day 12 - Gaudí, Gaudí, Gaudí

day 12

Gaudí, is the word of the day. I was hoping for a good sunny day to do the "Gaudí rout" and i got one.
Wake up really early to see if my name was still in the waiting list for bed to the weekend, unfortunately it was, and then went strait back to bed. One more hour of doing nothing and thinking about doing nothing, and everyone started to get up and the lights went on.

Clara (fictional name), the brasilian girl i have met late in the last night has already gone, and only the half drunk australian and the girl from Canada are in the room.
She waked up saying hello to everyone really happy. When i asked her how did the pub crawling went, she told me she didn't remember :) she only remembers what happened until 2am. And i thought the australian looked like in bad shape :D

Shower, shave and get my cloths to laundry, i was using my last clean shirt today, and of i go to my Gaudí rout.
Started in Park Guell, i was there already when i was looking for a hostel, so it was easy to get there, and the pack of bold hair after middle age people really pointed the way. I started my visit from the back entrance, so i didn't got a woowwww face right way, it is a normal park on this side, just green trees and a rocky path. Was i went down, i started to see is work's, even got to visit is home. I took like 1000 photos easy today, and my camera really sucks or else... at least i had my laptop with me, so i wasn't worried about space in my memory card. Oh to see Gaudí's house the entry fee was 5 euros. In the park i found at least four or five musicians acting on their one, and at least four homeless people begging for money.

Next stop, sagrada família. Another wooowwww, and let me explain, this woooww has for the 18 euros they charged to enter plus the 2.5 euros to use the elevator (there isn't another way up, you have to use the elevator, so after almost starting a revolution against the church, they explored the people for the last century's and they are at it again, grrrr, every day i hate even more this "institution". I took some pictures from the outside and moved to the next stop.

Casa Milà - "La pedrera", after spending 10 minutes thinking if i wanted to pay the 9.5 euros to enter, i finally got in line and bought the ticket, i'm so glad i did it, the building is amazing, the tour is well organized, the audio guides text's are really helpfull, i took like 2 hours to see everything. Just amazing. You have to see for your self, i can say i was seated in the rooftop of La pedrera, it's something i'm proud, it is really easy to achieve, but it is one achievement i'm proud to have done.

Next Casa Batló, besides the 18.5 euros ticket, the house is really cool, got some good photos, and then went to eat something, i was starving.

I decided to give one last try on finding a basketball jersey from a spanish team. I went to El Corte Inglês, a 9 floor store, after finding out that the store that better suits my needs is two blocks down, i found myself lost in the first floor, it is by far, a lot more easy to loose yourself in El Corte Inglês that in the city.
In the other El Corte, i was able to finally found what i was looking for, a bit more than i was willing to pay, but it is my last hope, so. I think my brother will like this one.

Back to the hostel, had lasagne for dinner. Again, microwaves are the best friend of a non chef :D A little chat with the canadian girl, i don't really know here name, so there is no point on coming up with a fictitious one. I got to meet a friend of Clara, we had a nice talk in portuguese, with is rather nice if you have spend the last couple of days speaking, and trying to speak every language you can possible know.

day 11 - back and forward

day 11

Today is my last day at the graffiti hostel, so i got a good bath in the morning, packed my stuff (i'm getting tired of writing that, imagine of doing it) and said goodbye to the people i wasn't expecting to see again.
The feeling is not like saying goodbye to a long time friend, but it is saying goodbye. There is this mutual feeling among backpackers, has they really help each others in many ways, and in some cases they become family. Bridget (fictions name for the 60 year old lady i told you about), thanked me for the conversation we had last night before going to sleep, well, as a matter a fact, i'm the one that has to thank, here experiences in travelling and in life where really something you want to listen and try to get as many knowledge from her as you possibly can.

The people at the hostel looked out for my packs while i went searching for a new home. I went walking out the door as i was born in Barcelona, i had the hostels addresses noted down and went running all of them to see the best option. The Barcelona subway is really well organized in what comes to stations an timetables.
On my third try, i found this hostel, Mediterranean Hostel, same price as the other, but way better, much more cleaner, a proper kitchen, individual showers, the only problem is that in my room there are this group of australian's, i have been here for 5 min. and i'm already like "can anyone make them talk not so loud! please?", they seem like a cool group.

I have to go back to the old hostel to get my pack's, so of i go, take the subway, change line and i'm there. Get everything on my back, one more goodbye, but i got more than i went for, this japanese guy, that only speaks japanese and knows how to say yes and no in english is trying to talk to me.
Trying is the correct word for what as going on, with a map in japanese, one in spanish, a notebook, and a pen we finally got to understand each other. I walked him to the subway station he needed, and then we went separate directions, the old hand shake is understood in any language, so the goodbye and good luck wasn't to hard.

Back in the new hostel, getting ready to shop for grocery's to make lunch, yes, today i'm trying to make lunch, i remembered i've forgotten the battery charger in the old hostel.... take the subway, change line and i'm there. Everyone looking at me and asking "already"? I just showed the charger and walked out, at least i left everyone with a smile on their faces :) take the subway, change line and i'm in the new hostel.

On the subway i had this first degree encounter with this group of subway "task force". So, when i was taking a turn on the subway tunnel to get to my line, there they are, two Schwarzeneggers and a woman, it took me still like 10 seconds to realize what was going on, gave my ticket they checked it and then i went. Jeeee, you don't want to get caught running from them, it is better to pay the 40€ fee if you don't have a valid ticket, believe me.

It's 2pm, and the mood to cook, correction, to try to cook is gone, so a pizza, a big bottle of orange juice and some pears i bought in a supermarket close to the hostel is going to do just fine. I love microwaves, it is magical, you get something raw in there and it comes out ready to eat :D Somehow, i'm feeling a bit tired so i went to get a nap. I only waked up at 7.30pm feeling great, i really needed that, i got mail's checked, got a nice hot shower, it felt so good, and something to eat.

The people staying at the Mediterranean Hostel, are a lot younger and almost all of them are american and australian. Well, until i make new friends i'm just going to be on my laptop chatting and getting some things done. Tomorrow the weather channel says it is going to be sunny, so that is my change to do the Gaudi root. Mean while i'm on waiting list to get a few more days at the hostel so that i can go see the basketball match from Barcelona on sunday.

cya

day 10 - olympic feeling

day 10

Today was raining, not like raining a lot, just a few drops, but the sky was grey and all. I stayed one more hour in bed after all i'm on vacations. The room is empty i'm the last one to get up. I tried to book the bed for the next two nights but the computer was down and i could only reserve for a night, later in the day i founded out that i was going to need to get another hostel, because this was full.

Not knowing this i picked the stuff i needed a map and went on exploring. I got to the nearest subway station and bought a two day all access pass for 10 euros, the subway is really well organized and it doesn't take to much for me to be mastering the system. The corridors from the metro have this places painted on the floor, for the musicians that want to perform in here.

One monument after all, avoiding the Gaudi works that i reserved to see tomorrow hoping for better weather, i divide the map in half and did the all left side of it. In the historical buildings like castles i stopped to imagine me in does times, i even tried to walk like an aristocrat, i was physically alone like you can imagine, if Paulinho can imagine hippopotamus on the top of a three making bird's sounds i can well imagine me a few decades ago. Off course my sport shorts gave me away :)

That is the fun part of travelling alone, you don't have to answer to no one, time is your's to make with it what you want.

I went to the Barcelona Stadium, Camp Nou, well as you can imagine if you know me, i really went to Palau Blaugrana, but it wasn't open to the public. The Barcelona store is really big, and they explore everything, from old posters to chips, they even print your name on a t-shirt on the fly. For my sadness the store only minds soccer items, there is nothing about basketball. To see the inside of the stadium and the museum they charge 17€. They don't let me see Palau, i don't pay to see the stadium and that is it.

I went to el Corte Ingles in my quest for a spanish jersey, they are even worse than the portuguese, they had every time of nba jerseys , but not one from any spanish team or even the national jersey. To the subway again, this station even has a vending machine for books and a internal tv channel, and people are getting more civilized, they only take one side of the rolling stairs, so that does that are in a hurry can run up.

Next stop Mont Juic. It as free entrance and a well commercial explored bus tour, but i choose to walk. For does that don't know Mont Juic is a small mountain with many museums and sculptures and gardens. It was the place where the 1992 Olympic games took place. The problem with this free entrance is that every museum on the inside has its on fee. So if you want to see them all you have to let go at least 100 euros total. So i saw the gardens and some fountains and then went strait to the olympic arena.

The feeling i got in that place was amazing, i sat down for at least twenty minutes just to stare at it. Can you imagine qualifying for a olympic? and competing on it? the entire world watched this. It was the first time professional athletes were allowed to participate, in the building in from of me the Dream Team won gold that year, Michael Jordan played in this building.....
It was the high point of my day, definitely.

I decided to walk a little from one point to another, no metro for now. I went to the Barcelona Cathedral, the building is on reconstruction but we can go in any, 5 euros fee. It the first time i enter a church (its a cathedral, but it is a church for me) in a long long time. i started with this room, that looked like the rounded table room, but without a table, all covered in blood red velvet and leather chairs, it was more like a council room. Everyone was interested in the La Piedad de Despla, apparently the painting is one of the most famous pieces in the cathedral, i had to google it to know more (learning everyday).
Every one was whispering, and the painting were almost dark due to the age. The were all this gold objects covered in precious rocks, which still makes me wonder i could they kill so many people, and let so many other day with deceases and starving, and they were living among all that gold, but well... Now it is a piece of history, i found this amazing detailed piece for its size - La Custodia de Barcelona - it was gorgeous. No pictures sorry, lot allowed to take pictures in that room.
Next, the main room, i didn't felt anything spiritual and all, but i did like the acoustic off the room. The room as some things that didn't had one does days, like flat screens and electronic candles.

Even enjoying visiting the cathedral the idea i have of this institution is the same.

I got lost in the old part of the city. There was a bit more degradation on this area. The streets were so strait that the horizon line didn't exist at all, the people that live in this buildings can shake hands with the neighbour that live in from, literally. As i was already lost, i decided not to use the map, and just go with it. This is really a strange part, i caught this hardcore punk's being sweep by the police, it was really strange they came from nowhere and vanished with the same quickness.

When i manage to get out of the old roads labyrinth, i just had this nice surprise, i saw a LIDL supermarket, could it be my lucky day and they have portuguese water?
So i thought it, so it happens, they had good water. I'm not going to say the brand because off advertising endorsements (Aquarel by Nestle), i bought a 1.5L bottle, and i'm still drinking it while i'm writing this.

Today the picture i leave in the post is a picture i found on the olympic museum. The museum had an area for which sport there is in the olympic games, each area had a picture to represent the sport, so in hockey they had this that made me very proud.
In the text next to the photo was writed:
"The portuguese player from the 60's and 70's is considered one of the best hockey player of all time.", just to enhance this, in Soccer there as a photo from Pele and basketball a photo of Michael Jordan.

cya



ps: today i dont have the time to review my post, so if it looks weird just skip that part :D

day 9 - could it be any bigger?

day 9

This was one of does days.

I waked up early as my train is arriving in Barcelona at 9am, so i started to get my act together, wash up, does tips from Rachel really come in handy, get my pack's close to the door and wait for the train to stop. It looks like a normal station at the first glimpse. The train is stopping three minutes earlier that expected and off we go, we are at the lowest floor so i have to take the stairs up.

After all i take it back, it isn't a normal station, this thing looks like an airport terminal in christmas day, it took me at least ten minutes to find the information post and i had to ask to get to it, so they got me a map and now i'm ready. As soon as i crossed the door i was like... can this be any bigger? there were at least one hundred taxis outside, "autobus" as the spanish call the bus, were arriving and leaving simultaneously which helped the visual confusion to get even bigger...

Went inside and searched for a wifi connection to see if my host from Barcelona had said anything. There was no free wifi in the station, so i went into McDonalds, its 09.20am and there are people already eating burgers and fries :s
I asked for a muffin and an orange juice and the wifi connection code, i got 30 min. free. Looked for a table a little bit more hidden, and tried to connect, for some reason my computer wasn't getting a valid IP, and asking the waitress doesn't look like it was going to do any good so i decided to go to the hostel.

Well the map i got indicated that i was on one point of the city, and the hostel was on a street that crossed almost all the city from one end to the other, i sure hope it is somewhere along the beginning. First it was a challenge to get me on the right street, i think the size of the city, and all the people crossing directions got me a bit blocked at the start. When i finally got myself situated thanks to a monument i don't yet know the name, this guy comes to me and asked if i needed any help, he just confirmed my suspicions.

So the number i had to find was 527/529, and i was at the house number 7, just at the begging of the road, no time to waste, motorbikes are to Barcelona like bicicles to Xangai the people walking have to slip the sidewalk with the parking bikes.

I started to go down the Aragó street, and it was like odd numbers on one side and even on the other so at least the side i already knew. Well to be short it took me two and a half hours to get there. It was on the opposite side of the map. Due the time and effort i invested to get to the hostel i don't want to elaborate my description of the way there.

This guy got me a bed in no time for 12 euros, it was a room with 18 beds, no stress for me.
So in a first and fast look i heard an asian a few frenchs and a couple of english with and old lady i couldn't quite figure out what nationality she was, i was yet to discover that she had worked for the Times, yes, the newspaper The Times, and been everywhere around the world.

So i have some things to catch up on line, and photos to organize, and its past lunch time so i will stay in the hostel. During the afternoon, i started to meet some of the others guests. A canadian one, two more from Manchester, on brasilian, they keep on arriving, it is a cocktail off nationality's.

They had all kind of styles, from rasta to hippie, hip-hopers to rockers, if my grandmother could see me now, she would stop making comments about my way of dressing :D At the end i was glad i stayed in today, i got some sun, cause the wireless signal was pretty good outside, and there were some tables and a net so i could lay down and swing, this is the thing to have at home :D and even had some pleasant conversations. Some of them were more serious than others, the amount of drugs they had smoked really interfere with the subject and for how long it could go on.

Got to talk about biological farming, jobs, respect, drugs, beer, lifestyles and life experiences and even space and chemistry (the good chemistry stuff not the drug chemistry stuff). In the over all, i really enjoyed this day, i talked portuguese, portuguese from brasil, english, spanish and even a little french, which for me is a situation to avoid, but necessary.

So i got to bed now, i will go watch this french dude practice is skills with this thing with balls strap to a wire, i'm not in the mood to ask him the name of it, he talks like the world is going to end if he stops, tomorrow i'll start to explore the city, and i got extra battery's for the camera, because if it is all i expect it is, it's going to be a long day, and a night to. They are setting a night out between all the guests it is going to be a hell of a party :)

If my post from tomorrow runs a little late you know the reason :D

by the way if you want to see some of the picture i have taken check out:
http://picasaweb.google.pt/notsolonelyroad/

day 8 - Lunes cerrado

day 8

I had to leave the hotel room at 11 o'clock, so i waked up at 10:30 to shave. My morning surprise was that i had lost my tooth brush, maybe i left it at Andre's flat, i had to finger brush today :D

I checked my e-mail to see if there was any news from my couches and packed all the gadgetry, it was already fully charged, so I started my walking in Bilbao.
One stop to the post office to mail the poster back to Portugal, another stop at the train station to get my ticket to Barcelona, it leaves at 10.20pm. I'm so glad it is a night train, this away i don't lose a full day in a trip, and off we go to the Guggenheim Museum.

Today i have to carry my backpack's with me, so like if the all stoping to take pictures at everything wasn't enough to call attentions, i have a big blue backpack with a red tent strap on to it on my back and a smaller one on my front resembling does things to carry baby's.
Bilbao is not so different from Braga, ok, it is a lot bigger, but not so different. One thing that girls from back home would like to have is the 4 buildings Zara store i saw today, huge huge store, a woman's paradise.

Another reason that the bus terminal was so crowded last night is because there is a university near by, so that explains all the young girls ;) I finally got to the museum, and my jaw just dropped... what the hell was he on when he designed the building? he was certainly on heroine. It is so amazing, jeee, i can't even imagine what they were thinking when they were building this beauty.

So i went around the building to get photos from different angles of it, and i just can't wait to get inside, it is a blow out to my brain. After finding the entrance, and making the japanese tourist thing at the door i started to go down the main entrance steps, oh, by the way, this is the only occasion that going down is more hard that going up, at every step the backpack jumped on my shoulders and it looks like it is getting heavier every step. I'm so hoping they have a place for me to leave my stuffs safe while i visit the inside.

At the door, i read something in spanish, but as my spanish isn't at a good level yet and just to be sure because i certainly wasn't reading right, i scrolled down with my eyes to read the translated version "closed on mondays" grrrrrr ahhhhh $#%&"#*, and more $#%&"#*$#%&"#* $#%&"#* $#%&"#*.
And i had to sleep here just to see the museum closed? $%&#$05D%&$.
Two lessons learned, never arrive on a monday, and check and recheck everything on line.

So i wasn't to put to waste my day, i went to see the rest of the city. Had lunch, and found a nice park to relax, read a little and enjoy the apples i just bought at the supermarket.
There was this nice park near an old building that looked like a small retirement home. It was strange because it was near to an avenue, and as you ear the birds singing and the wind blowing in the tree leafs, here and there you ear a car horn. There were some people still having lunch at the park, and others were sleeping on the bench's, no one on the grass.

So i decided to take off my shoes, the benchs are well spread apart so i don't have to worry about the others in the park :D I was going to start doing some work but my local server wasn't working, i need to go on line to figure out what is wrong.
So i started to read, Jangada de Pedra by José Saramago, i'm really getting into the book. I got the sun in my face, but in a gently way, because it is being filtered by the tree above me, it feels great. When i get back home i will do this more often, get something to eat, take my shoes off and relax our read, it really helps.

In my two to three hours in the park, i saw two couples break up, one of them solved their problems in the end, and saw this guy, about my age, helping what seemed to look like is grandfather to exercise is legs. Is "grandfather" was very old, and was moving on a wheel chair, so every once in a while, they both got up, and grabbing is grandson by the arms they walked a little. I so enjoyed that moment that i started to see it as a dance not a must do thing, they walked faced on to each other, so it was like a slow valsa, very slow valsa, i'm sorry if you think this is a bit sadistic from me, but to me it was a good picture.

The sun started to fade and it was getting a bit chilli, so i packed up and decided to take another walk on the city, this time no map, just walking, my ipod is on shuffle and off i go, the music was perfect one after another, just really easy songs, nothing to fancy, i remember finding myself singing Armandinho out loud in a red light and a lady looking at me smiling, i was so embarrassed at the time.

So i went to get some milk to drink, i hadn't drink a drop of milk since i started, so i figure that i should buy a 1L. package, got it all in one swallow :D
I'm glad im cutting on sugar, because in every corner there is a candy shop (not the 50 cent kind). I passed the temptation with excellency :D Waiting for the train was the hard part, i was tired of walking with the pack's, i wanted to save battery for the train, i started to fold paper, i'm so glad i brought so many of does 8 by 8 squares, this way i can practice all the models i know without having to use the good paper.

The train as arrived and we all have to get our bags to check up, i was trying to avoid it, they will discover the bomb... the guard was looking at the other side when my went on the screen :D
So in the train, i got the top right bed again, this time i was helping people to find they bed's and not the other way around. Has the train leaves at 22.20 every one is going strait to bed so there is no one to talk to. Oh well i think i will get some rest to.

day 7 - one small step for.....

day 7

Waked up 10.30am to go see Andre's volleyball game, Rachel (fictitious name for the american girl) was already up and almost ready to go, so i took a fast shower and we went to find the sports arena. When we got there what was my surprise ,there was a woman's basketball game going on the same time, so i got to watch Andre playing and the basketball game at the same time. For the record to does in Braga there was only one referee in the game, and no official at the table, just a kid, it was a good game and an easy game for Andre's team.

Me and Rachel went to get brunch, and at the middle of it she remembered she didn't got any money to pay so i got ahead and took care of it. A little stop to the train station to figure the timetable for her trip to Versailles, and we went for a walk in the old town, i got to meet her better, the all misconception that all americans are dum is so wrong... she got a major in art, super clever girl, made super intelligent jokes. She suffered a major disappointment in her life and then started travelling, she was going at it for 4 months now, and 2 more to go, good luck Rachel.

She was so cool to answer all my questions about the travelling stuff. A few nice laughs and a bit of talk ending up in religion (it always comes to this part) and i found myself at the top of a castle. I've been there yesterday, but now i have someone to talk about the view, oh... it is breathtaking the view, you can see the all city, and it was a brite sunny day, so there was no cloud on the sky we could see all the surroundings, pffff

We went to get lunch, simple stuff, just a burger, well a burger that was a bit like french cuisine style, but it was a burger. Headed back "home", packed my stuff right, got online to do the last checkup on things (no word from the office), oh congratulations to my brother for his excellent game, and to my team (they will always be my teams) for the win, Zeca is doing a good work.

I waked up Rachel from her afternoon break, because she had a picture of me that i wanted, and i wanted to get a chance to thank them both for helping me on my first couch surfing experience. Picked up my 1985 bull fighting poster (cartel in spanish) and went out the door, as i was waiting for the elevator to come up, Andre and Rachel are staring at me with a smile....

Out in the street, i got my ipod on, and started walking to the bus station. Taking my last views and pictures at the beautiful buildings with that yellow stone that i fell in love at first sight, i started crossing the garden by the river, and the people sited on the benches looked like they were staring at me. Maybe it is true, because i'm guessing i should had a face like i've just stepped on the moon.

Another small step for my journey, but a giant step for me, my first couch surfed.
I was really proud of myself, i got to overcome the fear of being committed to someone i didn't knew in a strange town, i had to trust him as he had too trust me, totally strangers, now i get what he was trying to explain me last night. Like Rachel told "...i have now a new faith in humanity...". I was walking like the end of a movie when someone overcomes everything bad and becomes victorious, and the directors names and actors start to show as the main character is waking freely away.... and i'm just at the begin of my journey.

With some help of some strangers i got to the bus that is taking me to Bilbao, one hour ride and we are there. And there are so many people on the station, i couldn't figure it out why. I went to the information post, and asked for directions for the hotel. She told me what bus i should catch, when i asked her if i could walk to it, she said "you could but it is about an hour walking" i just smiled, if she new how much i had walked the last days.... She told me the way on the map and said it was safe to go by foot because the street's are full with people that are coming out from the stadium, it was a soccer match between Atletico de Bilbao and Barcelona, mistery solved. As i was walking down this big avenue "av. Sabino Arana", i saw this massive crowd walking in my direction, all dressed up in red and white strip's... i took a few extra turns to avoid the crowd because with the backpack was becoming hard to move.

Twenty minutes later i was in the area she had highlighted for me in the map, and i just didn't seem to find the hotel, so i started asking. First try went wrong, the old man didn't want nothing to do with me, second try, bamm, tourist's sorry thank you goodbye, the third was a charm, this 30-40 male took a 20 minutes walk away from is route to get me to the hotel door. I was like, i'm so thankful, and thank you again, thank you, he was at the end of the street and i'm still screaming thank you, eheh, i'm exaggerating to make a point, for does how know it was a wesley thank you :D

So at the hotel, super nice lady, took care of everything and took me to my room.
Know i'm just sitting down having dinner after a bath i intended to last for one hour with the bathtub full and all, i just couldn't to it, this eco thing is really getting to me, regular shower and that is it, writing this post and chatting with some friends back home. Just Relaxing tomorrow is a long day and i will have to carry all my packs with me all day, guggenheim with a backpack it is :s

ps: please send me a bottle of water from Portugal, it is not as bad as in greece, but still.... portuguese water rules!

day 6 - Donostia San Sebastian

day 6

After a sleepless night, i got out of bed 30 minutes earlier that the arrival time, i tried to make the less noise i can getting down the bed with my backpacks.i arrived at the at San Sebastian Station at about 6.45 in the morning, it was dark as hell.

The city welcomes me with an unexpected beauty, i wasn't expecting to get so charmed by it right way. The street lamps are really beautiful and there are so much different ones, all colours and shapes that gives the Urumea river the final touch to stun me.

It's 6.45 local time, and there are already people jogging, crazy ones, I would give everything for a good bed and a few hours sleep. It is still early to go to Andre (lets call it andre for privacy purposes) place, but I've already seen some directions that he told me to took. I went looking for the tourist information post, it was located in the old part of the town, that is incredibly well taken care off, expect for the floor that resembles the war in Saygon, it stills has the signs of last night party. Some garbage trucks and huge water hoses clean it in a flash.

Obviously the post isn't open already, so i start my exploring.
By now it is all very beautiful, every old buildings are impeccable, each one with amazing architecture and beautiful balcony's, they all have something that connects them. It's not like an isolated building in the middle of others.

Next, tired of walking i went to Andre's flat, it was not so hard to find, after all, if you have a mouth you can get anywhere, one problem stands, what is the perfect hour to wake someone up?

I make a bit of time outside till it is 10 in the morning and then i ringed the bell, a voice came up saying “si?” i said back ”Andre es Romeu, couch surfer de Portugal”, the door opened and off i go.
This tall, skinny guy was waiting for me at the door in the 4th floor. Introductions made, he showed me the his home, a small one bedroom flat.
Have your ever meet someone that 5 minutes after being introduced delivers you the key to is home? So i have, Andre after showing me the place gave me a key so i can go in and out for as long as i like, he didn't even blink. I'm so amazed by is gesture that i almost forgot to give him the present i got for him.

After a few minutes without nothing to say I went to see the town on day light, uauuuu....
It's is a must see place, it is a naval and merchant typical city, but it is so beautiful. It's a five star place, and it is so small i can see the all city by foot really.
I got a map and started to walk to all the places Andre recommended me, but i'm really fascinated by the buildings, they are really awesome.

Completely exhausted, and sleepless i went to get informations about the bus to Bilbao and get back “home”. The other couch surfer that was going to be at Andre's place has already arrived, this truly outgoing american girl, with a big smile on her face. Mean while Andre's cat's here climbing the wall and the chair like lunatics, no one could stop them. I finally got the opportunity to relax a bit before dinner, and fell asleep on the couch.

We all went to eat pintxos, a traditional dish in San Sebastian, that they proudly say that overshadow the tapas. The american girl is an AA, so she doesn't drink nothing but juice during our rally to the local restaurants. It's kind off cool this social ritual. First we established the “bote”, one person that collected equal amounts of money from everyone, and they will be responsible to pay everywhere we go. We start to taste pintxos and wine in a few bars. There are smalls groups of people inside, some very loud, the spanish loud type.
We drink and talk for a little and then went to the next bar to try more of this pintxos, that isn't more that bread with sauces and something to go, like ham our cheese.

Our last stop, we got to try the famous “pata negra” ham, and the fame it has is well deserved, trust me. This bar is a more traditional one, it has bull fighting posters in the wall, some of them are really old. After the ham, we tried some fried peppers with garlic - "guindillas", they were really cool and fun to eat to, because we know that once in a while one of them comes out to be really spicy, fun thing to watch someone unexpectedly eat a spicy pepper. Andre is a regular costumer, so the owner came to talk to us and I asked him if i could take one of the posters with me, he answered with a funny smile “sure you can”, we all laugh, and we started talking about the dates of the posters and bull fighting related stuff.

On my way out i heard my name out loud, when i turn around the owner was offering me three posters, how cool is that? One of them is dated from 1985. Awesome, now i have to figure it out, how to send the poster home.

After an ice cream to calm our tongues from the spicy surprises, we went back at the flat we sat down, and had a little chat, i tried the "Patxarn" this liquor drink, and talked about drawing, cats music, our background, couch surfing, its cool to have a place to have a drink and relax after a night out, and obviously someone to talk to.

Everyone is tired and Andre has a volley game tomorrow morning so its time to bed. Tomorrow i will try to relax a bit and upload my photos to a website so that all of you can see it.

Thank you all for the incoming comments to the blog, it's really a warm feeling when i get the chance to read them.

day 5 - Sud Express

Day 5

Not like the last few days, I got up really early, Peter was going to get a visit from the cable guy to install a new set of services.

I started to get all my gadget stuff fully charged in the morning so that i had plenty to entertain myself on the train to San Sebastian. I noted down my next host address just in case i can't use internet when i arrive at Spain, went to the bank to withdraw some money, had lunch and made some shopping for the trip, apples, cereal bars, a bottle of water and some cookies, how and the wine for my hosts, my mother taught me well :)

When I was going to buy the train ticket there wasn't any more regular seats left, so i had to travel coach, no problem maybe some of my coach co-travels would be interesting people to chat.

Waiting at the train station, I started to image what persons that were in the platform with me was going in the same direction. A few last jokes with Peter and off I go. Thank you Peter and Helena for your hospitality, hope the site helps you my friend.

A Spanish employee with very good manners quickly showed me my bed.
First of all, the ideas that you maybe having, about 5 beautiful girls sharing the same space with me, bahhhh, there were 4 man already installed. I got the top bed on the right, no stress. The train starts to leave and i'm looking at the window thinking, this is it, i'm really doing this. For some moments i even felt a bit weird, some lack of air.

15 minutes gone by, comes a railway employee and starts to play a little but very noisy bell. Nothing special happens after that. At that point I felt that my emotions here on the biggest roller coaster in the world, and does loopings were “umongus”. Looking at a tsuru i made to calm myself standing on the window, I felt that i could write a book so deep and at the same time so insignificant just inspired by my gesture of touching the window.

Listening to Eddie Vedder complaining about society and watching the rural landscape half deserted, there is this strange freedom fighting guerilla feeling.
Two hours gone by and a lot off folded paper, and i'm not the only one in this narrow hallway, among being incredibly small and its greenish hospital look, it now as almost twelve people staring at the running trees outside.

A few more minutes gone by, and some cookies and others small snacks exchanged, we all knew each other destinations in my compartment,two of them are going to Paris, the other two are going to Victoria, one train station before mine. Oh, does going to Victoria told their wife's that they were going to work for two weeks in Spain, well, if they believe that poor lie, i think they deserve the faith they are getting.

One of them, the only white male besides me, is from Luanda, it is a good starting point to keep on talking since Carlos has recently moved down there. Travel story's, family, explanations about some economy phenomenons and so on. Another strange thing is that the light keeps on failing, having a conversation looking at a dark landscape and without lights on the inside its becoming very weird.

When the train stopped on the Spanish fronter, i got a chance to meet a Dutch family, a middle age couple and tree teenager girls. They are heading back home from a vacation week in Portimão.
After spending a few minutes trying to persuade them to come back to Portugal, but this time go north, which helped my rusty english to come out in public, we discover we had something in common, we are (at least I was trying to be) both project managers. He is a project manager in a railway company. After I told a sentence about how the project he is managing are a lot different from mine, he told me this without a blink: “a project is a project, it has a beginning and an ending”, it was like a small pat on my back from which I guess I immediately gain more confident and got a chance to explain my point of view.

We had another thing in common, we know that smaller, underpaying jobs are as important as the others, and we should respect everyone. It is becoming late, and he wished me luck for my sabbatical year trip, and told me i was being very brave. That is my middle name, Brave.

I'm writing this seating on the floor of the hallway, because in the compartment the lights are out. Not very sleepy, i'm practising my introduction to my host tomorrow morning when i arrive.

Now i'm trying to figure out one more thing, what the hell was the bell sign for?

day 4 - switch modes: work to chillout

day 4

After arriving to Lisbon, waiting for Peter to pick me up, I decided to take some pictures to the train station Gare do Oriente. Got out my new amazing cheap camera, the mini tripod and started clicking like a Japanese tourist.
I love this station, and as it is getting darker, the yellow warm lights make it more and more beautiful. The last time I was here, was on my vacations to Greece. Besides being day light, at the time I was focussed on looking at something(someone) else ;)

Peter arrives, a few minutes of chat (till 4 in the morning) to catch up since last week goodbye party, and off to bed we go, "we go" not like we got in bed together :D
I had a good night sleep - the drueling kind - and got the chance to try my sleeping bag, it will do me just fine, not that in Peters house I had the need for it since it looks like an oven.

Awaking at brunch time and not very hungry, its time to test my new home and my packing skills. Getting my sleeping gear back on the backpack, taking my shower stuff and day clothes off, take a fast shower and then getting what I don't need back in. It seems like a long procedure, AND IT IS, I better get pro at this, I'm going to practice it every single day from now on.
personal note: I've got to find a better and quicker way to do this... boriiiiing.

Taking a walk by the river, morning talk (to us it was still morning) which is always very easy to keep on going, "me: it is a bit different since my last time here! peter: yep." or "Peter: what do you want to do? Romeu: anything..." always pleasant conversation.

Finding the cheapest lunch in Lisbon it's almost a quest worthy of being a Indiana Jones title. Totally unexpected after a 15 minute, walk we found a picanha plate at the modest price of 3.99€.... not as tasty as does Eurico always fancy us in his huge restaurant guide back in Braga, but it was ok.

10 minutes finished my lunch and I'm in work mode again, my metabolism just isn't in sync with my new lifestyle, and I can't seem leave the office behind. It's the price to pay after a few years working very very hard in pursuit of a dream, and I don't regret a single day that passed by. Now I just need to get my mind off work and learn to chill a bit.

Went to check on the train schedule and got back at Peters flat. I started to work on his website and got the chance to keep up the on line chat with some of you back home. I even got the good news that my brother is going to work with Xinez, congratulations to both of you, and thank you once more my soul brother, even away you look out for me and my family.

Dinner time, and he get on the road to see Peters old boss and friend. Having to go by Sporting and Benfica stadium to is new office, that by the way isn't very well located, it was in the middle of a Lisbon thug zone, but it was nice anyway, he made funny comments about my accent right away, very friendly guy.

Dinner, great fish, even better talk, some advices on life, talked about the trip, about work, I even got the chance to tell some of my jokes... most of them will stop making logic in other languages so last chance to tell them now, we laugh out loud, laugh till tears started to drop.
Left my mark outside the restaurant by messing up a big vase made of wood, no one saw it but us, eh eh.

Time to go to bed, tomorrow I'll crossover to nuestros hermanos side, and a 14 hour trip starting at 04.15 pm in the Sud Express expects me.
Sud Express is famous for its legacy in the 70's, when the Portuguese emigrant all tried their luck in France the sud Express was always packed. I'll be stopping in San Sebastian - Spain, but maybe I'll get to ear some stories about it. I have already heard that the conditions have not gotten better since does days. There are even some movies with scenes shot on this train.

The real adventure really starts tomorrow, let the Spanish conquest begin.

day 3 - first of the firsts

Day 3

Another ordinary awakening, late in the morning as it is becoming usual, warm sun on my face when I run the curtains, the sound of children playing on the soccer field, my multiracial neighbours, a poetic morning... and then it pop up's to me... like does obnoxious banners from on line casinos (it could be porn but I'm being careful about my language, never know who is reading this), it's my last day home!

Last brunch, last bath (at home), thank Me (i don't use "thank god") I went late in the night rechecking my stuff, so I can enjoy this day at its fullest, not so different from the others, but at the same time so uncommon.

My mind was at peace, but my body, the physical part was a bit in an adrenaline rush. Either it was quiet as a sleeping mouse, as suddenly it was a racing stallion on steroids.

Last goodbye to my things at home, one last look at the office that was literally my second home during the last 5 years, I don't think I'll miss does nights sleeping on the red chairs knowing that the cleaning lady will wake me early to continue the job, one last stop to skills to say goodbye to Xinez, thank you for the written words my soul brother we will be one until the end of times.

Another thank you to all that supported me. As I'm writing this in the bus to Lisbon, and Brandi Carlile is screaming for the third time on the bus radio, I'm remembering you all, I'm taking a bit of you with me. And not as in the exterminator phrase:
- i'll be back :D

Its funny as my thoughts are jumping from the memories of the people and places i'm leaving behind, and the expectations and creative situations that I start to imagine that will happen in the future, i just can't seem to think that the idea of going alone is a bad one, but i sure wouldn't mind that some of you had come along for the ride :D

Peter is waiting me in Lisbon, he was in Braga for my goodbye party, from which i still don't have a single picture... it will be nice to have a good old friend as my first "host" in a week of "last things".

Hoping that this is the first of many good first thing's.

day 2 - check & double check

day 2

After embracing the few days I earned at home from the starting bump, and not wanting to take any more chances, I decided to re-check my one week already packed backpack.
After all, tomorrow that is going to be the last of the things I want going on my mind.

So I unpack all and started to review my inventory.
Rapidly realising that the words "get everything you think you need, and then throw way half of it" are so right. I reviewed my style vs comfort priority's, went on-line and did my own weather forecast to the winter to come as I pack up one last time.

It would be a lot more easier if I didn't went with the bride ideology on the day I bought my backpack.
What is the bride ideology? Buy several sizes smaller to force yourself to diet. So I bought a 70l backpack, which is already a huge backpack, but it doesn't fit all my things, oh well, I'm hoping to give myself a pat on the back during the trip for deciding to buy this backpack.

So what is on my backpack? well... you ask for it....
3 pairs of jeans
beach shorts
sport shorts
2 jackets
snow coat
snow gloves
3 sweaters
2 skarfs
polartek
2 pair of boots
pair of slippers
pair of sneakers
beach towel
swimming water absorber tower
sleeping bag
sleeping sheet
small backpack
tent
10 t-shirts
impermeable suit
8 pair of socks
6 boxers shorts
origami paper
note book
2 books
laptop
ipod
camera
mini camera tripod
AA battery charger
alarm clock
money bag + documents
hygiene items

uffff

For the most expert backpackers, I'm taking a shopping mall with me, but this is going to be my new home, brother, friend and mother for the next months (at least I hope so).

Many of you maybe thinking how did I manage to get all of this in a backpack? don't know, but I'm anticipating a good amount of wrinkles on my cloths :)

here is a picture for the sceptic's:

day 1 - departure delayed

Day 1

After realizing that my departure was going to be delayed for two days due to complications with some documents, and after a good awakening even with my morning grumpiness due to the delaying of the trip, I decided to take a last walk in the city that adopt me since I was about 12.

After making sure my documents were going to be ready on time, after all I don't want to risk another false departure and I'm more anxious than before to leave, I scrolled myself trough the city. In my newly acquired waking style, slow passed, observer and a open and friendly smile, I went from spot to spot with a different mind-set, it was my farewell walk.

Being a natural observer and curious person in my normal day by day life, I didn't found anything new that deserves being mentioned, everything is the same old city, besides all the old buildings and roads being reconstructed, after all 09 will be election year.

Strangely I seem to find a new refreshing and inspiring reason to continue my “goodbye city” tour.
Ok, this isn't by any means the city that never sleeps, and I'm not king of the hill, but my sensorial and emotional memory kicked in, they decided to get in touch with each other and congratulate me with pleasant memories of places and events I have experienced in my years living here. I'll leave hemingway the difficult task to describe the not so vibrant colours, the not so flourish smells and common tastes of the city.

Sweat memories of teenager loves, places were I have worked, stores that don't exist anymore, door steps were me and my friends had delivered some of the late night best jokes on earth... and it goes on and on. Every few steps and a head turn a new fresh smile pops to my face, people going by look at me with an inquirer look and even smile at my by sympathy. It is good to leave and realise that I have a history and a past in this small city. Some place I can return to and still feel that I belong somewhere.

To those that have been with me past few week's, and had listened to the repetitive answers following the repetitive questions about the reasons that catalysed my decision to travel, are thinking he is going insane, its a reality, he is definitively insane. “One day he says the city is to small, and lobbies are getting to him, a talk about wanting to find new grounds... tired of having chains...blah blah...”, it's a bit contradictory I have to agree, having a need to leave this place were I have so much of my history and feeling it is good to have a place to return to. But it is the truth.

Even not having second thoughts about going on this new adventure, I will miss “my” city.

Last things before undergoing surgery...

Before undergoing into my new lifestyle surgery and starting to nip and tuck my personality to survive one more adventure, I came to find out that the most common pre-travelling cliché is a rather cool thing to do... Doing things the last time before departure.

Last soccer match with good friends, last basketball practice with the kids, last client meting, last dinner with clients, goodbye party's and the last goodbye words to some friends and some others more than friends...

I'm not a nostalgic person (Alf like smile listen to), but things do get a rather different meaning. Does that are most close to you also share this feeling. Some of them start to question if the journey is really a good idea and that it's ok to go back on my decision, while others offer to help you pack up, words of encouragement and even other useful items ;).
For the record, none of them asked for my bank account number in case I needed :D My guess is this generic attitude is caused by the alarming economy, if not what else?

I could even delay the departure just to do more of this last things :D

Let's be honest, we all know we have good friends but in this type of uncommon situations they really say what they feel about you, and that is a really good thing to ear, especially if you are getting ready to be absent for a long period of time. Oh, one piece of advise, if you are going trough this type of experience, you should be very alert, because people chose really weird ways to say I will miss you.

This post is starting to resemble the closing minutes of a tv series episode, but in this real life series there isn't a moral do the story, at least not one that I had figure out. The only thing that truly stands out - (turn the microphone filter to Morgan Freeman voice) - is a huge thank you note to all my friends and family, thank you for everything.

And now, let the lame word's fly over our heads for a minutes.... and let the games begin :D:D:D