks.  I don't know why it happens, but it always seems to, doesn't it?  Even as I'm traveling, and I only have five pairs to look after, one of them has managed to escape already.  I find this ridiculous.  But…since the other from the pair is now lonely, and not getting to enjoy a relaxing beach vacation from stinky feet, you may start to see pictures of this mate seeing the sites along with me.

If you think I've gone completely bonkers already, you may cast all blame toward my new friend, Isaac.  :)

We have sheep.

I once saw a video of a bunny herding sheep. While it is adorable and thoroughly entertaining (I did watch all five minutes…twice), I now realize how very unimpressive it is.  Sheep are pansies.  I've seen approximately 687 sheep this week, and while Kyle and I have each made it our personal goal to touch a sheep, Pat, my temporary Irish boss, is not amused by them.  We pass by them on the road, and all Pat can say, in an unmasked I've-been-dealing-with-these-annoying-animals-my-whole-life-and-there's-too-friggin-many-of-them-and-I'm-so-tired-of-staring-at-them kind of way, "We have sheep."   

But it will not be easy to touch a sheep.  There are farms all over the area, and the sheep seem to wander wherever they wish.  But come within twenty feet of them and they'll look at you with wary eyes and slowly move in the opposite direction.  Approach too quickly and they'll scamper off down the hill.  This is okay with me too because the babies look so dainty and cute when they run.  Add sheep to my list of animals to keep as pets when I settle down and buy a farm.  For now though, I just want to touch a sheep.

Meanwhile, I'm keeping busy with tasks around the hostel.  Thursday we stained picnic tables.  Friday, window washing.  Today, the walls upstairs need a new coat of paint.  And I've just been introduced to the hostel's reservation management program (yes!).  It has been absolutely and surprisingly sunny, warm, and dry, so after the work, there's been some trips to the beach (there are many here), some fishing, some running around near the seaside.  I do think I could skip the running from now on and get my exercise trying to catch a sheep.