Advertisement
Published: December 11th 2005
Edit Blog Post
Hello Reader.
I went to the hostel and read my new book, Brave New World, until Monica came... except she walked right by me an sat down and started peeling an orange and talking to one of the girls that works there, waiting for me to arrive. The girl then pointed at me and Monica, suprised she didn't even recognize me, came over and gave me a hug. She is such a cool girl! We prepared pasta together in the open kitchen while drinking cheap white wine and chatting in Spanish. The pasta was mediocre, but the encounter will not be fogoten. We planned to meet the next day and go to the market, then she left around nine to babysit.
We met the next morning at eleven and went to the mercado central (central market). The building was huge and looked like and old church, but it had always been a market. There were hundreds of stands and vendors selling everything from fresh octopi to organic peppers. We bought some oranges (of course I did) and other food for her. A quick muffin, then to the library (a travelers paradise: free bathrooms, free international newspapers, and free internet.)
Traditional Lunch in Valencia
I was told not to ask what was in it until AFTER I ate it. It was good though. I used the internet while she filled out some tax forms and then we both went to her parents house.
She had warned me that her parents are very controling and were a little hesitant to invite me with her for a traditional Valencian lunch. I was a little nervous, but they were very welcoming and outgoing. Her mother told me not to ask what was in the pot until after we had eaten. It's a funny thing, trust. Sometimes it's better to understand that someone else knows what's best for you. Anyways, the meal was great; rice, potatoes, ham bone, and a spinich like vegetable among other things. I said adios to the padres and went off on my own as Monica's father drove her to work.
I walked around a lot, looking for a movie theater (which I didn't find). I was in a movie mood. I walked a lot in the river garden, and wished that I had more music than I did. That night, I heated up some leftover pasta and read. I was about to go to bed when, around midnight, an older gentleman walked into the hostel, visibly drunk. He seemed to
Bull Stadium in Valencia
Please note the infermery located within tossing distance, should someone happen to be tossed. slowly sing his Spanish, mixing in English and German words when he felt necessary. He asked for a beer from the reception guy (who casually pointed to the vending machine) and started rambling on about his life to the only person in the lobby at the time: me. He was fifty-eight, from Berlin, and was an air-traffic controler. He told me that he was here visiting his girlfriend's sister. He confessed he had a drinking problem and almost spilled his beer twice. I would have left him there, remorselessly, speaking to himself if the experience hadn't been so humorous. Mid-sentance, he stumbled upstairs, leaving his mostly full can of beer teetering on the edge of the coffee table. Remind me to never fly into Berlin.
Yesterday, I woke up really late. For lunch (my first meal of the day) I prepared more pasta from the other night, (and there is still more left!). I spent the afternoon trying to copy songs from the hostel's music library to my player and looking for a place to do my laundry. (I'm down to jeans and a t-shirt, again.) I climbed up the tower near my hostel and watched the sun set.
Sunset Behind Valencia
The orange was intoxicating. Not only the oranges are orange in Valencia, it seems. Later, I was about to venture the one minute hike to the internet cafe when, from my room on the third floor, I heard my name being called repeatedly. I leaned over the railing and saw a the glowing face of Monica. She's not one of those people who cares about calling out from a crowded lobby.
I had forgotten that we were going to meet for dinner. She sent me out to buy red wine while she prepared the salad in the hostel. By the time I got back, she was already fast friends with the other three people in the kitchen. (She's good like that.) We heated up the wine on the stove and added some spices and an orange peel. There was nine of us all crammed at the table... and it was great. We all shared what we had made and all talked about whatever. Monica and I had planned to go out, but after sitting for so long and talking with a couple girls from Austria and their friend from Germany, we were just too tired. I walked Monica to the bus stop and,
Painted Building
Thought it looked cool. upon returning to the hostel, met Daniel.
Daniel was from Brazil and was about to start studying engineering for a few months in Valencia. He asked if I wanted to go for a walk and so we walked. We talked in our respective second languages (Spanish) and stopped in a Brazilian bar so I could try a drink native to his homeland. It was composed of a half a lime, sugar, and very, very strong whisky. I tasted it, and immidiately felt the effects. (A very bad sign.) Over thirty minutes or so, I was not even three quarters of the way through my glass and I could barely stand. I didn't feel drunk, I felt sick. I ordered a water and Daniel laughed at me as I hugged the walls on our way back to the hostel. The drink's name? Caipirinha, which roughly translates to Ipecac.
This morning, I dropped off my laundry, finally, and hopped a bus to tthe aquarium. I splurged and bought my entrance. I grabbed some food and laughed that the restaurant's menu actually had a seafood section. Ironic, no? The aquarium was more than worth the eighteen euro. It's the third largest
Valencia Grafiti
Did someone say that grafiti can't be art? in the world and has some amazing exhibits. I caught the dolphin show. My favorite animals to see had to be the Baluca Whales. They are a rare mamel from the antarctic who, unlike other whales, can move their heads separately from their bodies. They were great to observe, but it is a little sad to see these majestic creatures imprissioned. Though I was successful downloading some songs into my player, a couple of songs from James Blunt, that was sent to me via e-mail by a good friend, was all I really played all day.
I think I'll venture the two hour train ride to go to Alicante tomorrow. Hopefully I will be able to connect with my parents' friends there. If not, I met some girls at the hostel that will be there during the same time and they said they would be happy to show me around.
Advertisement
Tot: 0.107s; Tpl: 0.013s; cc: 13; qc: 64; dbt: 0.0782s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Anth
non-member comment
sweet sweet valenica
How jealous am I? sooooooooooooo there arnt enough O's in the world to express that ;) Good to see your having funw ith Monica, and from afar Monica reminds me of Elaine simon ( her smile ). But I hope all is well, and I know you're having fun over thur' in Spain. I saw Katrin and her family today, it was nice to see/meet them. and it was cool to see who you stayed with. Take care...