Let the Games Begin!

20 Hours of Travel

After a selective packing process we still had to pay a hefty sum to
get all of our over-weight luggage checked. We flew 9 hours from
Houston to Amsterdam, 2 hour layover, and 9 hours from Amsterdam to
Entebbe. Pleasantly surprised, KLM had all of our 7 checked bags
awaiting our arrival with only minor items missing from a suitcase!

UGANDA: Our African Adventure Begins

After traveling for 22 hrs half way across the world, this is the view
that welcomed us from the back porch of our three story house in
Jinja. Located at the source of the Nile river, Jinja or "Jinjatown"
as the locals call it, has a population of 80,000 and is the third
largest city in Uganda. Our house is conveniently located right by a
health club, golf course, swimming pool, and right between the town
center and the Nile (which you can see just to the left of that palm
tree).

Last Night in Europe

Tonight: dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower and a full moon.
Tomorrow: back to the real world.

Party's over.

Last day in Paris

Sitting in front of Notre-Dame Cathedral, Chris studies the guidebook
and explains the significance behind each sculpture on the facade.

Madrid After-Party

After a long 8 hour train and bus ride from Santiago de Compostela to
Madrid we arrive to the lovely Hotel Adler to meet up with Chris'
parents. We have a day and 1/2 in Madrid so naturally we take a walk
through Retiro Park, criticize some art at the Prado & the Thyssen
Museums. While Karen and Bill took a nap, Chris and I visited the
señora that I lived with when I studied abroad in 2007.

Pictured in front of La Puerta de Alcala. (left to right: Karen, Bill
& Chris)

Fisterra aka The End of the Earth

This tip of Spain was dubbed Finis Terrae (the end of earth) by the
Romans who believed the sun was engulfed each night by the sea.

Up until the days of Christopher Colombus this was the westernmost tip
of the world. And since the world was flat, it was thought that you
would fall off the earth if you ventured out too far into the sunset.

This sculpture of a hiking boot on the tip of the world pays homage to
the pilgrims who have finished their journey. It's tradition to burn
your clothes next to this sculpture then dive in the ocean to clean
yourself (I guess all the old-school pilgrims walked home in their
birthday suits).

We're There!

After 32 days of pain we finally reach the cathedral. I've never been
happier to see anything in my life. Just in time for pilgrim mass with
thousands of touristas and no seats for pilgrims...aweful. But they
did mention that the only two people who walked from France to mass
this morning were from the USA.

Monte do Gozo - 5 km left

According to old traditions, pilgrims and/or merchants would race to
the top of the hill where this sculpture sits to see who could spy the
spires of Santiago's cathedral. The first to spot them yells, "Mon
Joie" and is declared king. Although Chris is a great poser, I am
actually king!

Day 32: Into The Promise Land

We caught wind that the herd of middle-schoolers was leaving the
albergue at 7:00, so we decided to leave at 6:00. Armed with one head
light each we took to the streets and at 6:05 found ourselves in the
middle of a massive forrest. By the time we poked our heads out the
other side, the sun had started to as well. We have 15 km left and a
pilgrim mass at noon. Plenty of time...