Decadence Day

I have declared this day, for myself, a holiday. Decadence Day: a day of lounging on the beach, swimming occasionally, and gaining a scorching second sunburn. I even took the 5€ massage bait, and had myself a suprisingly good 15 minute massage. Danny watched.

We have mostly been relaxing in Barcelona. There´s an awful smell in the hostel (somewhat like formaldehyde and pork grinds). Today was our last day, so we went to our favorite place, the beach of course. There were a lot of interesting people out and about. One man carried at least 30 donuts on a platter on top of his head and sang la bamba with the words: Me gusta la playa. I snapped a picture at the perfect time while he was shaking a man´s hand. I will post when I can. The beach was covered with people, and their skin kind of blended in with the sand at some point. I felt like Jimmy Buffet today, because I was clearly on island time. We approached the beach around 11, and left at 6 thinking it was 3 in the afternoon. This is the point in my life where I need to buy dolphin earrings.

Le tomorrow we are going to Le Paris. We at least knew, or could understand the languages in the cities thus far, but Pairs. Oh no no no. Although, I tend to enjoy socially awkward situations, because when I get back to America everything will be so easy. Now, I don´t think I could feel weird about buying the weirdest things in English, like a sequined bra or something. Not that I would want a sequined bra.

I am extremely excited and ready to absorb Paris. It is our last city before we return to Madrid, and there are so many interesting things to see.

As a tribute to my stay in Spain and Lisbon, I will document the power ballad that Danny and I wrote about pigeons. Ideally, we would like Kurt Cobain to play it, but imagination will do.

Don´t feed the rats
Don´t feed the rats old woman
they travel in packs
and don´t need no snacks
Don´t feed those dirty old rats

It needs some work, but it´ll do.

So Paris, Paris, here I come. Paris Je´taime (great movie by the way, I recommend it with no reservations).
It is time to embark.

I don't like sand. It's coarse and rough and irritating and it gets everywhere. Not like here. Here everything is soft and smooth.

What a fine quote that Danny recited to me when we were walking on the sandy beach. I like the beach in Barcelona, and because of that. I look like a strawberry.

The first day we got here, we had both fallen ill. We slept for 13 hours and used the hostel bed sheets to sweat the poison out. We´re fine now, though. Thank you for asking. I love the beach, and the one here goes on for a long stretch of land. One of my favorite aspects of the Barcelona beach is the plethora of asian massage therapists willing to give out massages for 5€.

Today we visited La Sagrada Familia, the work in progress church that Gaudi planned. The structure was so ornate, and had the word Sacrum all over it. While were sitting and looking up at it, a tour bus stopped in front, and tens of thousands of old women heaved out hankerin´for a cig. I am glad we opted out of using tour buses to guide our adventures.

After we scaled the church, we walked 600 meters up an incredibly steep hill toward Gaudi´s Guel Park. The park had a great view of the city, which I will post a picture of at some juncture. The park was apparently built for the upper class to come and hang out, which was the center of some of our walking jokes, which one of, I will write on this blog.

We noticed a moat sort of thing following the side of the path, and decided it was filled with wine so when the upper class folks became thirsty and in need of some of that 1974 Merlot, they wouldn´t need to travel far. Dip and Swig.

Who is this Gaudi guy? and why did he know how to map out some of the craziest places? The church won´t be completed for another 75 years. I think I would be far too impatient to even think about working on a building that ornate.

So, traveling back from our sight-seeing day, we decided (Danny decided) to buy a pizza cone for lunch. This inexpensive, little treat is an ice-cream shaped bread cone filled with cheeze, mushrooms, and pizza sauce. Danny still claims the cone is a cullinary masterpiece!

So, then we proceeded to nap. Well, after hearing mating noises all night long, how could we not be tired? And this transition, my friends, is how I tell a true horror story. I thought of leaving it out, to spare the graphic details, but tales like these need to be told.

First, Kabul is the WORST hostel in the entire globe. This is truly how I feel. I am sitting in it right now, and I feel like throwing up. Danny and I go to bed fairly early (11 maybe 12) because we like to do things during the day when we travel. Doesn´t everyone? No. The past two nights lame British girls, and people making fun of America have been having absinthe parties in our room, while we´re attempting to sleep. Now, I don´t want to sound like I´m complaining. I like a good time, and I enjoy meeting people, but where do we draw the line? We don´t! Last night, a man from Atlanta and one of the lovley Brits, proceeded to ¨mate¨in the bed next to us... FOR THREE HOURS. What? Twice. I´m not kidding. We were the only people in the room, and they chose our corner to do their love dance. I was not pleased, and am even thinking of going to some hostel that is known for its peace oasis. If the sex wasn´t enough, the guy spilled wine all over the place, it was really nasty on an entirely different level. Ew Ew Ew.

So, please, do not stay in Kabul under any circumstances. I don´t care what anyone says, it is awful. TERRIBLE. The free dinner even sucks, and IT IS FREE. I´m sorry for the use of caps, but my god people! Those Brits and Canadians are worse than even some of the lamest Americans I know.

But it´s Barcelona man! We gotta live it up! Gotta drink that absinthe and be promiscusous!!!!!

I think Danny and I are destined to be asian tourists, polite and soft spoken.

Minus four days

I will make this brief, considering this post is the introduction to a personal journey. I currently live in Kansas City, but I can't seem to suppress the urge to want to see more of this beautiful earth. Two days ago I threw a poorly designed graduation cap goodbye to the k12 school system. Now, with college ahead, and no responsibilities as of this very moment, I am spending all of my waitress tips on a month long voyage through Europe. That's right, I am placing all my money into one deep, new bag and traveling to Europe in four days. (I am bolding out of excitement).

Okay, so another boring travel blog whatever, whatever. Believe me, I am aware. But since I was given two flip camcorders for graduation and Christmas through the course of this year, I have decided to put them to great use and make a video blog. I guess the correct terminology would be vlog or something.

First stop-Madrid, Spain
Second stop-Lisbon, Portugal
Third stop-Barcelona, Spain
Fourth stop-Paris, France.

So, starting each night (hopefully), and if not every other night. I will be posting videos of my sabbatical. I am really hoping to gain advice from others who have traveled to these places and know some interesting (not lame touristy) spots. So enjoy my personalized, daring travel guide via video and blogging, and please, please seize the day.

-Paige.

Carpe diem quam minimum credula postero