Random Observations and Anecdotes (1)

I was not overly impressed by women in Spain. I was particularly unimpressed by Spanish fashion. Mullets and flood pants? Really?

If you arrive in the port town of Tangier, Morocco after taking a ferry from Spain and find yourself in an "art school," being offered the "best" panoramic view of the city, a glass of mint tea, and being pressured into buying a rug for 600 euro and various other souvenirs and trinkets within your first 15 minutes in the country...don't worry. You are not alone.

Quote from a hustler in Tangier after I declined his services as a guide: "F*ck you. You are a Jew" Welcome to Norther Africa.

Radio stations in Portugal are obsessed with hilarious American 80s music.

Salutations from Spain

The past week has been a whirlwind. I stole off into the dead of night after being hosted by another good friend currently living in London. I caught a late night / early morning flight to the beautiful city of Barcelona and thus began the next phase of my journey. Spain was unknown territory. I was finally out from under the safety net of family and friends and ready to try out "hostel living." I was a bit tentative at first but my wanderer spirit soon took hold.

To kick things off I caught Football Club Barcelona utterly destroy Sevilla in a Spanish La Liga match my first day in the city. It was incredible watching such high quality soccer, especially in a stadium like the Camp Nou. 80,000 Spaniards chanted and cheered on their home club for the full 90 minutes, taking extreme joy and delight in not just every goal scored, but in every well conceived combination of passes, displays of defense grit and determination, and any moments of creative brilliance or ingenuity. The fans in Barcelona truly appreciate beautiful football and I feel blessed to have been able to watch a match in their stadium.

In my hostel I was very lucky to be roomed with several other independent travelers from throughout the English speaking Diaspora. We all go on extremely well immediately - there was the Irishman looking to find work in Spain, the university student from Leeds, an American girl working as an au pair in France, a guy on vacation from work in Kansas City, and the New Zealander studying marine biology. We found great restaurants and tapas bars on quiet city side streets and sampled the Barcelona night life. It was sad to bode them all farewell...but the whole point of backpacking is to keep on the move.

After a very relaxing two days in the beautiful city of Valencia, I now find myself in Granada, a small town steeped in the history of the Christian and Moorish battles of the Medieval Period. I actually just got back from touring the Alhambra, an incredible palace/fortress built almost 1000 years ago by Muslim sultans. Both here and in Valencia I have crossed paths with very interesting people from all over the world.

But tomorrow is a new day, new people, and hopefully new adventure. Next stop: Portugal