And so... the end is near...
Trip Start
Sep 08, 2009
1
67
72
Trip End
Dec 02, 2009
Valencia, Valencia, Spain
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Okay, okay!!! Stop the music!!! Silence the band!!! The trip isn't over yet.
But it is true, I am officially in the last week of my European travels. And other than the food challenges that I've mentioned, Spain has been very good to me. Though Mizz Valencia is being coy and keeping her sunny skies veiled with a drab, white, overcast haze. Hmpf. But supposedly it will be 75 tomorrow so I'm looking forward to a beach day. And I suppose the bland weather has been good for my beauty sleep -- though I'm still looking like a tattered rag doll. But I have been sleeping in and loafing around the hostel and finally motivating myself to eat around 2 in the afternoon. The only 'sight' I've seen was purely by accident. I am a lazy bag of bones in this kind of weather. Which does NOT bode well for my efficiency when I return to work in San Francisco. Oh well, let's worry about that when I get there. For now, I'm still on vaccaciones and indulging my laziness.
So, some updates on the silly situations that cling to me like a magnet. Tuesday was a travel day. And boy do I hate travel days. I'd have to look up the definition to be sure, but I'm fairly certain I abhor them. Packing everything up, realizing you need the thing that's at the very bottom of the bag, wondering where you 'hid' your passport this time, debating whether to put it all on your back or to distribute the contents into a hand held bag as well that will make your arm lose circulation but relieves some back stress. (I know, woe is me, poor little European traveler. No sympathy, I get it.) Anyway, I opted for the 2-pack for this travel day. I knew I was going to be on a long bus ride so I had my computer and books and earphones, etc. in a smaller bag. The hulking backpack that looks like a tightly wrapped bratwurst was stowed underneath the bus. The ride was fine; beautiful scenery, excellent sleeping conditions, an open seat next to me the whole time, great. Granted I couldn't find food at any of our pit stops, but I'm starting to think this is just karma's way of telling me I need to lose some of the pasta fat. We had an extended stop (45 minutes) in some random town. Since the battery on my laptop died I decide I'll put it in my backpack so at least it's not weighing my arm down when I eventually get to Valencia. Good plan, eh? I'm a thinker.
I open up the stowage door and start packing it in the backpack. I left my little hand held bag at my feet. I had noticed there was a guy behind me on the phone. But there were lots of people all around so I didn't really give him much thought. He came a little closer to me and in my peripheral vision it seemed he too was putting something in the luggage area, just further down. Again, whatever. Suddenly, he had his hand in my bag!
But it was the strangest thing, because he didn't "grab" my bag, he literally put his hand IN my bag. And not in a fast, swipe-something kind of way. Just like reaching in. Which I guess wouldn't be surprising if there was something expensive sitting at the top, but there wasn't. It was just my sweatshirt. (Yes, below was my passport, iPhone, money, ay yi yi, but on top it was just a black jacket.) Anyway, I used my Tim voice and said, "HEY!" and he folded the top of the bag closed and said something to me in Spanish which sounded like, "Oh, I thought your strap was falling off so I was just helping, err I have to go." and walked off. And again, he didn't run off like he'd been caught, just sort of sauntered away. In fact I think he might have still been on the phone.
BUT WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!?
Who gets pick pocketed by a lazy, chatty kathy? It almost makes me wonder if he really wasn't trying to get anything but that a mouse had run under the bag or something. It was just so bizarre.
Anyway, I get back on the bus and settle in for some more sleeping. Sure it's 2 in the afternoon, but I'm "traveling." (Side note. I know putting the period inside the quotes is proper. But doesn't it just look stupid? I mean, from a design perspective it really should be on the outside. Or am I wrong and it looks stupid because it's wrong and I have it all backward in my head?) And so, I settle in for some rest. Then the guy behind me hands me a folded piece of paper. I had noticed before that he was giving me the 'eyes' at the rest stop. But I had pretended not to notice as I was not interested in what he was selling. So the note says: Kiss love Heh? Am I in 4th grade again? I couldn't not open it. Inside it had his name, email address and phone number. And it said: Want to kiss?
HOW DID I INVITE THAT?
Was it the drool on my chin (I'm not exaggerating) or my smelly, stale shirt that attracted him? Well, I promptly handed the note back without even looking at him. And I put my hand in the air in the space between the two seats as if to say, "No. Absolutely not. Talk to the hand."
That's been the big excitement. Otherwise, as I mentioned, Valencia has been a pretty sleepy experience. Purely by my own doing. I'm sure the city has plenty to offer. In fact it has a really awesome park that used to be a river going through the town. It's really interesting. But it's outside. And like 3 whole blocks away. That's asking a bit too much of me. Ha. Which reminds me. A guy asked me today what my plans were and I said I was considering being a lazy tourist and taking the red tour bus around. He just shook his head and said, "Why waste your money? You should just walk. Those buses are for old people." While I don't disagree, I'm happy to be called old if it saves me from walking.
OMG! I completely forgot. I'm an idiot.
Gaby, I saw a flamenco show!!! It was AWESOME. I took like 10 videos so will show you them when I get back. And there are also lots of photos that I will post, too. The guy dancing was so animated, it was hysterical. But it wasn't supposed to be. I guess I'm culturally insensitive. But the music was incredible. I loved it. And then last night I went to a place with live jazz. The food was divine (photos coming) and I met up with 3 fun girls. The highlight of the night was talking to them about Gossip Girl. I asked what season they were watching in Spain or what had happened in the most recent episode. The girl kept saying, "Well Dan Humphrey and Vanessa are talking to Hillary Duff..." In return I kept saying, "Hillary Duff? No, I don't think she's been on Gossip Girl." We were going round and round, "Hillary Duff?" "Yeah, I think Hillary Duff." "Blonde hair?" "Yeah, I think that's her name." "So, Hillary Duff you think?" "Yeah, Hillary Duff, right?" Anyway. Finally I told her what had happened in the latest scene I had watched. She started giggling and stomping her feet. Apparently it's me that has missed out on new episodes. ACK! I can not wait to sit in front of the hulu screen for days just catching up on all my shows. And yes, my laziness is indeed astounding.
Alright, I suppose I should go do something.
Or I could just play solitaire on my iPhone for awhile. :)
Comments
Indeed - Dan and Vanessa had a threesome with Hillary Duff. It was pathetic.
Hysterical story! "No. Absolutely not. Talk to the hand." I love it. I laughed outloud.
And so . . . not the end, but the beginning! I think you're just getting started.
Oh, my!
AJ
I know you're sad, but we will be SO glad to have you back home. Loved all the crazy stories. And, I'm not surprised the guy backed off...I've heard Tim's voice come out of you. It's frightening.