La Despedida Final

I'm on the brink of going back to the states for the first time in 6 months. Even though I'm more than accostumed to traveling by now, it doesn't make this trip any easier. I'm ready and want to see friends, family, and food back in Ohio, but to leave Spain and Valencia and this life that I've built up for myself....it's hard to leave. I've had the most wonderful here and have friends I'm sure to hold on for my lifetime, and plan on returning as soon as I can.

Me voy a casa hoy, pero os llevo en mi corazon y mi alma. Era un gran placer para conoceros, y vamos a continuar nuestra amor y amistad hasta siempre. Os quiero y nos veremos, seguro!

World Cup

The World Cup has started, as you are all aware, and let me tell you, it's quite an experience being in Europe while it's happening. Now, it's no secret that football...sorry...soccer...is not very popular in the states, but there's plenty of room for a huge market to grow, if only we could win something.

I was in France when their team totally and epically collapsed and the whole country was in a french sort of uproar, which consists of hush tones and drinking more wine than usual. And severely making fun of the coach of the team and blaming everyone else. And being dramatic.

I was in Spain when they played Portugal, their neighbores, in a jam packed bar, glasses raised, singing and yelling, crying with joy when they scored, jumping to their feet and hugging whoever was closest, yelling "¡hijo de puta!" and "¡cabron!" everytime Cristiano Ronaldo, your classic-pretty-boy-soccer-star-from-Portugal-who-plays-on-a-Spanish-club-team-during-season, was shown on the screen.

But anyway, in Europe, I've gotten to experience true fandom, the patriotic-wigs-flags-as-capes-painted-faces-Heineken-in-hand kind of fandom. Now I hope you all clicked on that link and watched the clip (I've just now discovered the Daily Show, a few years behind the times, I know). I totally agree with this sentiment. I find it cute how everyone preaches that football brings people together from all over the world. What it really does is bring people from the same country together in a drunken yelling frenzy, cursing the other team and country as often as they can. But, it's all for love of the game. Pros and cons exist everywhere, I guess. I have really enjoyed watching the games here, knowing the harsh contrast it would be if I was in the States, meaning I would be sitting on my couch or my grandparents munching on potato chips. The World Cup is quite an experience, and one I hope every person from the USA gets to experience, outside the USA. Or it would be AWESOME if soccer became more popular back home.

Paris

Paris. Incredibly huge, incredibly touristy, incredibly expensive, and incredibly...well...french. I only had a day and a half to explore the city that's probably bigger than any other city I've ever been in (with the exception of New York City, of course). I stayed in the Montemarte district, which is close to the train station, but I spent most of my time in the Latin Quarter, which appealed to me not because of the kitschy tourist shops and streets packed full of people from all over the world (I was unpleasantly reminded of all the annoying american accents I happily forgot), but because there were people that spoke spanish= I could COMMUNICATE with someone. I had spent the whole trip wildly gesticulating, trying to get the point across that I want a coffee and some bread or I just want one train ticket to city X. Therefore I camped out in the Latin Quarter, watching the World Cup and chatting with some dudes from Mexico and Chile.

reminisces of The DaVinci Code movie, which was a incredible failure, but nonetheless, the glass piramids were pretty cool

I got there on Monday afternoon and had to go to my hotel by 6pm to check in, so I only had 2 hours to go to the Louvre, because unfortunately it's closed Tuesday. I went running through the metro of Paris, got my ticket, and immediatly went to see the Mona Lisa, Nat King Cole singing in my head. Summary: totally unimpressive little painting.
After that dissapointment I went off in search of my favorite sculpture, and that was impressive.

I spent the most of my time with the sculptures, finding some true classics and some truly hilarious ones.

this guy obivisouly chewed too much tobaco

The rest of the day was spent in my sleeping space, chilling with other travels, having some glasses of wine and debates about Heidegger and books until 3am. Woke up the next morning, ready to walk to the Eiffel Tower and Arc d 'Triumph. It was a beautiful day, the first day where it wasn't rainy and cloudy during my whole trip. I enjoyed the sights, but was a bit overwhelmed by the enormity of the city and the massive amounts of tourists. I really don't enjoy feeling like a tourist, so I didn't spend much time at the traditional sights of Paris. In contrast, I just wandered around the city, enjoying the day and munching on my baguette. I went back to my sleep space and chilled with the cool people again, and we had a picnic in the park of Paris, and then later moved to the side of the canal. Best night in Paris imaginable.

Michael Jackson lives again!!!