February 6 2008            Culture Shock

It's nearly been another month past since I've last posted, yet it's hard to believe that we've only been in Europe for two weeks now.

After a long, tiresome journey from Ecuador to Atlanta to Rome, Italy, we arrived to discover a completely new culture and attitude than we were used to. Cold temperatures, very cold people, ancient structures, European currency and high expenses.  After the simple life in Ecuador for so many months, I was completely shocked by the unfriendliness of the people and importance placed on appearances and material things in Italy. By the conclusion of our first day in Rome, we learned that wearing colors was not “in,” fancy boots were a “must-have,” and nearly everyone looked like they had just stepped out of a high-fashion magazine—even the children and older folks were in on it too. On top of feeling shabby in our traveling hobo clothing from warmer climates, people ignored us or were extremely rude when prompted for help. I’m still not sure whether they ignored us because everyone ignores everyone or if we were especially unworthy of the pretentious Romans. One thing was for sure, people here lacked the warmth that seemed to be everywhere in South America—we figure it has something to do with the economical status of the country and its people.

So although feeling discomfited being ourselves in this new land, we stayed in Rome to explore its ancient historical sights and never-ending alleys of shops. The Coliseum, Palatino, The Roman Forum, The Pantheon, fountains and arches and piazzas galore. We waited one morning in a line with hundreds of people winding along giant guarded walls to experience the Vatican Museum; we were filed like schoolchildren through maze-like hallways lined with statues, Egyptian artifacts, paintings, and the breathtaking Sistine Chapel.

A full day in the Vatican wore us out so the next day we took a train to Napoli (Naples), just a few hours south and to the Mediterranean coast. Here we found the people more relaxed and the culture stronger. The hostel we found was clean, helpful, equipped with wi-fi and MTV (a few comforting items that we’d been deprived of for so long), and plenty of friendly travelers.

From Napoli we took day trips with other travelers to nearby Pompeii-- an ancient Roman city from BC times that was annihilated when the nearby volcano, Mount Vesuvius, erupted. The eruption conveniently covered the city in ashes, preserving it perfectly to be excavated nearly 2000 years later. Anhow, enough history, we spent a day wandering around the vast city, learning about its history, and taking silly photos.

The next day we took a ferry to Capri, an absolutely gorgeous island where we picnicked overlooking turquoise waters.

After visiting most of the famous areas nearby, we spent some time getting to know Napoli. We spent out days wandering the back alleys and street markets looking for the best hole-in-the-wall joints for cheap quality cappuccinos or Italian jeans.

One night we went out with some guys met at our hostel from Canada and Brazil to a local trattoria restaurant to sample something other than fast-food pizza slices and store-bought wine. Its outdoor tables were squeezed into a small alley covered in local graffiti art, beneath strung laundry and grandmothers shouting from their balconies. Here we were served by an obnoxious waiter who would barely stand to put up with our combined choppy Italian and the cooks in the back would yell in unison whenever a table opened up. The food was hot and authentic; the wine local and divided into plastic cups; and the owner literally grabbed our friend by the balls when he learned that he was a cook in Brazil. We all agreed that the evening couldn’t have gone any better, so we then went back to the hostel to drink wine, listen to good music, and soak life in.

We moved out the following day, hoping to meet up with our friends on the island of Ischia in a couple days, but never saw them again. We had come across a brochure for a hostel on the island, calling Ischia “the ‘Party’ Island,” because they offered all sorts of adventures and activities, such as scuba diving, cliff jumping, hot springs, bicycling, wine testing, spaghetti wrestling, and more. Unfortunately we arrived in the winter season, so we found things very very slow during our stay. There was no one else in the hostel, and they were in the process of renovating the building. So, although the one staff member was quite friendly offering to take us out for drinks the night we arrived, none of the other activities were offered during the winter. We managed to have a good time going hiking and testing out the hot springs, but we were ready to leave after two days.

            We returned to Rome yesterday so my sister could catch a flight back to the US this morning. After nearly 8 months of traveling together, she is going back to the comfortable life in the states, and back to her boyfriend. I on the other hand am not at all ready to return home, but I know things are going to be very different without her around. I will no longer have someone to wander big cities with arm in arm, or to picnic in parks with, or to take random photo series with… sniff sniff.

So a new series of adventures are about to commence. Solo. This afternoon I will be headed to Barcelona, Spain, a place hopefully a little more fitting for me: warmer, cheaper, and a place where the people will speak a much more familiar tongue.

So I'll be on a bus for the next 24 ish hours. I'll post more photos soon. Ciao for now--

February 10 2008            Spanish with a Lisp

            Nearly one week I have been in Barcelona-- where they Speak the spanish I know, but with a lisp. So actually, they are speaking "eth-pan-yol"... anyhow, it's a little different, but certainly easier to understand than Italian.

It is a magnificent city, basically one giant piece of artwork-- look up Antoni Gaudi-- he was a ground breaking architect who created stunning mosaic-covered, gravity-challenging edifices scattered around the city.

            Now I'm feeling the serious impact of the Euro currency on my meager savings, and needing to find a job asap. I'd like to stay here for awhile because I like the verve and beauty of the city. It has all the big city energy, back alley treasures, laid back feel, and immediate access to the Mediterranean beaches.

            Ideally I would like to get hooked up as an "Au Pair", where a local family takes me in providing my room & board in exchange for teaching their children English. Unfortunately this is something I should have been researching months ago. So for now, I might just have to settle for a cheap room outside of town and maybe odd jobs watching kids or in corner cafe's.

That's all, so ciao for now--