Dead Sea vs Red Sea

Valencia, tres de la tarde

I've just discovered — or re-discovered — that in some southern cities the lunch-break is a bit longer than those I'm used to. Like tath you can't do anything before 5PM — except having a beer and some tapas.

¿Qué le vamos a hacer?

Thus I just stopped by a Lebanese tapas-bar for my obligatory kebab and started a chat with the customers and the owners, and it sorted out that they were actually from Jordan (but, as they told me, "All in all it's always middle-east!")

I was rapidly involved into an animated discussion about which sea was the hottest: the Red Sea or the Dead Sea. It was kinda funny because 1) nobody in the room had ever stayed at both seas, and 2) they all were arguing in Spanish for my own entertainement!

I told them I was going to Jordan and Egypt too, just for measuring temperatures … They seemed happy with that!

I think this is one of the main reasons for me having such a trip: the possibility of chatting with perfect strangers just about everything.

Random thoughts about Valencia

• Calatrava, wind, guiris pero no tantos.


• I highly recommend a good nap on the trencadis benches of the Umbracle.


• The ancient city is not so big, everything is in walking distance — if you can stand the temperature, though.


• Laundry with free wireless — otherwise it would be impossible having the time to write a blog!


• Wide deserted beaches, although you have to walk a bit for, it's definitely worth it: no loud music, no fighting for a towel place, no Hay servesa-cola-aguafresca-naranha-bíir!


• Horchata, of course! In Alboraya there's even an Horchata Avenue :-)


• For hours of entertainment, ask Valencians sabout the "Paella a la catalana" :-)
  

The Wheel Of Fortune

Barcelona second stop: El raval

This is my now-favourite district: the cleaning is not — yet? — completed here.

Here you can still see the city as it once was. It seems that all the people I used to see in bars and streets have moved here. I'm in a bar surrounded by movie-like characters(?) and by the flavours — and smells — of the eighties. It's early afternoon, and the television is on "La Ruleta de la Suerte" with all of the customers trying to guess the words at a very loud voice. Priceless!

A small advice: all the stuff that is not-so-turist-shaped is already doomed. Hurry up!

Barcelona, again

I can't help it.

This city has a special strength that pulls me towards her.
This time I bent westwards my counter clock-wise trip to see my old friends and spend some quality time with them.

First stop: La playa

The privilege of living in a city with a beach is something that you can't imagine until you actually try it. You have like a free hour so you just go down to the beach, take a dip, dry yourself under the sun and that's it! It feels like heaven.

On my way back from the playa I stopped by a kebab shop, and I had to take this picture. On the same street you can see those super-modern skyscrapers and 17th-Century buildings and roads. I love this city! :-)

Just a starting point

I'm writing these lines in the plane to Madrid, going to attend the CS/HC First Madrid International Camp '08. Today is—for so to speak—the first day in this new phase of my life: yesterday I notified my boss about my decision to just quit and go somewhere else. And it was a relief. Really.

I'm now entering

— Step one —

the list

If you're planning a year-long trip around the world, it is probably a good idea to sit for moment and try figuring out what you need for your trip—and what you don't. I'm going to fill two lists: one for the stuff that I'll need during the trip, and one for writing down stuff that I'll be tempted to bring over, but probably can avoid.

— Step one —

the list

the lists

O.K. I need a third list: the to-do list, for things like passport and such. I'll call this one the Count-Down List.

This is what I have in it so far:

1. Sandals


2. Bank


3. Insurance
   
   
   
   • Car (stop)
   
   
   • Health (start)
   
   


4. Passport
   
   
   
   • Foto (with and without beard)
   
   
   • Visas
   
   


5. Backpack


6. Laptop (?)


7. Blood exams


8. Vaccinations


9. Travel plan (at least a rough one)


10. …

Phew! I feel like this is only the tip of the iceberg, but I'll try to fill this one, first.

Any idea about stuff I should definitely do before leaving will be very appreciated.