October 22-26, 2017. Sunday through Thursday.

I have been very lax about blogging about my European trip this half-year. I will try to do my best to catch up, albeit briefly, and pick up regularly from there. This time I left from Charlottesville, Virginia, where I am now living, with the new love in my life. Very early in the morning Nicole and I drove to Richmond, where we began the itinerary from hell because it was so inexpensive compared to other flights we couldn’t pass it up, affordability-wise. From Richmond we flew to New York City, then to Boston, where we had such a long layover we actually took the T into the city and walked along the beautiful Charles River and lay on a dock in the sun. Then our redeye flight went to Dublin, then to London, then to Alicante, Spain, and we arrived late at night on the 23^rd, where one of my favorite blokes, Yoga Mark, picked us up and drove us the hour to Albir. We probably didn’t get to bed that night until well after 1:30 AM. The next morning, Tuesday the 24^th, was our day to recover from jet lag. In the morning we ran up the beautiful path to the lighthouse, but I couldn’t nearly keep up, so I never made it up the lighthouse before she turned around and passed me going in the other direction, so I turned around then, too. Then we walked down the path to one of my favorite peaceful places, on the rocks by the sea, where we sat and talked a while. That afternoon (I think), Sheela drove us to the old town-castle of Guadalest, and we had a really nice time. The next day Mark took Gabriela, Nicole and Jesus, a fellow he works with, on a trek up Bernia mountain, which I found love and found exhilarating and beautiful. The next day it was time for Gab and I to plan for the retreat; Nicole sat in.