Someone once told me that the best way to experience is to travel the world; that we can not know ourselves and we can not understand life without putting ourselves in other places and seeing difference. 

Adapting to Spanish culture was not intimidating, nor frustrating.  The travel bug hit me back when I was in high school, so I thirst for different atmospheres.  In these past couple months I have seen so many things.  I have acquired a familiarity with places that I’ve been in for only a few days: including Salamanca, Coimbra, Toledo, Paris, Brussels, Amsterdam, Morocco, Milan, Rome, and Athens.  It is through my travels that the world feels closer and more accessible than ever before.  And after every weekend excursion, I always return to Spain.  Madrid has become a home for me – the way New York did in my first year of college, and the way California will always be.

The ‘vibes’ here are what I will remember the most.  It seems reminiscent of California’s laid-back attitude, but I’ve learned of the difference.   There is no sense of urgency, no desire to impress, it seems that people are comfortable with themselves.  They laugh when they want, smoke when they please, and get a lot of rest (this makes them happier).  Adopting this lifestyle was not difficult, but I’m beginning to feel restless.  I am American.  Movement guides my actions, along with a sense to be constantly growing, changing, creating, or achieving.  Especially achieving.  Achieving success.  This has been ingrained in the American lifestyle for decades.  It is the competitive pressure in the states that pushes me.  While I despise the nature of competition, I do need it to feel self-worth.  I have learned that Spanish people already have pride; they do not lack confidence regardless of their failures or achievements.  One lifestyle is not superior to another; it is simply that people are different.  I love Spain, but I could not live in Spain.

Shying slightly away from Madrid and moving up to France, I can recall a distinct moment while riding their metro.  The train was packed, and traveling above ground passing through the city of Paris.  Mais, attendez! I stopped to listen.  Conversations in French, English, German, and Spanish filled my ears.  To imagine the sum of all of our cultural experiences made me smile.  It is our differences that make our similarities so beautiful.  I have found that this is why I have wanderlust.  Yes, to experience the differences, but also to recognize the similarities.  Without your language, without your style, without your country, you are an empty human canvas.  All factors of your identity are subject to change and chance especially in the world we have come to inhabit today.  We have a freedom choose, to mix, to recover, to create, and the capacity to embrace lifestyles of any culture.

I know that I will return to the states, always reflecting on these past few months.  

Knowing that it was our last trip together, with an added layer of stress from finals and poor weather, this one felt a little different. First stop: Trevi Fountain where I threw in 10 cents to ensure my return to Rome (Is 10 cents all it takes?).  We also stumbled upon the Pantheon, a personal favorite structure of mine. John and I stared at the open ceiling for so long, and apparently I shouldn’t read things out loud.   We wandered further and found ourselves in a Toy Fair, and then wandered farther and farther, and farther, until we found Pizza Mercato (NY plz?), where I had a good four cheese pizza.

The Colosseum was the highlight of Rome, for me.  To imagine all the animals that crossed through, like a giant wooden whale constructed to have its mouth pour out 50 bears.  The 4 Euro audio tour was a solid purchase, and I wish we had more time at the Palatine Hill. But, we needed to see the Pope on the Spanish Steps! Something that we accomplished after a good lunch (Home made mushroom lasagna), and constant walking and standing for 2 hours.

I felt like all we did was eat in Rome. Did not have a problem with that, after days of only gyros, we had days of only pizza and pasta.  The last place we dined offered us taste-testers and free wine.  We felt like kings.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to go to the Vatican because the Pope was wandering around Rome in his Popemobile. So, hopefully I will get to go back.

It all started in Athens after a night sleeping on a bench in the Milan airport.  After a delicious ‘Fetus’ salad, the next 6 meals were gyros. And I was perfectly fine with that, cause no one does pita like Greece.  Our 10-person hostel room was mighty comfortable and the humidity from the showers made us all sticky.  Happy hour was, indeed, happy. Huge beers, refillable for only 3 Euro.  This was good news considering I had my wallet stolen by a Greek pick-pocket. First time ever, last time ever. The Athens police station is full of dirty handcuffed men, yelling, and throwing up. I could have done without that experience.

There were guard dogs that followed us all the way to the highest point in Athens.  They had collars, so they weren’t stray.  But they were pretty dirty and would bark at anyone and anything that seemed dangerous.  Along with the dogs, I should also note that the people in Athens are all helpful and have a sense of humor.  The same host remembered me each of the 3 times that I passed him, very kindly acknowledging me every time.  I also met two people, one of which knew a friend of mine from NYU and another who knew my cousin! How small the world is.

We visited the Temple of Poseidon since we had heard so many beautiful things about it. I’m sure it would have lived up to the hype even more so if it was a clear day. Regardless, it was a sight that I would recommend anyone going to Greece.  The added effect of the wind reminded us that this god, Poseidon, should not be trifled with.

The Acropolis is free on Sundays, so naturally, we hiked to the top.  They were restoring it, so most of it had scaffolding.  But, the surrounding view of all of Athens was what had my attention, as I posted in the picture above this post.  Connie picked me the flower, which I wish could magically stay preserved on that part of my ring forever.

Now, I just need to go back and visit the islands with Michelle.