(Wednesday) 3:00 pm 17 June 1992

Oh, the dreaded lay-over in Montreal. It was snowing when I was here 4 1/2 months ago. Almost made it! Only 2 hours left! Elizabeth is picking me up at the airport. I've been talking to a woman from Ann Arbor sitting next to me. Talking politics, EC, Supreme Court. It's so nice meeting cool people. So much to look forward to these next weeks! I enjoyed wandering around London yesterday. Bought some books and CDs. Had dinner in Chinatown. I love London. Shame about the weather. Actually, it was nice yesterday. Better than Málaga's been. I'll be in the humidity of Detroit soon!

3:00 pm

Back in my beloved England. I do enjoy this place. It's so comforting for some reason. I love this train ride from Gatwick to London. The British countryside. The weather always a bit dreary. I talked to Keith this morning, but they were off to Cornwall, so I'll have to find a place to stay tonight. I remember a nice youth hostel right near Victoria Station. I'll try it. I can't wipe the smile off my face.

11:30 pm

Spending my last night in my home of the past four months. Feeling a bit melancholy. A lot of good times were had here. It seems so long ago.... Practicing Sevillanas in the living room, getting philosophical on the terrace, sleeping with Bob in the bedroom! But, God knows, I'm ready to get out of España for a while. Matt called and I told him how much I was looking forward to coming home. And how fed up I've been with the job. I can't believe how much I've been working. And the weather's been shitty. And I'm sick of speaking Spanish! I was talking to Mitchell this evening. He said he hopes I return. I said of course I will, but I need to get out for a while. We talked about how hard it is to leave friends and family. He convinced me to wait until 9:00 to get my check. Then I was supposed to meet Andrés at a private club. They let me in with my ripped jeans and camouflage backpack and I waited 20 minutes. Then I left. I hate Spaniards sometimes! It really didn't matter because I wasn't going to cash the check now anyway. It will be nice to have money when I return. So, tomorrow I go. I wish I didn't have to spend the night in London. I haven't been able to get ahold of Keith, either. Oh well. We'll see what happens. Another adventure awaits.

4:20 am

I was getting travelers checks at the credit union today. The woman asked where I was going and how long. I said Spain and I don't know. I told her I was moving and she was so excited for me. She said her parents loved Málaga. The guy at the service station giving me the emissions test was equally impressed. I like making that impression on people's lives. I've been writing constantly. I've been writing a letter. It's so fun sharing my experiences.


10:00 am

Transferring from Heathrow to Gatwick aboard a very bumpy bus. As you can see from the writing. Ah, London. I do love this place. Hate the weather! It took me 20 minutes to find the right place to get a voucher for the bus. It's free, though. Travel always includes uncertainty. And delays. Luckily, I checked my bags through to Málaga. that's a relief. This small backpack and briefcase are heavy enough. I'll never be able to carry everything. Maybe I'll have to break down and take a cab in Málaga. I'd like to find a hotel barrato so I could stay at least two nights and get a bit settled in. A lot of birch trees here in England. It's a dreary, chilly day. Can't wait to see the sun! Back home, they're still in bed. Eating a Kit-Kat bar, thinking of Lark. I have so many friends. I am truly blessed.


11:30 am

Lots of police here at Gatwick. No trash bins -- I guess they're too easy to place bombs in. And, yes, the bobbies do carry guns. At least at the airports. You know, I love British commercials. I'm watching TV in the lounge. Very graphic and stark adverts about smoke alarms and immunizations. I should stop watching TV. It's numbing my brain.