22th June. day 8

Barcelona
I am a real tourist!
With a backpack, on the second floor of double deck, listening to the history of Barcelona in Russian:) what can be better?

Barcelona has simply different atmosphere. Atmosphere of joy and happiness, and a smell of love everywhere! When you are in Barcelona, you MUST have a date, husband, or boyfriend next to you, otherwise the quantity of couples lying down, kissing, old couples hanging hands and doing massage to each other can make you feel misearable:)

I've travelled all around BCN on my bus, hipping on and off, visited all major touristic places. Getting to much of information, turning my head 35 times a minute to make photos and see everything around me. Mostly tourists around, from all over the world.

I am tired, time has taken on me, don't want anymore architecture, sightseeing, want just to sleep, but, for God's sake! You are in Barcelona! The city of dreams, freedom, love! And I would look at it even though I had to put matches in my eyes so that they don't close, because this is how, with eyes wide opened, you should look on this city. And on this world.

Rambla de Lar is my favorite place so far. Port, water, couples, rimance, sun, road, fishes. Smell of waffles and coffee. Vast number of people on the bridge, but at the same time loneliness and harmony.

I know now why people coming to BCN want to stay here forever. It is inspiring place, with own air, with sense of love. Here you want to kiss, to hug, to love all people. Selling roses is popular. Love is everywhere here. The city breathes with love! Here you smile to everyone and believe that all people are brothers.

After not finding host (well, last minute reqest),tried to find a hostel, without success as well. Hot season:( decided to go to sleep in the beach. Asked an english speaking guy, who was walking behind me with a friend, how to get to the beach.

-Why do you have to go there, dear? It is almost 8! no sunbathes:)
-I tried to find a hostel, but they were full....

He grabbed my hand and we went to look hostels. 4 were full, one empty, but not for backpackers- 40 euros per night. At last, found out a good one called "Kabul", 25 euros per night+tapas+dinner+free ride and entrance to some night club+breakfast.Not too bad:)

In "Kabul" I met Jordan. 19 year student from USA, romantic and artistic, intelligent and funny. We walked outside and he was telling me history of some monuments and arts. Went to meet with some people, like german and norwegian girls, but I didnt really like the company so left to watch the game in sport bar.

Sport bar
Met a chinese man and we decided to watch football and eat together. Some german guy looked at us quite a time, then came and said to Frank (yes, yes, all chinese have american names, otherwise it is impossible not to only remember, but also to pronounce them:))

-Sorry, where are you from?
-China,
-And you?-looked at me
-Kazakhstan
-Why dont you guys just speak chinese???

I guess he thought Kazakhstan is some province of Beijing:)))

Anyway, paella was great, black, fresh and nice, Frank's paella was tasty as well, we enjoyed the match and food, he showed me photos of his wife and daughter and said that if I ever go to Shanghai, I have place to stay. After food we walked along La Rambla, looked on performers and went back as he has to leave the next morning.

Back to hostel I found Jordan and we drank his beer and chatted till night. And that was really sweet when he said I can wake him up if I have problems with falling asleep and we will walk around.
Luckily, I didnt have problems with falling asleep:) was too tired.

The world is mine!

21th June. Day 7

Found out in the morning sandwiches made by Sasha, for that we were very grateful!
Went to Barcelona through Valencia, spending 3 hours in Valencia.
Nice city, bad ice cream. Really bad one. Like the worst I have ever tried.

Nice buldings, good weather,just walked around in the center:)

Barcelona.

Meeting with Ian next to metro station. OMG! "Fucking barcelonian", whom I have not seen since days in South Korea, which is almost 3 years. We hugged, again and again, and he continued saying how crazy it is and how great! A good dinner with tortilla de patatas, tapas, nice sangria, escalivada and potatas bravas. A short chit chat, comfy bed of Damian ( I would love to have his pillow!), sleeping shirt with name of the favorite player of my SM and barcelonian beer Estrella.

Unfortunately, the next day he had to goto Paris for a meeting:(

The world is mine!

20th June. Day 6

Drinking tea from whiskey glasses and coffee from the ones for beer, the breakfast was easy and healthy:)

Decided to go to the picnic organized by CS member, who was leaving. That is funny thing - going to meet a person none of 3 of us has ever seen before, just Daniel knew her friend. Party crushers, I guess this is how it is called?

On the way to picnic we had chance to visit exhibition of solar power. Summer houses, cooking, water filters...that was interesting. Besides, we had a chance to play some table football (or whatsoever it is called:))

It took us 2 hours to walk to picnic, and we spent there like 30-45 minutes:) But it was nice. different people from different countries. One guy amazed me. He has been studying Russian for 8 months, just him and computer, and he understood it almost perfectly! Just had language barrier in speaking which s quite understanding. 3 hours a day...OMG! Danielito, how I call my best host and whom I consider a good friend now, had the same studying Spanish, so I am inspired nowadays in starting to study spanish!
After picnic we went to the park Retiro, to have our own picnic, without food or drinks though as we left them:)But our own picnic was much better! Lying down in the blanket, looking on sky and guessing the shape of clouds, a weird guy on drugs perfoming and throwing coins to the crowd, really artistic one. Without knowing spanish I could understand his feelings.However, quite sure he took some drugs.

Footage (Irish dance, shooted by Daniel on the music of Veera, performed poorly by me:)), and another one called "the robots" to the music of cross lights.

In the evening ate smoked pizza:) Daniel, Miguel, Veera and me enjoyed the movie "Into the wild". Breathtaking views of nature, amazing play of actor...lots of laughter and ticklishing with Danielito, plans about foundation university of Ticklishing:) and a great memorable pleasant amazing honest sincere conversation at night till 6 a.m with sharing life experience and views on everything with Daniel.

I never met before people like him- sincere,responsive, always ready to help, intelligent, with a good sense of humor, kind, with widely opened to the world eyes, super active in life with vast variety of activities, and no matter what he is talking about- baking, finance, travelling around the world, - I was ready to hear hours and hours:)

Some people can give you energy for the whole day. For instance, Ainur:)
And some people can charge with enthusiasm. Like Daniel. He was the first to show me how little you need to be happy, to travel, to have fun.

Was really disappinted to say him "Good bye", and when he left I felt empty, like a piece of joy and kindness has left, but am sure we will meet again, in Spain, Germany, Poland, Finland or anywhere in the world.

And a long trip was ahead- going to visit my superman's and Veera's cousin in Teruel.

So, a long trip ahead. Train and view out of window. Scratchy trees and abandined houses with rusty roofs. Tunnel, tunnel, tunnel, mountains. Grass, faded and lost its color on the sun. Smell of cherries. I try to get colors inside of me, like sponge. They change from yellow and earthy to bricky-red and all shades of green. I love people so much.It is not fashionable to love people nowadays. It is fashionable to write about hatred, about how strong and independent one is, insisting that strong people don't cry

Teruel

While being in Madrid we said to some people we are going to Teruel,and not everyone knew where it is:) There is even a phrase "TERUEL EXISTS", and everyone was amazed why we go there.
However, Teruel is small city, but charming one. He greeted us with a cool half-day and cold at night. Sasha treated us with great food in´comfy bar: potatoes, ham with bread, lamb, wine. Coffee and pancakes with lots of chocolate for desert. Small talks.
Teruel is small, but perfectly safe city with 30000 inhabitants and lots of imigrants from Romania and Marocco. 3 main squares, not so many people outside. From antique bridge appears a nice view to the bridge on the opposite made of glass and roofs of houses spaced chaotically. Park though not big, but nice. In the park some nights they show movies outside, and everyone an come with chair, blanket, thermos with tea or hot chocolate and enjoy chilly weather and good movie outside. Especially I liked the monument with tiny bull, which shows how humble people of Teruel are.Teruel doesn't just exist, it rocks!

The world is mine!

18th June. Day 4

So far so good, and the meeting with our first host and the best one.

So Madrid. Left luggage in locker room and went to the center. Madrid is a beautiful city. Many people, everyone is in hurry, but many have a second to smile to you:)
Walked in the Sol, Plaza de Mayor and other touristic places, but unfortunately no photos as my camera's battery died:( But still got images in my head.

Left a request as a last minute in the group, the message "Hi Yevgeniya,
I've just stumbled upon yr post on the Madrid last minute group.
I'm pretty sure I could host you for 2 night...but need to check with my flatmates first...is to say wait for them to get home i can i ask them :)
Will get back to u as soon as i find out.
p.s be aware i've been living in Madrid for a week so far, so i won't be much of a guide to you...
Daniel" made me just soooo happy!

I was really excited, the first host, how to behave, what to do? how to be a good serfer?

At time agreed we have got to Aalto de Extremadura and smiley cheerful guy came to us. And that is how it started:) Talking, laughing, jokes...To be with him was so easy that although my excitement had place I found an answer in my head how to be a good serfer- just being myself!

His roommates were really nice too! Unfortunately, one didn´t speak English so well:( But Miguel did, and although it was his first CS experience, he was really nice and friendly. And really relaxed guy:)

We took a bottle of wine and were drinking it while walking, walking to the meeting place with CS members, making quick stopovers for pictures. The meeting itself was great as well! People from CS from different parts of the world: smart girl from China, several from Madrid, Daniel himself being originally from Poland:), 1 american guy asking me about Borat:) and a really funny person from Brazil,who unfortunately didnt speak english much, but that was not an obstacle for us dancing and having fun. Tapas and beer in one bar, more beer and music in another...The meeting went really well!

The world is mine!

17th June. Day 3

Woke up, let luggage in a hostel and went to explore.
Like one host adviced, decided to go to Belem.

So, first visited some nice basilica,
went to tower to see the city from up, walked in the shore by street musicians and castles. The weather was so hot, so we decided just to go to the beach.
Walking, walking in search of train to beach...asked 2 guys about direction, and they offered to give us a ride.
Sea was cold, but we anyway swam a little bit. Found a nice restaurant in the beach and tried local food- cod fish and sardines. Fish was fat, sardines salty, but wine was good:)

In the afternoon returned to city to take tram number 29, famous with sightseeing. The view was good, met local guy, who gave us a good advice- so following it went to the cafe on the top of hill, from where you can see the whole city, red roofs of bildings. We took a Green wine and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
After sunset back to hostel and to train station, where took the night train to Madrid from Lisbon. Seat with bed 30 euros, sitting place 6. So guess what we chose:)

The world is mine!

16th June. Day 2

woke up with a bad headache, which cannot be good.

After walking around Faro for a lit bit bought a ticket to Lisbon. Bitterly leaving this town, it has own charisma.These small buildings; balconies which are so close to each other, talentless graffiti, cursing word in the walls of houses, rusty lattice.
Center of Faro is absolutely different. So called more touristic place. Here you can find hotel, boats and motor boats, touristic city train,old basilica, a big monitor where you can see football games outside.

The next stop is Lisbon.
Had a host, who could meet us in the train station at 21.00, but after disputes with Veera decided to go to hostel again, which made me to be sad, as I would really love to meet up with Johanna. Found some hostel next to the main station. Strange desin it has. arabi style tiles made me feel myself in hamam:) 15 euros and again room for 2 again. After walking around, just bought from supermarket some cod fish and rice with vegetables, sat in a private area of hostel and enjoyed food and view.

The world is mine!

15th June. day 1

First flight. Tampere-Frankfurt. Quick stop and quick fast food, like brudwurst with french fries. Fries sucked, but sausage was totally worth 7 euros.

Second flight. Frankfurt- Faro( Portugal)
What am I thinking about? I am tired and want to sleep. 7.5 kilos on my back seemed to be light only in the beginning. But otherwise everything is good. Veera happened to be a nice companion and we learned each other, like reading a book. Page by page.

Other than that I am excited and nervous. To person like me, who is used to live in stability and comfort, these 30 days look like hell. However, that is the good experience and that is what makes me to be proud of myself. I did it! "My Big Trip" isn't just one of the words which people throw around like sunflower seeds on the main square in Venice. It is The Reality. But there is no fear, I feel to be opened to new things, new people and believe in my luck.


In Faro went to the hostel, which we booked in advance. 15 euros, room for 2, not bad. Met irish girl Lily, the girl from Luxembourg, and a local guy Robin. Went to local bar, dance, music, drinks and we came back to hostel only at 4 am. It is chilly at night in the hostel, and I again said to myself how smart I am for taking blanket with me. But in general the first day went well


The world is mine!