Salisbury, Scotland and taking charge

23/8 - It never fails.

Every time I get close to leaving a city, I make more friends and meet fascinating people, e.g. Joanna. She has great travel advice so I'll miss her. 

We took a random day trip to Salisbury on Saturday, and that included seeing the massive Salisbury Cathedral. However, I wasn't impressed because the Duomo di Milano has made all other cathedrals look ordinary. But it was still fun to go to coffee and tea shops and buy fruit at a discounted rate from farmers who were packing their truck for the evening. 

This is the twilight stage of my year in Europe, and it's bittersweet. I don't really want to leave, but I do at the same time. I took full advantage of this opportunity, and I go back to California a different person from the nervous kid who arrived in Poole on Sept. 13, 2014, worried about the distance from Corfe house to campus and the prospect of being in debt. The person who returns to California has been infected with the chronic sickness of insatiable travel and the need to explore this world. 

We made it to Glasgow, Scotland after driving about 460 miles. This'll be another wacky adventure, as this time there are four of us and two dogs: Rocky and fellow bull terrier Lancelot. They haven't met properly yet, as they have been kept on opposite ends of the car because Rocky goes all Rocky Balboa when another dog is near. 

But in the car it's me, Danny, Viral and Sammy. Since Viral is Indian, he's never had a dog before and doesn't know how to approach being around a dog. He doesn't understand the joys of dog ownership. Luckily for him, Rocky sat on his lap for four hours in the front seat while Viral awkwardly stroked his head and asked questions about dogs in general, such as whether some breeds are more dangerous than others. 

Sammy is from Guatemala and is a very quirky guy who makes random sounds and blurts out unexpected and hilarious phrases. So this means there are three people in the car who speak Spanish. Poor Viral. 

24/8 - There were challenges when Danny and I went on the road trip to Italy because of Rocky. Those challenges have multiplied 4.6 times with the addition of Lancelot, and it really has made for a quirky cast of characters on this trip. This is because Rocky is so unpredictable when other dogs are near, and there have been a few times he has become completely stressed out. 

When you visit Scotland, you realize how different it is to the rest of the UK. The Scots hate the English, and they take extreme offense when you confuse them with the English. In fact they almost voted in favor of independence from the UK last September with a 51-49 % vote. We were lucky we have some Scottish friends to show us around Glasgow, and you know you're in Scotland when you can only understand about a quarter of what your barber is saying during a haircut because the accent is so strong. 

We visited Loch Lomond today, and here it was demonstrated how difficult to decide on anything while traveling with a group like this. 

"What do you guys want to do? This or that?

"I don't care." 

Sometimes you just gotta take charge. So I decided to hire a kayak for £15 an hour, and that turned to be the smartest decision of the trip so far. It was thrilling to row across the Loch. It was soul-cleansing to row across completely still water in silence, to be splashed with cold water as one end of the oar went overhead. There were no motorboats, only the jagged hills around the loch, one of which was concealed in a cloud. For Viral, who had never used a kayak before, he was ecstatic because it was easy and fun. Who needs drugs when you have this kind of scenery in the world?

We made it to one of the islands in the loch, across from the village of Luss. We had it to ourselves, and of course because what else would you possibly do on the shore of a lake, we began to skip rocks. I have no idea how long the row to the island took (25 minutes?) but all I know is that it was immensely satisfying to accomplish something like that, aware of only how one end of the oar enters the water the most efficient way possible to push the kayak forward. It was something so simple yet so powerful in that you become awed by the natural beauty of the area. It's this kind of adventure you live for; this is what life is about, not sitting in a cubicle or working a job you strongly dislike just because it brings income.

But I was telling a friend today how beneficial it is to completely uproot yourself and move to an unknown location. If you're not scared by what you're doing, your goal is not big enough. 

25/8 - I strongly dislike traveling in a group, especially with people who don't get up and running before noon. It's so difficult and frustrating to be a part of this lethargy. Get your ass up and go.

27/8 - I lost my cool with Danny and Sammy on Tuesday. If you want to get somewhere far away, you have to leave the hotel earlier than 12:30 p.m. Don't be surprised that things are closed when you arrive after 6 p.m.

Danny's Scottish friend and Glasgow native Charlene went with us to Loch Ness, so I hopped in the car with her, hoping to get away from the other three. I'm glad I did because I was able to learn more about Scotland from a Scot, including why Scotland wants independence from the UK. We drove nearly 150 miles through Perth, Cairngorms National Park, the Highlands and eventually into Inverness. From there we headed back south and straight to Loch Ness. The Highlands are beautiful, as they're tinged with purple from all of the heather. And when the sun escapes the clouds, the purple and green colors are vibrant.

We stopped in a village about halfway down the Loch, and all of us stayed in one room. That's seven of us, and the management were OK with all of us using it, as long as the dogs didn't mess anything up. And since we knew some of the group wouldn't be ready for a while, Viral and I got breakfast early in the morning and then went for a hike. There's something greatly refreshing about walking through the woods during gentle rain that makes everything wet and smell fresh.

We drove to Edinburg and spent a few hours there, and everyone agreed it is a beautiful city. Luckily, it was easier to drive in the center compared to Milan, though still hectic. We drove to Arthur's Seat, a large hill overlooking the city, and when the car was stopped, I didn't ask for anyone's opinion; I immediately began to climb the hill. It was so satisfying to get to that wind-lashed top. It was a fantastic idea of Danny's. But after driving for 625 miles through curvy, dark roads perfect for a motorcycle while blasting house and metal music, we're back in Poole. I need to get this dissertation done and we had to return the car.

Viral actually drove for an hour in the middle of the night, but it was his first time driving in this country, and I suspect first time ever. He didn't understand which lane to drive in or how fast he should have been going. His driving was more effective for waking me up than Red Bull. 

And with that, the trip to Scotland is over and done with. We decided not to visit Ireland because the ferry was too expensive. The next time I visit, I'll hike the Highlands and go to the Isle of Skye; it looks otherworldly in pictures. If there's one thing I learned from this trip, it's that you can't control when others decide to wake up and get moving. If you want to do something, you gotta take charge and make it happen. Indecisiveness murders adventure. 

I found a quote during our stay in Glasgow that will remain with me forever. It's something that should always be kept in mind for an adventure: 

Four wheels move the body. Two wheels move the soul.

Charlene, Danny, Rocky, Viral and Sammy

Scams, goodbyes and calls from Spain

17/8 - It's still dissertation time. But this week, I've put my head down and focused only on being on campus so I can complete it. It's one of those things that is so repulsive you just get down and do it, like shoveling down a gag-inducing food. You hate it, but at the same time you know it's healthy, so you eat it quickly without really tasting it.

And one strange thing I experienced today was the fact the most difficult part of the dissertation, doing the experiments and calculating the results, actually becomes fun once it comes to writing down the results. Luckily, I hope it's all downhill from here, as there are just 5,000 words left. Getting it done by Monday is my goal.

Lately I've been watching videos of color-blind people using special sunglasses to see real color for the first time. It's amazing how overwhelmed they are. I would like to say I had that feeling of euphoria for two straight months this summer, but I didn't see vivid color for the first time or hear a loved-one's voice for the first time. The feeling of incredible adventure is separate from the ecstasy of realizing one of your five basic senses is working properly for the first time in your life; it's more emotional, like Stella seeing snow for the first time in February.

19/8 - Another day, another grind. I've been in this computer lab all week, slowly putting the dissertation together. Especially yesterday, I was exhausted, my brain fried and eyes smoking. It'll all be worth it though. I'm so close to finishing, and yet, here I am, blogging. Stop procrastinating!

Luckily, the monotony was broken this morning with a Facetime call from Felix, Alex and Nuria from La Almunia. It was great to speak to everyone again. It was a conversation between friends in different countries, and there was a noticeable difference speaking to them now compared to before I went to Spain. It was more natural. Nuria was exactly how I remember, as she stuck her face in the middle of the camera while showing off her bikini tops and making silly faces, thus blocking out the other two. They showed me a pair of coins I apparently left at their house, and because of those they asked me to come to their house to pick up what is mine.

Ha, I see what you did there!

Remember that motorcycle I wanted to buy last week, how it seemed like a deal too good to be true through a shady online character not offering much information of substance? Well, the bike is mine. Since the person said the bike is in possession of Ebay, I emailed them and they gave me the VIN number and reassured me the bike is real. Plus, if I want my money back, I get it back no problem; that convinced me to make this deal. And if nothing else, I can flip this bike for $4,000 profit. So I'm looking forward to going back to California and riding this 2008 Honda CBR1000RR.

But don't worry, I won't be drag racing a Lamborghini at 190 mph. This is something that needs massive respect. I understand how powerful this bike (or superbike) is and that I need to be careful. It's a machine designed for the race track, such as Leguna Seca. None of that for me. This bike will be used for commuting and the occasional adventure like the one in June, only this time the trip will go through the Sequoia National Park. Imagine the insane giggling going on in my helmet during that trip!

P.S. If I did somehow get into a drag race with a Lamborghini with this bike, I'd easily win.

20/8 - This time in England has been 11 months of firsts. Today, we'll add another first: That motorcycle I was gushing about was a scam. I was scammed; Luckily, I didn't lose any money. However, my money is now kind of spread out, and it'll be tough to reunite it again. There are lessons from this. While I thought I was skeptical and did my due diligence, I didn't do enough. What I should have done from the outset was contact Ebay through a live chat.

This shook me. I feel so naive and stupid for believing this, and it makes me not want to buy anything online again. I think the worst part is how ironic it is. While exchanging emails with this person (or entity) I said I've been scammed before and vowed to never let it happen again.

*Facepalm

So I should look back on this with positivity. I was lucky that I didn't lose anything. Stupid mind of a kid!

21/8 - Last night was a goodbye party in Corfe House. We are going our separate ways very soon, but I'm not sad. This has been a fantastic year filled with great people who are life-long friends and great memories, exactly the reason I came to England in the first place. I accomplished what I wanted to do. The party was great, and the night included a cruise in the harbor during the fireworks show drinking wine. And you know it was a good night when pictures surface the morning after showing someone in particular walking down the street with a traffic cone over their face.

My dissertation is written up, but it needs revising. It passed 16,000 words today. However, I'm going to be revising while traveling. Again. Until the next post.

Bath, grinding out the dissertation and a shrunken Earth

11/8 - It's dissertation time. It's my final assignment, so I should be focused on that. But no. It's me we're talking about.

I should have been working on it this weekend, but I ended up having a picnic in Bath and watching air balloons in Bristol with my new friends I met through that Couchsurfing meetup last week. We took the same road to Bath as I did when I rode there on a motorcycle, only this time it was sunny. I have to say, wow. That road is tight and curvy with lots of blind corners! The more I think about it, that was stupid to rent a bike and just go, in the middle of a storm as well. But it was the best decision I made this year; I'll look back at that trip with fondness forever.

14/8 - The dissertation is slowly coming along. I've been holed up in the same lab as Danny while he grinds away, editing his documentaries. It's good to be around people during this process. You're still focused, but you can easily socialize if you need a break. It's my final assignment before I'm able to disassociate myself from this money-grabbing school, uh, I mean "university."

Bill told me yesterday he went to his first AA meeting. I don't think he will completely stop, as in he will have a drink now and then (just one), but he needs to get a grip on this because he's a completely different person once he finishes three pints of beer. And now that I'm thinking about it, the British drink so much compared to other countries I've visited such as Spain. They make themselves miserable! So, being his friend, I'll support him and not bring alcohol with me when we watch football on Sunday.

I'm so close to moving away from the UK. I move forward with no regrets, and these past 11 months were fully taken advantage of. It's been an incredible year, something that exceeded even my own expectations. The best thing wasn't the traveling; it was meeting people from all over the world, thus shrinking planet Earth. If I want to go to India, I have friends there. The same goes for Thailand, Greece, Lebanon, UK, Central and South America, Africa and everywhere else in Asia. These past 11 months have ignited a traveling sickness, one that won't be cured. Ever. The best way to treat it is to visit more places and meet more people.

I'm looking forward to returning to Porterville, especially because I'm this close to snagging a 2008 Honda CBR1000RR for a fraction of what it's worth, which is about $7,000. If nothing else, I can flip it for profit. But just imagine: riding the curves of the Sequoia National Park with massive Redwoods towering over you.... The second go-round should be fun. Plus, there's a 25-year-old guy working for the Recorder now who likes to hike and be active. Plus, I'll get a raise from both the Recorder and Bleacher Report.

Bring it on, Cali.

Stretch run in Poole, Kenya and a new-ish job

1/8 - It's a bit surreal to be back in Poole. After a month and a half away, I'm back to what's familiar. In fact, the night I returned there was a fireworks show in the Poole Quay, and I saw it with the amazing view of my window. But after that long away, I learned something new about this area.

There are so many tourists in Bournemouth/Poole during the summer!

I'm back to the place where people drive cars everywhere. I'm back to the place where people love to be miserable, along with how dreary the weather is. Traveling so much has made me realize I don't really want to be in England anymore. And if a country really wanted to help its people get healthy, follow the Netherlands' example and build infrastructure for bicycles.

4/8 - It's the stretch run here in Corfe House, but that doesn't mean we don't have issues as a flat. Tim and I were gone for a long time, so that means the kitchen got messier and stinkier each passing week. Counters were caked with mess, the trash hadn't been taken out for weeks, there was food rotting in the sink and pots and pans were left sprawled on the counter while the floor hadn't been swept, mopped or vacuumed in a very long time. There are a couple of people here who literally don't clean anything. Domestic issues sound so boring after traveling and being away for so long.

Anyway, it's great to see my friends again. Of course I had a few drinks with Bill, went out to eat with Tim and met up with Danny and Abi to see a truly horrendous movie.

Tuesdays in Poole Quay are the day when hundreds of motorcyclists come and park their bikes in the harbor. It's a show of sorts. It's one of the reasons why I love living here in Poole. Walking among the countless bikes today made me long to ride a bike again. I was aching with desire while remembering that incredibly-stupid-but-supremely-thrilling motorcycle trip in early June. It put a smile on my face. I'll ride again soon; I just need to get away from school!

Hundreds of motorcycles come to the Quay on Tuesdays.

5/8 - I keep getting sucked into the community, just like what happened in Porterville. Like in Leiden, Netherlands when I went to a Couchsurfing meetup and met some really cool people, I did the same in Poole today. I met Nigel, a man who works for the Poole Borough Council involving Transportation, and another woman from Romania, Joanna, who had some amazing travel stories. I was particularly fascinated by her adventure on the Trans-Siberian Railway. It sounds as if you'd be well-served to learn some Russian to undertake that adventure, and if you stay on the train day and night from Moscow to Beijing, it takes seven days. That's an epic journey, and it's one I would absolutely do in a heartbeat.

Danny and I agreed on June 2016, but that happened over drinks so of course it's not binding.

This goes to show no matter how close you are to moving, there's always time to meet new and fascinating people.

6/8 - It's official. I'm going to Kenya. I'll leave Los Angeles on Dec. 21 and arrive in Nairobi on Dec. 23. This will be the longest I've ever traveled. Two eight-hour flights and a couple of layovers in Ireland and Ethiopia will create one massive marathon, one in which I'll have to find new and exciting ways to pass time. This will be my first trip to a third-world country and one in which I'll be in the minority by my skin color. It'll be my first trip to a continent that isn't North America or Europe. The culture will be incredibly different, but the food will be so delicious (at least I hope so). Stella and her family will host me.

Finally, some of you already know by now, but I landed a permanent job. I'm going back to the Porterville Recorder in California. I'm looking forward to it as I'll be able to jump in right away and do the job right. I can't wait to see my old friends from there, and most of all do some work on the ranch. But this time around, I'll do some things differently. No Twitter mishaps or incorrect reporting (as best I can). Early in my time in England, I often thought about what it would be like if I never left. Now I'll be able to find out.

Amsterdam, Van Gogh, Leiden and a political refugee

28/7 - You really have to watch out for bicycles and scooters in Amsterdam because they have their own specialized bike lane separate from the cars. There have been a couple times when we didn't see a bicycle coming, so we push each other out of the way to avoid an accident.

Thing's haven't quite worked out in Amsterdam today. We walked to Rijksmuseum, but there was a huge line to get in and we didn't have a ticket.

Next.

We went to the Van Gogh Museum, hoping to see some excellent paintings. Long line for those who didn't have a ticket that stretched down the block.

Next.

We hopped on the canal boats towards the Anne Frank house. Long line for those who didn't have a ticket that stretched down the block. Add in the wind and random strong downpours of rain, and there was a bit of frustration. But now I have tickets to both museums, and I did taste some cheese in the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. We also walked around and saw more of the city so the day wasn't a total bust. This is a beautiful, one-of-a-kind city.

29/7 -There's something really nice about walking around a more local part of town in the dead of night, looking for a place called Coffeeshop Space Mountain. There's no traffic but you still have to watch out for bloody cyclists using their own lane, and at night they startle you when one suddenly rushes past you from behind when you were least expecting it.

Today is the 125th anniversary of Vincent Van Gogh's death, so I celebrated by eating a brownie from the coffeeshop and getting to the museum before the opening time. While I enjoyed looking at the paintings under the influence of the brownie, I only felt it for about two hours. It was another slightly disappointing thing about Amsterdam. However, I immensely enjoyed examining the style of Van Gogh; I like to get up close to paintings to see the texture and brush strokes. I like his style of many short strokes in small spaces and areas where several different colors form a harmony.

The remaining few hours I spent in Amsterdam were spent in Rijksmuseum, the flower market, wandering at my own pace, looking around (in the style of my mother), eventually taking a left turn that dropped me straight into the Red Light District. Even in the middle of the day, prostitutes pose in the middle of windows bordered by red light. There were a few erotic museums and a live sex show for 40 Euros, where a couple essentially fuck on stage. I also made a trip into the city center, dodging the many, many tourists there and saw how many rainbow flags that signify Gay Pride.

Amsterdam is such a colorful city, but it feels fake in a way. I left town with a feeling of being left unsatisfied. I feel like the visit could have been so much more, but since I'm not the kind of person to get messed up on drugs or spend an hour with a prostitute, perhaps Amsterdam just isn't my scene. I'd like to return though.

I took a 30-minute train ride to Leiden, where I'll Couchsurf with Erik. Just walking through Leiden on the way to the bar for his group's weekly Couchsurfing meetup, I could tell Leiden is like a miniature Amsterdam, except without all of the tourists. There are beautiful canals and buildings and bridges, and it's here where I rode a bicycle for the first time, one with a rusty frame, chain that had a tendency to slip if you put too much pressure on it, a bent handlebar and a seat that wouldn't stay in one place. I learned if a bicycle and a car have an accident, the car is always at fault. The meetup was also great, as I met a Spanish guy, and we talked in Spanish. It felt great to speak again, and I understood most of what he said; He was speaking fast as well.

30/7 - Erik had to work today, so I didn't see him at all. I left him a note of thanks and my last Trapistes. I loved the guy's house though, as it's very obvious he's a single guy. Nothing is clean. Everything is in a chaotic position. The kitchen is full of bottles and cardboard and has no counter space. The patio is completely covered with empty beer and wine bottles, and the barbecue has a cover which looks as if it hasn't been removed for several months. The bathroom looks as if it's cleaned about once a month, and it includes a wriggling sink faucet. The best things about his house is his bookcase and his map of the world, on which he's pinned many tickets from events or flights from past adventures. There are also notes from past Couchsurfers saying thanks.

I wandered around Leiden today, and I saw it's a miniature Amsterdam without the Red Light District and tourists. It's the place where some of the first pilgrims to America left from (Obama has ancestors there) and the birthplace of Rembrandt. It's full of canals, tiny alleyways that hide hard-to-find coffeeshops and large cathedrals. Speaking of coffeeshops, they're very difficult to find, especially during the day because they're closed until 5 p.m. I was disappointed because I wasn't able to eat a brownie before the flight back to England. The highlight of the day was stopping to watch a pair of excellent guitarists and singers. They were singing Coldplay, so I used that moment to zone out and reflect on the last month and a half. It was a bit sad this was the final day of the trip, but sitting here in Poole now, I'm so glad to be back.

Finally, sometimes I sound negative here, moaning about how things don't work out during traveling. At the meetup I met a guy from Iran who is a political refugee. He can't return home. It took him seven years to gain refugee status in the Netherlands after moving from country to country to country. Some of his family have been killed. He had an awesome story. Now, if I start thinking negatively, I just need to remember this guy. I may be having a difficult time traveling, but at least I'm not a political refugee. That's true struggle. 

Finnish cabin, Estonian beer and Holland

25/7 - I'm getting a real Finnish experience. There's lots of drinking, drinking games, even drinking while nude in the sauna. Most houses in Finland have a sauna in them, and a tradition here is to sit in the sauna for a while and then run into the nearest lake, preferably during the winter. But during the winter there is usually snow on the ground; you just jump in the snow then. I prefer the pond in summertime.

Anna and I hung out Friday night at her house with Jonas, another of her friends. Her parents left for the weekend, so we played heavy metal (because of course Scandinavians love their metal) and sat outside drinking and talking until the light completely faded. Later, we played a drinking game where it was revealed I have a third nipple; it's simple times like this that make me really appreciate taking the plunge to actually go to Finland.

26/7 – I leave Finland with excellent memories. A couple of Anna’s friends invited us to their cabin north of Helsinki in Räskälä, which is the middle of nowhere. Of course, since there are more than 200,000 lakes in Finland, the cabin had a pond. And since we were in Finland, there was also a sauna.

That meant being nude in the sauna and then walking past the girls (who shrieked in mock disgust), down the steps and skinny-dipping into the pond that also has lilypads, which only goes up to the waist. Essentially, I got the true Finnish experience. This was a beautiful spot for a cabin as it’s in the some pine tree and birch tree woods. There is a stream that flows into the pond, and it goes from there to a lake nearby. And around the property there are deck chairs and anything else that makes you super relaxed.

Perhaps my favorite area was the fire pit; It has its own small structure to provide shelter from the rain. When we created a fire last night, the combination of flowing water into the pond, some light still in the sky at 11:30 p.m., the fire whipping like the sound a flag in a strong wind makes and its crackling made a nice moment that left me feeling lucky by the fact I was in this spot at that exact moment.  The dinner was also excellent, as we barbecued beef steaks and paired it with strong cheeses, potatoes, guacamole, salad and wine.

The combination of mosquito bites, alcohol, being nude in the sauna, skinny-dipping, a delicious meal and a bed so cozy I’ll compare it to my own in California left me feeling like I’m doing things right. This was the kind of place Henry David Thoreau would go to think. I feel proud of the fact I took this trip and became the first American to visit that cabin. Goodbye, Finland!

On to Tallinn, Estonia.

27/7 - Like Madrid, my time in Tallinn, Estonia was less than a day. Unlike Madrid, my Couchsurfing host was not odd. Margus is 21 and lives with his parents. He's a chubby kid who loves quality craft beers and good food. In fact he carried around a list of the top 40 Estonian beers, a couple of which we tried. He met me at the ferry station in Tallinn, which made my time there very easy.

I literally slept on a couch in and old, cluttered, Soviet-era apartment building, and Margus gave me his room for the night. There were a pile of clothes in the corner, boxes on top of the cabinet, dusty books and glassware on a shelf, faded and peeling Egyptian-themed wallpaper and a chipped and damaged door. His apartmenr had so much character; it felt lived-in. 

Margus is a kid that comes off as aloof sometimes. He was awesome, as he was basically my personal tour guide. But he tends not to tell you what he's thinking in terms of which direction we're going or what stop we need. There were times when he'd just start walking through grass as a shortcut or take a turn without telling  me. 

I had a positive experience in Tallinn, and it always helps to drink with interesting people. We spent the evening tasting beers with a beer-appreciating German couple. My favorite part of the visit was when I found Trapistes No. 10, the beer that blew my mind in Wales. I bought two bottles and refused to throw them away at the airport, so I checked my bag; this beer is too good to be discarded so easily. It's worth the €40 fee (in my eyes). I even showed it to the woman at the check-in counter at the Tallinn airport, and she was surprised to see the nearly 12% alcohol content. 

After flying for several hours with a layover in Latvia (another country, like Sweden, I have now technically been to) Viral and I are in Amsterdam. This is a city I've wanted to visit for a while, snd I've already set a new milestone for myself, something I've never done before. For the first time in my life, I paid money for a joint. We smoked for a bit and then ate Mexican food. I want to be careful though, as I don't want to be stoned for the whole time i'm here. If I smoke too much I'll start feeling stupid and slow. There's a limit, and I haven't crossed it yet. 

But between how easy it is to buy weed and the how the prostitutes sell themselves in red-lighted brothel windows by smiling and winking at you in en exaggerated way, Amsterdam already has a much different feel to any other city. It's very relaxed, and it feels like you can do anything as long as you're not hurting anyone else. It's like the anti-society that celebrates everything taboo in the communities in which we grew up. 

Here's to going to the Van Gogh Museum after I finish my joint (I've only smoked a third of it) in the morning. I look forward to looking at art at a much deeper level, and possibly forgetting I'm looking at art when I inevitably zone out and lose focus.

La Almunia farewell, Real Madrid and Helsinki

22/7 - It was tough to say good-bye in La Almunia, especially for the men of the family. Alex looked sad the whole morning, and when we parted ways at the pool, his face crumpled into something that makes tears. However, I was surprised to see a smile on Nuria's face, and she wanted a kiss on both cheeks. For Felix, he had trouble getting out "you have a friend in Spain" due to emotion.

I am so lucky to have been able to live in Spain for a month. Despite some lows but some definite highs, the trip was a success. Check off another box during this crazy summer. 

The train from Zaragoza to Madrid is really beautiful, especially near Calatayud where the villages blend into the reddish orange rocky cliffs and hillsides. At one point there was a village perched over the train tracks. Traveling by train is my favorite way to travel. 

I was in Madrid for exactly one day. For a city as big as that, I was only able to see a small number of things. But though my visit was short, there is now an excellent story attached to it as I Couchsurfed with Dave, a gay nudist whose apartment is decked with books, movies, CDs, paintings on the walls and several hammocks hanging from the ceiling. Though the place had lots of personality, I would categorize this stay as my first negative CS experience, though we didn't have a problem with each other. I have no issue with him being gay or a nudist. Dave  is simply socially awkward. He wants people to respect his apartment, his rules and the spirit of CS, and most importantly to not treat his place like a hostel. It doesn't seem like he gets a lot of respect in his daily life, so he demands it in his own house.

The problem is that he books multiple people on one night to stay - in my case there were four others. He treats his own house like a hostel. And when someone turns up later than the agreed upon time, he gets very moody and refuses them entry. Dave uses CS as a way to meet people, but I think he should change his approach so as to reduce his stress levels. 

Anyway, Madrid is a cool city, and it's even better because of the fact I can speak Spanish. I absolutely love communicating in a different language, being understood and understanding what someone else says to you. My confidence rises. And in Madrid, I noticed my language skills have improved; I can understand more when someone speaks quickly and I know more words. However, there are still times when I have no idea what's being said. 

I was in Madrid for a day, and I saw 3 things: Estadio Santiago Bernabeu (home of Real Madrid, the biggest football club in the world), the Queen Sofia art museum (where I saw original art from Pablo Picasso and Salvador Dali) and Parque De Retiro, where I took my shirt off and lounged in the grass while listening to a violinist before heading to the airport. Perfect day in Madrid.

About Real Madrid, the club has been known to spend enormous amounts of money to buy players from other clubs. RMFC holds the world record for most expensive transfer, as it spent more than $120 million to bring Gareth Bale to Madrid from England. Oh, and another player by the name of Cristiano Ronaldo calls this club home, and he's considered one of the two best players in the world. After taking the stadium tour, Real Madrid prides itself on being the best club of the 20th century, and that fact is plastered everywhere. I was also surprised they let people touch the grass. Other clubs have a fit when people do that.

23/7 - I find myself about 10 kilometers from Helsinki, Finland. Anna picked me up from the airport. Like in Spain, I had to buy some clothes to help me adapt to the weather; this time it was a hoody because it's so much cooler here, about 17C. The languages here are Finnish, Swedish and English, and twilight still exists around midnight because Finland is much more north than the UK. That really messes with your body clock and is quite a strange feeling. 

We are staying at Anna's parents' house, and they're very nice. Her father owns a gun store which is run out of the house, and he's a conservative person. To buy a gun in Finland, you have to prove you are part of a club or need it for a purpose, and pass mental stability tests. It would be great to see if we can shoot some guns before I leave; I just have to be careful not to upset her father! 

Anna and I spent the day in Helsinki, bar hopping and at one point riding a wooden roller coaster whose cars could only brake with the help of a human employee standing on the back of the train, manually engaging the brakes. It was fantastic to spend the day with Anna and learn about Finland and Finnish people. It feels like a very random place to visit, though. However, the tap water tastes like water and the weather makes me so content now that I'm not sitting and sleeping in my own sweat. 

Helsinki is very clean. In convenience stores you can bring plastic bottles to recycle, and in return you get store credit. I do miss Spanish though. This is another place where I start thinking in Spanish because of the language, but it is no help to me. 

24/7 - Today is about working on my dissertation, and fighting with my computer. It's very easy to work on this assignment while traveling...if my computer turns on. 

I saw today Dave, the guy I Couchsurfed with in Madrid, no longer has a CS account, and I completely understand why. His home was a zoo!