The pilgrimage has begun on a very intimate note. Thinking it was one hour later than the time it really was, I rushed to the bathroom to put on my contacts, brush my teeth and get dressed. (I did not remember that Lisbon is one hour earlier than Madrid.) Soon after, my roommate, Kristen asked, “Aránzazu, did you put on my contacts?” Since I could see perfectly, I didn’t even realize that I wasn't wearing my contacts. It’s a good thing she brought another pair because she asked me to throw them away. In all my years living with roommates that was definitely a first. On another note, but also in relation to intimacy, when you live with a gastroenterologist (Dad), bowel movements are a popular topic of conversation. After breakfast he came down with diarrhea. Poor thing. I’ve noticed that digestive systems respond in one of two ways when you travel abroad: (1) constipation or (2) diarrhea. Mom and Dad meet both of these parameters. When we disrupt our daily routine and displace ourselves so suddenly, it takes a while for our bodies to catch-up. In 30 minutes we are meeting in lobby to catch a bus to take a city tour of Lisbon.The whole group (45 people) has arrived safely from the U.S. and I look forward to meeting everyone. The hotel where we stayed was absolutely wonderful. It is registered as a historic "accommodation site." The complimentary port was particularly popular. Complimentary breakfast wasn't too shabby either (champagne, fruit, pastries, espresso, breads, eggs, etc.).
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