Eve of departure

The packing went well, especially since it was conducted in the midst of a rollicking bon voyage party. Jackson and Cooper arrived first ... Cooper was quite fascinated by the the whole procedure, and promptly climbed into Bill's suitcase holding two stuffed rabbits. I had to tell him that the bunnies could not go, which made Cooper change his mind about remaining in the suitcase. Darn.

Ashley arrived after work, and an hour or so later, David and Jason came over. We went through three pizzas washed down by beer and wine ... and I kept packing. I think I used three boxes of zip-loc bags in assorted sizes ... the very best way to pack a suitcase. Anyway, the deed is done, and we depart in the morning on the first leg of our journey ... the drive to Virginia in a rental car.

By the way ... we had a last-minute meeting today with Dr. Francis to pick up our cartas de presentacion (letters of introduction) which we need to gain entry to the Archivo General de Indias in Sevilla. Katie Kole came to answer questions since she's spent two summers in Seville. She (and Justin, who went last summer and will be in Seville again this summer) gave us a lot of good information, including the fruit-and-vegetable-shopping procedure. In the market in Seville, one does not pick up a tomato, examine and sniff it, and then put it back. Bad, bad protocol! Instead, one must put on a glove, pick up the tomato, put it in a bag, weigh it, price it, and buy it.

This is going to be so cool.