I could honestly have kept this blog post as just the title and a photo dump, but then I wouldn’t get credit for it. So, I’ll go on a 250-word tangent about the real highlight of this trip. When I was told there would be cats. I didn’t expect this many. Everywhere I go, I see a cat. Sitting down for dinner? Cat. Stumbling my way back to the hotel? Cat. I love cats though, so I get happy every time I see them. Much to my surprise, the cats here are as friendly as they are numerous. I’m also a certified cat whisperer so that probably contributes at least a little. The cats make me feel better about how much I miss my cat, Snoopdogg (see the introduction post). There’s one cat in particular that made me especially happy. After a long night of drinking water, I began my strenuous 10-minute hike back to the apartment. As I swayed down the sidewalk, a few other students and I noticed a very cute, very small kitten. In my water-induced state, I immediately scooped up this tiny kitten and cradled it. This kitten turned out to be the sweetest cat I’d come across the entire trip. It purred away, and even let us pet its belly. Although I had drunken enough water to deeply consider carrying this kitten back to the hotel, I hadn’t had enough water to actually convince myself that I could get it through TSA. But if I see this kitten again, water or no water, I’m taking it.

-Olivia R.