function load() {
      if (GBrowserIsCompatible()) {
        var map = new GMap2(document.getElementById("map"));
        map.addControl(new GSmallMapControl());
        map.addControl(new GMapTypeControl());
        map.addControl(new GOverviewMapControl());
        // Resetting center and zoom level
        map.setCenter(new GLatLng(44.004,-70.933),7);
        // datafile containing my particular points (the pond)
        GDownloadUrl("gmap.xml", function(data) {
          var xml = GXml.parse(data);
          var markers = xml.documentElement.getElementsByTagName("marker");
          for (var i = 0; i < markers.length; i++) {
            var elem = markers[i];
            var point = new GLatLng(parseFloat(elem.getAttribute("lat")),
                                    parseFloat(elem.getAttribute("lng")));
            gmarker = createMarker(point,elem);
            map.addOverlay(gmarker);
          }
        });
      }
    }

// as in Assignment 4, modified with feedback from Susan
function createMarker(point,elem) {
    var gmarker = new GMarker(point);
    var label = elem.getAttribute("label");
    var description = elem.getAttribute("description");
    GEvent.addListener(gmarker, "click", function() {
        gmarker.openInfoWindow(label + '<br/>' + description);
        });
    return gmarker;
    }