Como se diche "Uno Cerveza Pour Moi"

Somewhere between the moors of Scotland and the Spire of Ireland I got lost, and well, I appear to have washed ashore on the sunny beaches of Cumbre Del Sol, and were anyone to be searching for me, you can call off the effort as I´m more than happy to stay awhile. Arriving in Spain to 30 degree weather, stepped moutains, winding roads and the sleepy mediterranean I could not help but feel a little overwhelmed. Fraser´s parents condominum is atop a large English settlement that overlooks 300ft bluffs and private beaches that curve into a point where a lighthouse´s steady pulse covers the hills in a faint light every pass. It´s like no other place I have ever been, and I can´t imagine every wholling describing everything that is here without pictures, videos, Spanish people, wild horses and nude beaches to help me fill in the gaps. Tomorrow we will go to Bunol for the Tomatina festival and throw tomatoes at one another for two hours before being arrested and no doubt thrown into jail with 4 husky spanyards and absolutely no chance of any absolution. You´ll no doubt be able to have a good laugh on my behalf, should that happen, but do me a favour and cross your fingers for the opposite. Also, pardon me if there are any ´Ñs or Çs, as this spanish keyboards is having a laugh at me. much love, Liam

A Yard For Your Birthday, Given an Inch I Bet You'd Take a Mile

Well, Scotland has been a wee bit different than England and Ireland, although we've met more English and Irish people here than in the other two oddly enough. Our first day in the city was taken walking about the city trying to find where our B & B had relocated us, and after it turned out to be in a shady room in someone's flat I engaged in a lovely heated argument from a stall of a jolly good phone booth. It ended in me being accused of being on drugs, this from a man who's pint I had interrupted as I called his mobile while he was legless in a pub downtown to complain about the substandard accomodations...a fine how do you do I'd say. That straightened out, our good new friends from the Destruction of Eve play took us in another night and their living room couches never felt so proud and luxurious. Our wounds licked, our mouthes turned to the the drink and the following night we went to a Canadian's stand up show (for free) and met some friends of his in the seats across from us. They were from Ireland, and for the rest of the night we were thick as thieves as we laughed about Bryan Adams, and they told us of their play "the Wrong Man" a insightful look on the inner workings of Ireland's I.R.A., or the 'ra'. The night continued into morning, and we took to our couches at 6.30, but not before promising to come see their play. The following day Melissa and I explored Edinburgh on our own, but did not have time for much as we woke up at 1.30. We spent the following night in laughing and telling stories (some embarassing, some pirate tales, but most involving Paul's foibles over the years). The following day...today...Melissa and I made it to the castle atop the towering central volcanic crags in downtown Edinburgh. It was a beautiful piece of architecture and showcased the stretching town and country proudly. Walking down the Royal Mile we caught the Irish play, and it was great. As the this leg of the trip closes we're getting ready to leave for Glasgow by train in hopes of some glimpse of the countryside. Much love, Liam.

Fairytale of Dublin

So, it may not be Christmas yet...but my first time in an irish pub that wasn't on Canadian soil had three mates playing the Pogues in the Auld Dubliner. It was a warm welcome, followed by people running around Temple Bar wearing full Santa suits. Coupled with the cold weather, it's quite the impression of Ireland. I'm onto my 6th Guinness, 2 of which were complimentary of the tour just south of the river Liffey. Dublin is a beautiful city for every situation other than its cleanliness, but charm seldom comes for free I suppose. Melissa and I ventured out into the country today to see ruins of St. Kevin's Monastery and walk through the woods where he would have once sought silence. Tour busses full of people came close to the original effect I'm sure, but we walked a little further just to be certain. The nights are long and cold in Dublin, and your typical tourist seems to inhabit Temple Bar for the duration, where we've been doing more day trips. Our tour guide was wonderful though, playing us elvis, singing U2 in an elvis voice, talking about elvis...etc...I may not have learned much about Castle Gardens and sheep herds...but I now know the words to 'Heart Break Hotel' quite well. Much love and slainte, liam

Bangers and Mash and a bit of a County Bash

Out to the outskirts, away from the pollution and the crazy driving and illegal cab rides of london town, we've made it to Witney and spent the evening with family. Rosalind, Basil, Flo, Paul and little William shared their home and dinner table with us and we laughed about our hidden ethnicities, great accents and william's first word - 'encore'. Il est un petit marvel, formidable! Sorry to only spend a night with everyone, but there's lots of travel ahead of us tomorrow and the exploration of Winston Churchill's final resting place and a spot of tea in Oxford. Good night and god bless you...don't forget to undress you. much love, liam.

Franklin's Burger King Passage

So, from buckingham and westminster abbey to end up in burger king singing versus from our once possible national anthem, 'northwest passage' things continue to be glorious. London is an incredible city with so much to see and do, and many soles to wear out. Two days doesn't seem like much, but we've managed to make it stretch so far and it seems like forever that we touched down amid thunderstorms and screaming little liam's (a name now commonplace...who knew?) The nights are long here and the floor has been bed twice now, but we'll be bunking down in the Tower of London tonight..or close to it, 6 to a room of course, as close quarters are everyone's new favourite thing...much like pink being the new black...no personal space is the new privacy...hurrah, yeah? As my hamilton whimsy and colloquilism are giving ways to proper, right, mate, yeh, and cheers, I wish you were here to enjoy my changing accent. much love..liam, et. all!