Can-do People

8/08/07

When I got on the train, I realized I had left my first Europe home – with Lysette Life is a mirror and with her – I liked what I saw.

Madrid is just another city. Made for shopping and eating. At first sight, I cannot find the charm – it reminds me of Sacramento. The hostel was filled with abnoxious American Kids and instead of feeling connected with them, I felt driven away. Spending the evening with a few new friends made the new city feel a little more comfortable, and I helped a guy dress a wound on his foot from a run-in with a sea urchin.

The following morning it took a surprising amount of time to make my way to the airport via metro to pick up my cousins. There was a lot of stress involved and when we all found eachother, I felt like crying because it was the first moment I felt completely sure and safe in a few days. We savorted the hospital-looking hostel beds and slep like squirrels in the afternoon. I’ve become quite proficient at making friends and in the kitchen I practiced my Hebrew with a couple Israeli girls and a few brazillian boys. The boys escorted is to a late night dessert hunt in Madrid and we found Peruvian pan-pipe players, us dancing in the street, ice cream, and a game of cards. I noticed that one of the boys was tyring very, very hard to get me to like him, and in the morning after I had not given him any of that kind of attention, he ignored me completely.

Kelly Anne is the best because of her “early bird gets the worm” attitude. We woke up at 8:30 sharp to reap the free breakfast benefits that the hostel had to offer. Traveling with the girls has been very fun because we are all Can-Do people, we each carry our own weight and have been working together as a hive-mind unit, being open and honest about our thoughts and emotions. Both of the girls are on a crea team together at home and I suspect that I am tagging on to a unit which already existed.

We hustled our way over to Barcelona on a train and were pleased to find a large, make love/not war – feeling hostel painted with lime green walls and playing Raggae music. The girls went out to eat with some new people, and Istayed in to cook my own meal (much cheaper). The kitchen was disgusting with dirty dishes piled – so I cleaned it. My cleaning attracted mixed responses – one came in commenting on how I am obsessive compulsive, other dropped in more dishes saying “thank you” then the grumpy front-desk man from Senegal came in and said “oh my god, thank you so much, I’ve worked here for 2 months and I’ve never seen this counter clean, nobody cares, and I always have to clean it.” Then I gave him one of my hard-boiled eggs and he was so thankful. I like making friends.

Valencian Rooftops

8/07/07

I made such a good friend at this Hostel – Hery name is Lysette from Holland and she speaks a range of languages. There are two kinds of people: open and closed ones, and its very easy to spot the open ones when you arrive at a hostel.

There is a museum here with incredible modern architecture. Its buildings looked like exotic laien insects perching themselves on the ground, waiting or the next millennia to open themselves. There was only enough time to take photographs of the exterior, it was easy to create a good composition in my camera because a master architect had already thought out the perfect angle of every corner.

I met up with Lysette, Diana, and Kain at the beach and I felt like aI had injested a happy pill. Lysette and I played Frisbee, acting like Frisbee performance artists, and then acted like puppies and mermaids together in the warm sea.

I’ve found my favorite part about traveling is how quickly you can make a vest friend without even knowing them before.

Everyone try this Salad:

Get some exotic greens that you like (baby Lettuce, Spinache, Arugula, etc…) toss it with this dressing:

Honey

Olive Oil

Salt

Place halved cherry tomatoes, walnuts and a soft salad cheese like feta on the top.

I ate tapas with my new group of friends and we laughed and ate and drank. I feel so alive. Lysette invited me to stay the night at her house and I shared the living room with Kain and Marcello – who were both good people that I felt comfortable around. We sat on old couch cushions on the balcony drinking tea, overlooking the old roof tops and stars of Valencia. I feel very touched by being invited into someone’s home – I think this is one of the kindest mitzvahs which can be made.

Tiger Nuts.

8/04/2007

After Siesta, the people slowly started crawling out of their homes and warming the street, shop doors opened and activity was once again resumed. I roamed the old part of the city through the small cobweb roads and found an impressive church open to the public. I can see that Spain was once a very powerful, prideful figure in the world. I could dress myself very well here in Spain – I’ve been just so impressed by the clothes – especially the ones that are too expensive for me. I took a crema filled pastry and tried some Spanish Orxata – Which is different from the Mexican version…Its made with milk and the juice of a “tiger nut” which gives it a beautiful cinnamon/nutty taste – I’ve heard that tiger nuts make good fish bait.

I was invited to go out for a drink with a couple people, and by the end of the evening we had a group of about 7 sitting around a table outside at 11:00p, I met a Japanese guy living in Spain who has also lived in Israel on a kibbutz and now works at a hostel in Valencia. It was so interesting to see a Japanese person speak Spanish, he even spoke some Hebrew. When you travel, the first thing you talk about when meeting a stranger is “where are you going…where have you been…How long have you been here?” So eventually you become aware of everyone’s Itinerary and everyone’s “story.”

Most Europeans speak at least 3 languages, and I think its so beautiful how worldly and open they are.

Elvis lives

8/04/2007

I am so glad I trusted myself and came to Valencia. I knew I made the right choice the moment I stepped off of the train. The architecture is how I imagined Spain to be, and the colors of the buildings are bright and happy with lots of sunshine and happiness. There are aromatic restaurants and markets, and very kind reception from the people on the street. I found a man who spoke English and he was very good at helping me get to my Hostel. There is so much to see here, and I feel good knowing that I made a correct decision for myself.

My hostel is stunning and the receptionist from Holland is more than accommodating. The welcome felt like one at a 5 star hotel and the place has so much character. I actually have a room to myself, and each room has a different theme – mine happens to be the “Sexy love” room…I have a mirror on my ceiling, and a leopard print bed with an Elvis lamp on the night stand. I took a walk outside the hostel and although the shops were all closing due to Siesta, I managed to find a small chicken shop selling rotisserie pollos with roasted potatoes and Aioli – job well done. Today I had a talent for finding my way back to the hostel in this old labyrinth town with no map. I simply told myself how I’m just going to run into my hostel by chance…and I did. I felt so lucky.

Traveling by yourself takes so much energy…I hope to get this down to an art, the draining part is figuring out where to put your stuff and how to feed yourself and where the hostel is, and trying to do all this without freaking out when no one speaks your language. I have really had to exercise my “stay calm” muscles and just accept each moment with the possibility that it will become better and everything will work out.

Spiritual

8/03/2007

Today I was in a little bit of a sour mood – I felt tired and angry at the cigarette smoke making my throat even worse. I sound like Barry White…which I guess could be a good thing. I decided this morning that maybe I’m not “feeling” Barcelona, so I should move on – although I did enjoy seeing the night life very much. The streets are very difficult to navigate, and I am very disoriented in this city. I found the train station and booked a train to another Spanish town: Valencia, which I know nothing about – but another girl traveling by herself told me that it was beautiful there. I can only go by my intuition and what feels right.

A Spanish Siesta (from 2:00pm-4:00pm) is actually incredibly therapeutic. I slept like the dead and woke up ready to go out and prance around the city. I took myself and my little walking shoes and decided to get lost for a while. I found a lovely part of town with narrow, mysterious streets that are constantly sparking and rewarding your curiosity. Spain is a donut culture – a typical Spanish breakfast is something sweet like a pastry with a cup of coffee or tea…maybe some yogurt. I have found a treasure trove of small, delicate pastry shops that sell gorgous and rustic looking breakfast pastries. There are a lot of almonds and cinnamon here. The streets are catacomb like and are made up of tall residential flats. There is laundry hanging from the balconies and cracking stucco lining the building bases. There are many directions to go, and it was fun to go where my senses told me to go always rewarded by a beautiful shop, or musician. There is incredible music talent here. A man was playing the Spanish guitar with a mask and singing, while in another quiet area, a man had sat down with a hollow metal drum instrument that he was delicately tapping with his fingers – he made music that sounded…spiritual. There are Goudi buildings everywhere (the architect) and Barcelona is peppered with quirky architectural and sculptural adornments.

Most people I speak with know basically zero English. I find myself having to draw the things I’m looking for and point on maps instead of asking…much quicker. After getting a little bit lost and a little scared at dusk, I found my way back to the hostel which feels like a safe haven, especially when you know a few of the people inside. I’m amazed at when i feel I have no one - a familiar face, can feel like the closest friend.

Whatever happens in Barthelona, Stays in Barthelona

8/02/2007

My first Hostelling experience. For those that are unfamiliar with the term – a hostel is a cheaper alternative to a hotel. Why cheaper? Because the room you pay for is shared by other fellow travelers. The bathroom and bedroom is communal as well as the kitchen and living areas. I was a little nervous to try this way of sleeping, but surprisingly it was quite comforting to be hibernating with other bears. It was very easy to make friends once I got here and every traveler speaks some English. I instantly became friends with a girl name Eliza who is from Tennessee. This is the first American I had met since I left home. We went out together strolling around town talking, getting lost..eventually following our eyes to a very special gelato store and the Picasso museum.

The Picasso museum was fascinating to me because they showed pieces from his youth when he did not yet have his style which he is recognized for. Although he was a talented painter and could paint landscapes and portraits like any trained artist…there was no life in it. I wouldn’t even have those pieces hanging on my wall, despite the Picasso signature. But then something changed when he became older and he stopped caring about how things look. He just felt with his paint brush – and it was so inspiring to see how creative he had allowed himself to be – by not even trying.

I felt very out of my element yesterday, although I am good at being social and blending in. I have lived such a disciplined life with no smoking, drugs, promiscuity, or drinking and since I have been in Barcelona– I am quite a minority. I think maybe the lesson for me here is to not necessarily give in and do things I don’t feel comfortable doing – but to not judge other people for having their own choices. I think its natural for me to change my mind about a friend based on their habits – which I have no right to do. When I met people at the hostel, I liked all of them…Then I kept hearing more of their stories about how they do drugs and drink and come to Spain to party – and it was harder and harder for me to feel like I am their friend. I wanted to just hide in my room…but I forced myself to go out with everyone in the evening – I actually had a fantastic time and simply didn’t care what other people did…enjoying them just the same as I would without the indulgences. I can see why people love Barcelona – there are so many young people who simply don’t have a problem being social. I went to two dance clubs that night, and they were both packed with people…all dancing, and I had the most fun just dancing by myself with my group from the hostel.

We all went home at 5:00am, I was exhausted – my throat shot because of the cigarette smoke in the air…but loving every moment. I had no sheets on my bed, but was happy just laying on top of my silk sleeping bag…sleeping very soundly knowing that I had enjoyed the evening with a group of people I had never met before, and feeling like one of them even though I had stayed true to my own values. This is much more difficult than I had anticipated and I hope that it will become easier as time goes on…It’s a pain that I am glad to experience.

Train showers>Not for the elderly

7/30/2007

I would say that paying an extra $30 for the 3 person cabin instead of the 6 person cabin is definitely worth it – there are many more luxuries. For instance, in a 3 cabin there is an actual vanity with a sink and mirror inside the cabin, as well as a shower facility in the same wagon. The shower was surprisingly good – however I think in America the lawyers would have sued the hell out of the train company because there is no traction material on the floor, no handle bars, and the train rocks back and forth unexpectedly. But the shower is spacious and that supplied towels and shampoo. Dispite the added comforts and talkative, kind roommates – I still did not sleep and was very irritated throughout the night due to an air conditioning unit placed directly above my head, blowing air into my face throughout the night. My throat symptoms were definitely exacerbated.

Ulla is a saint and let me take a 3 hour nap on her bed when I arrived in Stockholm. I woke up ravenous and ate enough for 2 people on a winter day. I explored a little at a new train stop and was very pleasantly surprised – there was a magical quality in the air temperature and I made a stop at a homeopathic pharmacy…which is a popular store here in the EU.