Eurotrash!

My goooodddnneessss... I am loving my trip through some fabulous countries of Europe!  My traveling companion and I have thoroughly enjoyed ourselves thus far and I dare say that I'm hitting the point where I can barely cram another delicious morsel of culinary delight into my cake-hole.  In addition to a smattering of fun little knick-knacks to commemorate our trip, I am racking up an international collection of mosquito bites - Dubia, Italy and Spain have so far contributed to a small amount of blood loss and the resulting itchy bump.  In the words of one of my favorite television characters - Patsy, from Absolutely Fabulous - "the last mosquito that bit me had to check into Betty Ford."  Apparently they have a fondness for wine.


Let's see - Italy!  Although I've been there 3 times previously, I still can't get enough of Rome, Florence and Venice.  They are familiar, I love them and now I make a pretty decent guide.  The Jewbilee and I had a fantastic time in all three.  We physically walked ourselves into a near state of unconsciousness in all three cities.  In Rome, we actually wandered through the Prime Minister protests and were totally oblivious to what was going on around us - we thought it was not only convenient, but also a grand idea that they shut down the main thoroughfare around the Colosseum area so that one could gawk at the sites without a concern for traffic.  We realized later, while watching BBC, that we had been walking through the protest that day.  If nothing's exploding, then I'm not paying much attention - thank you Afghanistan.  Florence - rainy, but spectacular - shopping, excellent cafes and a swanky club/lounge right next to our hotel. Venice - we were upgraded to a palatial suite in our hotel - the thing had to be 2000 square feet with 20 foot high ceilings and a giant sitting room that could have housed quite the shindig comfortably.  It was amazing.  Beautiful and relaxing city.  Finally journeyed out to the St. Michel Island cemetery which was really beautiful - if you're going to be dead, this is a pretty good contender.  Italy was a hit! 


We are currently in Spain and are in love with Barcelona.  It took me a few hours to warm up to Barcelona because I was so irritated by how lacking the airport was in giving any meaningful direction once you departed your flight.  We actually walked outside to the arrivals and had to beg our way back in to retrieve our baggage - weird and in my opinion, dumb as hell - how about a sign with a bag and an arrow pointing in the correct direction?  However, after a few transportation snags we finally arrived at our hotel in this beautiful city!  We're staying on Las Ramblas - while my interest in people performing "human statues" waned a while back, we are also in the middle of some amazing neighborhoods and have largely avoided the main tourist street where we are located.  The main tourist street is fun to watch from the balcony and is swimming with people.  We've eaten tons of tapas, lived my dream of finally seeing and touching some Gaudi buildings and discovered the coolest little town/resort area right outside of Barcelona - Sitges!  We spent a day there - not only does it have it's own micro-climate that creates sunny days almost every day of the year, is on a beautiful beach and is stunning, but it also had it's origins as an artist community, has it's own famous film festival every year (horror films) which culminates in a town-wide zombie walk ... and it's a gay mecca! Where the hell have I been?  Zombies are one of my favorite creepy things! This freak show has my name all over it - we loved it there!

Sitges!

waterfront area

Enjoying a beverage on the beach

A hillbilly and some sand

Sitges waterfront

still no zombie sightings

Anyzombie, back to Barcelona - interesting to note that there are a ton of beggars here and some of the worst street musicians I have ever heard.  Any city will have its homeless, but the climate here must lend itself to drawing many to this area - kind of like California.  Every place we've been, there have also been tons of the "gypsie beggars" - no matter what country, they are all dressed the same and many take their kids out too.  Interestingly, B and I were winding through a back alley and walked up on a gypsie beggar smoke break and guess what? - They could all stand up straight, walk, etc. - if you are familiar with this group, they are usually all bent over, wailing and shaking their cups or dragging themselves on the street.  It's just another job, and they take smoke breaks too - loved seeing the smoke break though and I wish I could have been able to overhear the "water cooler" chit chat - totally curious what little diddies that would entail.  B and I were wrapping up the day recently at a wonderful sidewalk cafe only to be ear-assaulted by yet another bit of street "talent" - I'd rather listen to two cats mating.  Babies started screaming ... and these guys also seem to be somewhat deaf - they literally scream-sing in your face.  I felt like I needed a shower and owed my ears a good long vacation after a heartfelt apology.  We got a good laugh out of it at least.  I think it's a more acceptable way (in their minds) of begging, so next time you're short on cigarette money, break out the pots and pans and take that show on the road!

A key observations so far - more like a public service announcement ... there's really no need to travel with your babies and toddlers - please just wait until they get old enough to both remember and enjoy the trip.  No offense to the many babies and toddlers I love dearly (and their parents :\ ), but for shit's sake - why do I have to experience your kid's temper tantrum, screaming and kicking my seat on the plane, screaming and whining next to me at cafes and inside restaurants and your strollers taking out my Achilles tendon on the street?  I saw a kid with his finger crammed into his nose up to his second knuckle while I was trying to enjoy a little appetizer and beverage.  Not that I mind having them around just in case I break something or knock it off a shelf - I just flash that understanding "believe me, I know what you mean" look at the sales clerk and nod in the direction of the child army, when in fact it was me who had knocked over the display items!

Point is ... little kids belong at kid things and not in nice restaurants, cafes, bars, museums, etc.  I'm not at Disney Land flashing my boobs, cursing and ashing on their dear little heads - I'm all for creating a leisure age limit.  Just because you may see your own kids as wonderful doesn't mean everyone else does.  I sound horrible, but have been amazed - or at least am more familiar with how I was raised - my parents would have NEVER stood on a street "negotiating" with a pouting, spoiled 5 year old - you'd be struggling to touch a toe on the ground as you were yanked by the arm back to the car, etc.  However, some of the little booger factories were really cute and seemed to be enjoying themselves tremendously - we saw a ton of twins for some reason too.  I must admit that adjusting to being in the world after living where and how I do is hard.  It's almost a stimulation overload - I crave it, but can't handle it very well and it takes me quite a while to adjust.  Good thing I'm planning on going to Vegas just a few days after I come home this summer - that shouldn't be stimulating at all!  I just hope that there will be a ton of kids there - especially at the pool :)

inside the Colosseum

Jewish ghetto area in Rome

streets closed for protests but look - no traffic!

Arno river in Florence

I want big doors

one of the ceilings of our room in Venice

the bedroom

... and seating area

Casa Batllo in Barcelona

Familia Sagrada church

Gaudi!  this building reminds me of vertebrae

inside of Casa Batllo

roof

waterfront of Barcelona

More fun is still to be had and I will try to post another blog before I return to Afghanistan.  We really have been tooling around these cities until we drop, so there's not been much time for the ol' blog, but I'm s-l-o-w-i-n-g down somewhat and we're both fighting a combo of exhaustion and illness - but I love it!  This has been an excellent trip in cities full of beautiful things, interesting people and tons of energy in the air.

Drink of the evening - a Cava Sangria!