Nice!

Ah, it is so nice to be in Nice. Couldn't help cracking the pun at least once. But it's out of my system now, so everyone is safe again. Took 11 hours to get here, but the ride was so beautiful that I can hardly complain. I was highly amused by the different states of trains though. When the first one pulled up in Barcelona, I couldn't help but think, "This is a passenger train? For sure?" In it's defense it was much nicer on the inside. Just very simple and rather old. Then when I changed trains in Montpellier, what a difference. The French train is fully automated with all the bells and whistles. And those were plush seats. With fold out tables at each one individually. Quite a nice stretch of track.
Once I got here to Nice, I couldn't find the road I needed to take, so being the savvy traveler I am, I decided to ask some locals. The first two people were very helpful, each pointing me a bit closer to the street I was looking for. The last group, I an just amused at how unhelpful they were. It was three girls and a guy, probably in their mid-teens. I asked where the street was, in French, and the two girls shrug and apologize, and make it known that they are not familiar with the street. The boy looks at me and says, "WE DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH." Thank you, for clarifying that, so loudly and rudely, boy. Especially since I had only attempted to speak in French, and not spoke a word of English until then, and the girls and made themselves perfectly understood, even though neither of us spoke each others language before you even said that. The best part of all? I continued walking, and the street was the next intersection a mere 20 ft. away.
So I get checked into my hostel, and the manager (who is from Spain and has recommended several places to go to, including where to stay for the best and cheapest) informs me that the hostel is full of Americans. And he doesn't know why. It is just this week for some reason. He found it very amusing, and was telling me, "At least you won't be lonely!" which is quite true! So far we represent WA, WI, NJ, NY and that's only the couple of people I have talked to so far. I have heard many more Americans talking around the rooms.
Anne, who is my roommate so far, is traveling the same way I am. Just graduated, didn't like her career job so she quit and bought a ticket overseas. She was in Ireland while I was in the UK, Paris at the same time as me, and arrived here in Nice today as well. We are also leaving Nice on the same day, both having added a one day extension last minute as we checked in. She also took my Anne McCaffrey book off my hands, which makes her cooler both for loving Anne McCaffrey and for lightening my load that much.
My luck has held with the weather again though. My entire walk to the hostel was nice, dry, just cool enough to be comfortable. When I stepped out for dinner it was pouring rain. I don't mind walking in the rain, I'm just happy to avoid it when I have my backpack on, as there would be no good way to keep it dry. Unless I dug out the poncho to wrap around it, but that is currently in the bottom of said bag and not very accessible. All my gear is dry though, and I cannot wait to go explore tomorrow!

Mangowhelmed!

I know I'm still talking about this mango. But it was truly something incredible to see. I don't think I can explain how large it was, and the pictures are all making it seem smaller than it was. I couldn't even finish it, not that I didn't give it a good effort. You know you are truly eating a big mango, when people keep stopping by your table in awe to watch you eat it, only saying, "Whoa, that's a big mango..." before walking away dazed. Beyond my awesome mangoness, I also went to the last couple artistic buildings in the area that I had meant to see.
However, the best part of my day was yet to come. I had resigned myself to the fact that I would not be seeing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part I until mid December. I was upset about this, but it was how it was going to be. And then this morning, the Australian gal, Lucy, in my room, mentioned she had heard there was supposedly a theater in Barcelona which played English movies, in English. I told her if there was one, I would find it. And find it I did. V.O., or version originale, movies were played regularly at one particular theater. So we hoofed it down eagerly. We were like little kids really. Straight on in, and we were watching the movie half an hour later.Best HP yet. It was so good, I can't even tell you. I laughed, I cried, I cringed in horror (Emma Watson can give one mighty tortured scream). Lucy and I were both so excited about the entire thing, that we couldn't stop talking on the way back. I was especially glad with how far into the book they went. Much further than I had expected, which mean more time for what better be an amazing final battle.
The funniest part of the whole thing was that we were a little nervous that we had read the info online wrong while standing in line. But I heard the two girls behind us speaking English, so I double checked with them. We got to talking. Guess where they are from? Spokane, WA. One of them graduated from Mead in '08 and knows the Marcums (Lisa Marcum was by piano teacher for about 11 years). The world is sure a small place sometimes.
Anyway, I'm going to go get packed. I leave bright and early for Nice tomorrow, and I am ready to get back to France. Barcelona is beautiful, but not the cleanest place ever. I could definitely do without some of the smells. And I am really looking forward to some more French food. So adios once more!

That's a big mango!

So yesterday was stormy, and I decided as such it was a good day to hole up inside in plan out my next couple weeks. I don't have the freedom I normally do while traveling here as I actually have to be certain places at certain times. This limits my options quite a bit, not that it makes them bad by any means.
I leave on Saturday officially for Nice. I'm very excited. The two Canadian girls in my dorm just came from there and said even when it was stormy, it was gorgeous to see. Which makes me happy because it may be rainy while I am there. But I think I will stay for about two days or so, maybe three. Just depends on how much I enjoy it.
I also bought my ticket to Iceland last night. People always look at me like I'm crazy for wanting to go in winter (which I probably am) and I start to agree with them. Then I go online and look at pictures of what it is like in winter, and it's not too much colder than Spokane gets.
If you doubt me, go look at pictures of Gullfoss and Dettifoss Waterfalls Frozen. Or the Blue Lagoon which has water at 32 Celsius even when it is surrounded with snow. And they say being in the geothermal springs in winter is actually better for you. And just think of the Northern Lights I will most likely get to see. Unfortunately still not guaranteed, but I have a much better chance there than at home.
But I didn't spend my entire day travel planning. Just most of it. My room contains two Canadians, and about six Koreans. Only two of whom know each other. Even they find it hilarious. They were telling me they think the hostel looks down the list and puts all the Koreans in the same room. But one of the Korean girls, Poyo, invited me down for a drink in the hostel bar with them. So entertaining.
My favorite part of the evening was when Brittney Spears Hit Me Baby One More Time came on the stereo. The Turkish guy across from me looks at me and says, "She was not a virgin. She was never a virgin. She is like salmon." I will now forever view her as a salmon spawning upstream. No one else understood why I was laughing so hard I was crying.
After that we all had a good laugh when they tried to teach Poyo and I how to swear in different languages. We could not roll the r's in the back of our throats like the Europeans do, so they kept making us do so over and over. Everyone was rolling at the end of the night.
Today I chose to splurge on myself. I think I have been traveling out of a single bag too long when a huge splurge is indulging in liquid shampoo, lotion, and a pasta dinner. Best shower I've taken in quite a long time. Bar soap was just not cutting as a shampoo after two months. I did have better meals while I was in Paris (thanks Jonette!) but it is a rare treat again now that I am off on my own.
For all the people who though American drivers were bad though, you have obviously never seen a European drive. Terrifying. They accelerate so fast, and whip around corners. Lights are optional, as are lanes. Motorcycles alternate between sidewalks and streets, depending on which is quicker. I took two buses through London to get to different destinations. And both times when they drove through the city it made me feel nauseous until we got out of the city limits.
Spain however is slightly better on this front, than the other European countries I have encountered so far. While they are still crazy and reckless on the road, they are also slightly more considerate. I have seen drivers come to screeching halts to let myself and other pedestrians cross, even where there is no crosswalk. And the second we are more or less past them, they are fully accelerated and four blocks away.
As I am typing this, I am hanging out with three of the guys from last night. One of them is planning to head to either Balbao or Madrid tomorrow. He doesn't know which yet though. He is going to take the metro to the freeway and start walking and whichever direction the first person to pick him up is heading is where he will go. No that is true backpacking. I can tell you that is one way I would not be brave enough to travel. He's fairly certain he will actually be walking most of the way. Its over 600 km to each. I can't tell you how impressed I am with him having the gumption to do that. He says he is quite nervous, as he has never done this before.
Well, it is time for me to go eat my dessert now. Mango. It is almost as big as my head and weighed in a over a kilo. Can we say delicious?

Apparently people think I'm from Barcelona?

Another beautiful day. I didn't wake up very readily, but when I went down to breakfast and it took me 10 seconds to figure out if I needed coffee or not when asked, they had already just handed me a cappuccino and said I obviously did. Now that is how you start a day. No decisions, just Boom! and there's a coffee in your hands.
After getting a bit caffeinated, I decided to brave the day. What a hardship this was. Azure blue skies, not a cloud in sight. I was roasting in my jeans. Which is why I can't understand how people here run around in boots, leggings, jeans, sweaters, coats, and scarves. Commonly all at the same time. And this I was seeing at one to two in the afternoon! I was horrified.
However, this option was better than what I witnessed during my picnic on the beach. Some people should NOT wear speedos or thong bikinis. Just saying. It was not a pretty picture by any means. I don't care if you want a tan, that was bad.
After wandering around on the waterfront for a good couple hours, I decided I didn't want to bake myself (I am inordinately pale), and headed back inland.
I have been planning to go to the magic fountain tonight at seven (think the Bellagio in a smaller scale), so I decided I would walk there to see how long it took me for that evening. It was MUCH further than the map made it look. And I a very glad I did as such. It is under construction until the 24th. I leave on the 20th. I found this to be rather disappointing, but I now had a rather large hill in front of me begging to be climbed. And who am I to disappoint it? The view was amazing, definitely worth it. And I got some amazing pictures of the other fountains up there, as well as some landscapes pictures. The sun was perfectly set when I hit near the top.
At last I made my way down and back to my hostel. However, something strange has now happened several times to me in this general area. People come up to me and ask something in rapid Spanish (obviously asking directions or a location or something but I can't get a single word that they say). When I respond with a, "Lo siento. No comprendo." in a blatantly American accent, they get a look of Aha confusion before going to someone else who points them in a direction.
Now, I believe I mentioned earlier in this post, just how pale I am. In fact, I sent Jinnie and email earlier saying I think I may blind people walking beside me at times. And Jonette made a point to tell me how American, and un-European I look. So why do all these people seem to think I can help them? I try not to scream tourist (cause that also screams "Hey pickpockets and scam artists, I'm over here!"), but I most definitely do not scream local either. All I can figure is I must just look like I know where I am heading, and where everything is. Which I think I will take as a compliment. Still very random though.

Basic everyday Spanish does not answer questions about meat being raw or not.

Barcelona is amazing! The tapas are delicious, and the waiters are amazing. Mine yesterday was swapping Spanish for English words with me. And then later when I was turning down dessert to the other waiter, walked up behind him and said, "I am all the dessert she need." in a low sexy voice before we both burst out laughing. It was an great experience.
Today I woke up to the supposed rainy day to see blue blue skies. I can deal with that kind of rain. I decided to just wander around and see what I can see. The buildings are all works of art, so it's not like you're lacking things to look at along the way.
I went to La Rambla first, and there discovered their big market La Boqueria. A full square block full of booths of color organized fruits, vegetables, juices, meats, cheeses, and seafood. You can buy mangoes bigger than your two fists put together. They are massive! I bought some coconut mango juice, which was delicious and then went looking for my lunch. At the one bread shop there I bought a sandwich, and a loaf of the most delicious looking grain bread, with oats on top of it for dinner. Then decided I would need some meat to go with it. While the bread lady had laughed at what I thought was asking her the price (makes me wonder what I actually said, if anything) and asked what I wanted in English, the meat guy spoke no English at all. But I could smell the deliciousness and was practically drooling on his counter, so he tried to help me anyway. I believe the conversation went like this (with translations, or at least what I think was said...):

I gestured to the hanging meat stick above me which
looked possibly cured, smells delicious, and is enough
to be a small meal in itself . Being quasi-homeless
meaning I have no way to cook raw meat.
"Yo como bein?" (I eat good?)
I pantomimed picking it up and taking a bite off the end.
He nods his head.
"ajfhadjkjfh, bien, dsfhshf" (random words, good, random words)
I look like I'm considering his statement.
Really I'm trying to decide how to phrase my next question.
"No necessito cocinar?" ( I don't need to cook?)
"sklfdjlskdohgwehjfaslkdfjsdklfjs" (random words)
I think for all of three seconds.
"Si! Bien! Yo tengo!" (Yes! Good! I have!)
He takes the meat down.
"2 Euros" (Two Euros)
I hand him the money, pretending like I didn't only
understand the cost because it was tagged on my
meat stick, and walk away happy.

All in all it was a very successful encounter I think. And it was a delicious dinner. I guess I'll find out later if we actually communicated the right thing to each other, when I'm either sick or not. Ah well. At least it was fun. And everything was so delicious! I think I'll get a mango for lunch tomorrow.
After that encounter, I continued down La Rambla, to La Rambla de Mer, which is the road continued on a boardwalk into the sea. It was gorgeous there! I followed the shore down until I eventually came to the beaches. There I looked towards Florence, which is right across the way (ignoring the giant island of Corsica in between) and a little north and waved to Dom. I have a feeling he did not wave back. However, just the fact that it was warm enough to lie out on the beach, and that there was a beach available at all, were rather thrilling. I hung out there for a bit, but I was slightly overdressed, so I eventually continued on.
Found a park by the zoo with an amazing fountain you can climb to the top of. While I was near the top, I realized there was actually a homeless man living in the greenery, slightly beneath the upper platform, and hidden by the fountain itself. Really one of the smarter places I've seen them, though it did put me off the fountain a bit, which up until them was simply amazing.
Then I found the mammoth statue across the way. Heather, it rivals the Portland Elephants. Except it isn't all artsy carved, just realistic. Still cool, as I trotted over to it to take pictures like the awesome tourist I am.
On my way back towards the hostel (cause I was really thirsty), I discovered the Musee de Xocolat. Who doesn't love a town with a chocolate museum! (The boys from LA and New Mexico with the beds next to mine told me there is apparently one somewhere in Germany too, that's really good. Also they said you can go to the gummy bear super store that is as big as a mall with nothing but gummy bears in Bonne(sp?) Germany. Bet theirs aren't stale!) I think I will be breaking my thought of not going to any museums here because there is so much to see outside of them.
Eventually though, I made it back to the hostel, for my delicious dinner and a low key evening. Quite a successful first day I do believe!

Viva Espana

Well, I am officially in Spain. My bus got in at 6 in the morning, after a 15 hour trip crammed into seats I think may be smaller than airplane accommodations. Much to say I didn't get a whole lot of sleep. Just a couple little cat naps here and there. But I was riding next to a guy from Barcelona the whole way here which was amusing. He would try to speak English, I would try to speak Spanish. We both butchered the languages thoroughly.
One here I decided I would rather walk to my hostel than take the metro, just because I am half asleep and my little Spanish was diminishing with every passing minute. There was also the fact that it was 6 am and no chance I would be able to check in when I got there, so why hurry. Makes you appreciate the cleanliness that is France though. Every third block or so the corners would smell rank and rotten. Eventually I did make it there though, still freakishly early for any check in. But the people that work here are awesome.
They guy who checked me in spoke impeccable English, though he seemed pleased that I was trying some phrases in Spanish. He gave me a pass to the luggage room to drop off all my stuff, and called upstairs to the common room so that they would let me in an hour before they opened. Just so I would be, "more comfortable waiting" as he put it, and with the free internet access card.
And then there is the kitchen staff who let me slip in. They came over, asked where I was from, and offered to serve me breakfast early and to personally bring me a cafe Americana. I had to pass though, all I really want to do is kill the next couple hours til I can check in and take a nap. So as lame as that will be, I do intend on spending my first several hours in Barcelona sleeping.