Hola Amigos!

As some of you know firsthand, one of the most special parts of our trip thus far has been stopping in on friends we haven´t seen in awhile. Spain has been no different. Three years ago, Darin + I had the privelege of going to the wedding of my friend Maribel, who was marrying a Basque named Inaki, and moving over there. After some initial difficulties with connecting via e-mail (Spain is not so tech-savvy even as Central America!) we finally were able to come up and stay in their beautiful apartment near Donostia/San Sebastian for a few days. What fun we have had! AND what a difference being shown around by locals that we otherwise would never have seen... On Sunday, after a night of partying just a LITTLE bit :), we headed South along the coast in an area that looks suprisingly reminiscent of Big Sur (A big difference being that you pass through many small, active fishing villages) and ended up at a rocky island connected to shore by a stone bridge with a steep staircase leading up to a church. What a setting! This church, Iglesia San Juan de Gaztelugatxe, originated in 1053 for the wives of fishermen to pray for their husbands to come back from trips out to sea. The alter is even fashioned after the hull of a boat. Very powerful place!

We´re excited for the other reunions with friends still to come. For anyone contemplating travel in the next few years, here´s a reminder of the rough itinerary of where we´ll be (following good weather and Visa restrictions) -

May ´06 - October ´06 India, Delhi and North + Nepal
Nov. ´06 - Dec. ´06 Tibet
Jan. ´07 Southern China
Feb. ´07 Vietnam, North
March ´07 - May ´07 Laos, Cambodia + Vietnam, South
June ´07 - ? Thailand
Later India, Central + South

If you´re thinking of travelling in the general area, let us know and we´ll do our best to meet up with you. Of course, all this is a big TBD based on where we find a good opportunity to settle down and live, but we´re hoping for Northern Thailand. When we DO have that, then there´ll be NO excuses not to come :)