I'm a knob

or partly a tard! When I reread some of my writings that's what I feel I write like. Seriously, some of it doesn't even make sense or flow. I swear, I'm a better writer than that!

Arrived in Valencia, Spain

I decided to go back to Spain as of 6 pm last night. I took a 5 hour train from Naples to Milan and was considering going to Switzerland and then Germany, but once I arrived in Milan and felt the cold I made my mind. Thought it would have been nice to visit Switzerland and Germany during Christmas time, I don't want the 32 degree weather. No thanks, I'll get that back in Chicago.

In addition, it was raining and cloudy all but maybe 2 days while I was in Italy. After 2.5 weeks of that weather it brings you down. Ugh, it's downright depressing. Probably another factor that contributed to me coming home on the 24th. So I came to Spain to get some sunshine, even if it's 55 degrees, still warm to me.

I really wanted to visit Sicilly, but it was going to be raining the next few days. Couldn't do it. Guess I'll go to Jersey to see some Sicillians.

So I took an overnight train where I shared a sleeper car with a nice woman from Nigeria, though her bo burnt my nostril hairs and she ate harboiled eggs.

I hung out with an American from Northern Michigan who wasn't thrilled with his space. He was sharing a sleeper with 3 other dudes and felt cramped. Then a Serbian starts munching on a huge salami sandwich that stunk up the room.

Seriously, what's with people eating the most smelliest food in an enclosed private space? We both agreed, it should be banned.

So I shared my bottle of wine with him and then we drank at the bar. It was the only way to survive the night.

He was a nice guy. He's traveling Europe for 24 days. He busted out of Europe after a breakup and taking a voluntary lay-off.

OK, I changed my return date, again

I arrive in Chicago on Dec 24.

Why? Several reasons: 

1) The madness taking place in Greece. It could end tomorrow, or next week. Point being is the tension and negative vibe will most likely still exist for the next month or two, or longer. I do not want to experience this while traveling Greece. Especially being a woman traveling solo. 

2) I can't travel for the next 3 months without a permanent home. It's too damn tiring and expensive. I could find another farm somewhere, but it's too time consuming. The entire process takes about 2-3 weeks, and I do not want to wait that long for a decision. 

3) I think I'm just ready to come back to the States. It could be a combo of just travel fatigue and homesickness. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I actually miss the US. I think it's because I'm in Italy and I see how fortunate I am NOT to be living here. (More on that later.) But if Denmark or The Netherlands were my last stop... well that's another story.

4) I'm tired of meeting new people. I know, this probably sounds horrible. But I am. I don't want to explain why I'm traveling. I don't even want to tell people where I'm from. Today for example, while Pasquele's car was getting fixed (story later) one of the mechanics walks towards me and I'm thinking Ugh, please don't talk to me. Why? Because his English is very poor and I don't feel like spending 10 min of my time having a completely uncommunicative conversation. This is when you know it's time to go back home because two weeks ago I would have been more than happy to strike up a conversation with anyone.

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What will I do when I return? Well, I think I need me some New Orleans for sure. I definitely need some live music. And of course I look forward to seeing family and friends. 

Work? Well, until I find a real job I can always work part-time at my friend's company. I totally jinxed myself about finding a job during a not-so-hot economy. Things will work out, they always do. A typical, lazy explanation to bad situations. But hey, it's making me feel good now!

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I leave Naples, Italy tomorrow with no destination scheduled. I'm either going back to Spain or to Germany. I'll decide tomorrow morning. I just can't decide. This isn't the first time I've made last minute travel decisions. Actually it's pretty much how I've done it all along while Couch Surfing. It's my idea of living on the edge. ;)

I'll see you, my friends and family soon!

Naples, Italy, it ain't Florence

Some say it's a great city with nice people and fantastic food... and then there's those who call it a cesspool. I'd say it's all of the above. So why did I go? Because it's another part of Italy and it's completely different.

The south is poorer, has high unemployment, dirty, and is run by the mob. From Naples to Sicily it's a mob run state. In addition to the bad things, the people are more friendly and the food is suppose to be out of this world. So I had to go.

Naples also had a garbage problem not to long ago. The garbage wasn't being collected so people started to burn it. Germany had to take the garbage since the Italians couldn't handle it.

All of my Italian hosts told me to go - that I would be safe, just be careful and watch your wallet, and stay with someone through Couch Surfing. In Italy, there's a joke that people from Naples are thieves. Shit, my impression of all Italians is that they are thieving scammers. And for the record, they have this reputation throughout Europe. And of course, it's not everyone, but one too many makes a generalization.

But anyways, I liked the city. The people were very nice. They smile! Not like the French. (BTW, had this conversation with other Europeans, too, and they agree, the French don't smile. But it was disappointing because it rained the entire time I was there. Which put a damper on things.



Italian gas station.Two gas pumps right on the side of the road. I saw stations like this in Spain, too.

Naples is an old city, too, without much preservation.

Me in a sqaure with my new jacket I bought for 10 Euros at a market in Bologna.

Some sort of religious thing....

Market

While in Naples

My host Pasqueles, cooked some of the best homemade food I've ever had. This guy can cook it up! I stayed with him last Tuesday-Thursday and he cooked everyday lunch and dinner.

His sauces were unreal. Some of the sauces included a tomato with boar, pesto (OMIGOD!), spicy tomato with chunks of beef. Let's not even get started on the cheese and wine this mofo served! Seriously, I can't handle it, it was that good.

He was a superb host. But all of my hosts in Italy have been great.
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Naples is known for having really good pizza (known as the birthplace) and food. But I didn't eat out once. We tried going to get pizza one day but his car started overheating and, well, we had to take care of his car. I didn't even care becaus if you had his food, the pizza meant nothing.

Plus I've been eating pizza all over Italy. And I love pizza from Chicago so I really don't care.

Arrived in Naples, Italy last night

Staying with Pasquales a Couch Surfing host. He's great.

How to drink coffee like an Italian

Stand at the bar and down the espresso in 2-3 drinks. (That's Gianluca my host in Venice in pic.) Most Italians I see drinking coffee, drink an espresso and do this. Me, I like to sit my fat ass down at a table and drink a coffee with milk. It's my time to relax.

I found it so weird. It's like they just come for a shot of caffeine and that's it. What happened to enjoying the coffee?

And within all of Europe, no one walks and drinks coffee.

Venice pics

Water stained building. A week before I came to Venice the city was flooded hip deep. It was fine when I arrived.

This is how crowded the streets were and it was December. Seriously, I couldn't imagine visiting Italy in the summer. I would never do it. I would visit in September.

Boardwalk

Moving time via boat.

Water taxi stop. Since Venice is a city of 118 islands. You get around by littles ferries or walk over bridges like seen in pics below. No cars on the island because there's no room.

This is how narrow the waterways are.

Got 60-100 Euros (about 80-130 US)? That's how much a gondolas ride cost. Yeah, no thanks, I've been on a boat before.

Pics are a little hazy because they weather was such.

Venice is built on wood piles as seen in pic. It's crazy. Read more at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Venice.

This city is just... I don't even know. It's like a fairytale, almost surreal. It's amazing. It's so special. I think I'm more baffled on how the city was built.

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My host Gianluca showed me Venice on Monday. I stayed with him last Sunday and Monday. He was great. I really enjoyed hanging out with him. Sunday and Monday night he cooked delicious pastas and we got drunk on wine and talked all night.

I liked his bad a** attitude. He live in Canada for 22 years. He worked for Canada's version of the CIA, so he has that cop attitude. I found him hilarious.

My Italian Cowboy

Gianluca, my host, is cooking pasta while we listen to Alan Jackson. I love it!

More on Bologna, Italy

Great city. I wish I could have spent more time there. So far, it's my favorite city in Italy. It was a real Italian city with real Italians. Rome and Florence is filled with tourists so you don't get a real sense of Italian life.

Unfortunately I do not have any pics at this time because I had to use my host's camera since my battery was dead. Hopefully he will send me the pics later.

Pics of Florence, Italy

pic of square
florence is full of markets. clothing can be very cheap.
pic of street. bikes and scooters are everywhere.
church up on hill with cemetery. look close to the detail on top. it's amazing.
view from the top of the hill.
pic of Arno River.
remains of brick wall that used to enclose and protect city.
"The American bombshell" per Italian Cowboy (Gianluca, Couch Surfing host in Venice)

Dress up time

Wednesday night in Florence, after Checco prepared a simple pasta dish of roasted garlic, olive oil and hot pepper, I helped him translate his portfolio to English. As he was getting up to go the toilet he put on his slippers. Well, I insisted he wear the Indian ones as seen in pic.

After he returned from the bathroom he dressed up in this traditional Indian wear. And then of course he insisted I try it on.

Photography is his hobby so he's always taking pictures. It's always fun hanging with someone who is passionate about photography - it's fun, and there's no room for vainness

Not one, but two Italian men cooking me dinner

OK, not necessarily for me. When I arrived in Florence on Tuesday, my host Checco (polka dot apron) and Luca cooked dinner for me and two of their friends. We ate baked chicken and roasted potatoes, and drank wine. It was delicious.

It was so cool to see two Italian guys put on aprons and cook together. I got a kick out of watching them raise their voices in heated quibbles over different cooking techniques.

They were excellent hosts. Always filling my glass, asking me if I need anything, and making me feel at home.

And they were very nice men. It was a pleasure.

OK so now we are listening to Dean Martin

and looking for a fucking battery charger for my camera. kiss my ass italy. why? because where is the fucking BestBuy? (OK, i'm kidding, but isn't there something similiar.... seriously? OK, BestBuy where are you? you mother fuckers, haven't you taken over the world like mcdonalds and kfc?)

in all seriousness, i'm kicking myself for not buying a camera with batteries.

Arrived in Mirano, Italy

It's 20 min outside of Venice. Staying with a Couch Surfing host. He's cool.

By the way, Venice is not flooded anymore. It was last week.