Getting Lost

Lexy lives in Pan's Labyrinth. I have never seen a more confusing layout for buildings that all look exactly the same and have nearly the same name.

Exhibit A:

So Lexy met me at the bus stop and escorted me back to her place. Whenever someone is leading me somewhere it is like I am a fresh-born kitten; eyes are closed to the world. Why don't I look around? Why don't I read a street sign??? I digress.

Anyhoo, I dropped my bag off at her place and lingered for about two seconds before she suggested I make a trip to the coast to see Howth. Lexy had a paper due in the next few days so we looked up on google maps how to walk to the train station so I could set off on the journey alone. I got a little lost on my way out, walking too far left and having to walk another 30 minutes to get back on track (using all my international mobile data up) but I made it in one piece.

Howth was lush. It was scenic, fun, lively and refreshing. You can walk along the piers and take in local fishermen bringing in their catches. I trundled around for a few solid hours before missioning back  to Lexy's. When I got off the train, I realised that I didn't reeeealllly know where I was going as I got lost on my way to the train in the first place. I also had 4% battery coming off of the train - not ideal.

Exhibit B:

I nearly made it too. I practically ran down Avoca Avenue so I could make it back to find out exactly where Lex lived. Then, the phone died. Again, why didn't I just have my eyes open when she walked me to hers earlier. Things would have been a lot simpler if I just happened to glance around once during my first arrival. Luckily she left me a text with one detail burned into my brain...apartment 5. I don't know if you've lived anywhere with anyone but a number alone is not enough information to get you to a destination. Five wasn't really cutting it for me. Also, if you were to stumble across the Linden Housing, you would quickly notice that each pocket of housing (all beginning with Linden of course), has subsections of house numbers - Linden Grove 1, Linden Grove 2, etc which then further go on to have apartments within those house. After a rough calculation, I discovered there were over 20 apartment 5s in the area. 

Like a creeper, I stalked through the area, looking in windows and whispering Lexy's name. I rang one number 5 and panicked when it rang 3 times so I scampered away. People had also begun to notice my eery presence as I was lurking pretty hard in some areas. One man full out stopped to double take what I was doing, so I quickly pulled out my dead phone and pretended to be texting someone and laughing at something I read...

I needed a plan and fast as the daylight hours were burning away. My only option was to sit in the middle of the cul-de-sac at the entrance of the housing area, in hopes Lex might stumble across me in the next few days. It wasn't REALLY that solid of a plan, but it was the best I could do. This is also about the time I realised I had gone all day consuming liquids and not releasing any. This sent me into a bit of a panic as I thought I would never be able to use a toilet again (as you do) and began to scout out bushes I could potentially utilise. 

After about 20 minutes, I heard from a window my name shouted in a shocked, echoey way "KATIE?" Yup, by chance, she looked out of her bedroom window, saw my stripey shirt and was astonished I was just lingering. What is more miraculous is that I found out later, Lex didn't even have her glasses on, so she just recognised the outfit and that's why she called out my name questioningly. 

Anyway, I ventured to her place and nearly hopped up and down from excitement.

I'm glad my friends think on the same wavelength as me and know the foolishness I am capable of. Had it been an acquaintance, I fear I would be squatting in a bush and making camp on the cul-de-sac.