Quotes

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try." - Gail Devers (U.S. Olympic champion)

Quotes - On (Good) Wine

"Good wine is a necessity of life for me." - Thomas Jefferson...or was it me that said that.

Oh Bama... Quotes

"President Obama released his tax returns. It turns out he made $900,000 less in 2011 than he did in 2010. You know what that means? Even Obama is doing worse under President Obama." - Jay Leno

Amazing quote...

Dreaming of Spain - Part 3

I glance over my shoulder at the clock on the wall inside the café. I can just make out the clock in between the writing on the window advertising café con leche, croissants and tapas. Startled, I realize that I have forty minutes to catch my train. Hurriedly, I stand and make my way back to my hostel.

It only takes me ten minutes to stuff everything into the oversized soft shell backpack that has been my suitcase for the past few weeks. I throw the straps over my shoulder and prepare to navigate the streets to the train station.

I get the train station just as my train is pulling up. The people exit shoving each other with their shoulders to get out of the door first. The Europeans do not have the same sense of space that Americans do, I think to myself as I watch the melee of people make their way off the train.

Finally, when I feel it is safe to board, I enter the train. I look for a good window seat so I can watch the scenery pass by as the train makes its way to down the coast of the French Riviera. I take extra care to place my pack overhead knowing that I will have to nervously look up every so often to make sure that the thieves I have heard so much about will keep away from my pack.

As the train begins to move forward I realize I have not even had time to inspect the object that the bearded man gave to me. I run my hands over the cover of what appears to be a very old leather bound book. The leather feels cool and smooth but is torn on certain edges and corners. There is an intricate inlay forming that has been stamped onto the front of the cover. It appears to be a braided geometrical shape of some sort.

The clasp that keeps the book bound and shut has been damaged but still seems to be doing its job of keeping the book closed. I undo the metal clasp and open the book unsure of what I will find inside. My heart begins to race as I open the cover.

The first page reveals the following name: “Anna Rogers.” I whisper the name out loud to myself and run my fingers over the writing as if I am making sure it is real.

I am about to turn the page when I am approached by a man dressed in a bright blue uniform. “Boleto, por favor!” he yells my direction. I hurriedly search my pockets for the Europass I purchased months before. The ticket man look annoyed as I am shuffle through my pockets in search of the Europass. Once located, I hand it to the ticket man. He punches my ticket and throws it back to me with an insincere “Gracias!”