I have been lucky in many ways on this trip. Today was the first day I had to ride in the rain. Sure, it misted on me a bit in Washington and the fog in Oregon was almost like riding in the rain, but today it poured.
I didn't have to ride in the rain. I could have stayed in the apartment here in Venice Beach and stayed totally dry, warm and cozy. But what's the fun in that? Also, I was hungry.
I took my bike down to the street, wearing my rain coat and jeans (jeans were a terrible idea), and set out to the grocery store. I decided I would go to Whole Foods about three miles away. Why would I choose the sort of far away and most expensive grocery store around? I do not know. I found it with no problems, my fenders kept me from getting dirty water in my face and I bought lots of yummy fruit and yogurt... and two cookies. I have this insane cookie addiction.
After Whole Foods I spotted a farmers' market and decided to ride through and check it out. I bought some more fruit and then headed back to the apartment.
All in all I only cycled 7 miles, but the experience helped remind me how lucky I am to have had a rain-free trip all the way from Seattle to LA. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny again! Then, on Saturday or Sunday, I will head south to San Diego to meet Monica. Woo!
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
La odisea
I'm in Venice, CA staying for a little while with friends. My ultimate destination is Monica's dad's sailboat in San Diego. She doesn't fly in until October 10, so I'm killing time and hanging out on the beach in LA until she gets there.
The entire trip has been filled with awesome, some highlights... drinking, cycling, eating baked goods, meeting lots of cool people, seeing lots of friends I normally only get to see once a year or so, and drinking. There's been a surprising (and awesome) amount of drinking on the trip.
I've gotten only one flat tire. Nothing else has broken. My bruise count is up in the hundreds by now, but otherwise my body has been pretty good to me. There haven't been any animal attacks, or crashes, or thieves/murderers/rapists. However, there have been many crazy people, including a former cult leader, and a guy whose claim to fame was that he gives "the all star massage".
I'd say the closest I got to a potential animal attack was the rattlesnake outside my tent the other night. That was a bit unnerving.
My favorite part of the trip was probably the Oregon coast. The other cyclists I've met and rode with were some of the coolest people: Emily from Arlington, WA, Jan and Ron from Vancouver, BC, Karla from Alaska, Daryl and Cliff from Mercer Island. I feel really lucky to have met such wonderful people. It's made the entire trip much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Sometimes when I sit and think about it I realize how crazy it sounds that I've traveled this far on my bicycle. But having done it, it doesn't seem crazy at all. It was actually really easy. I've only cried a handful of times, and I've only felt unsafe maybe once or twice. People in general have been so good and so kind to me. I hope I'm able to inspire people to cycle more or at least take better care of cyclists they see on the road.
The entire trip has been filled with awesome, some highlights... drinking, cycling, eating baked goods, meeting lots of cool people, seeing lots of friends I normally only get to see once a year or so, and drinking. There's been a surprising (and awesome) amount of drinking on the trip.
I've gotten only one flat tire. Nothing else has broken. My bruise count is up in the hundreds by now, but otherwise my body has been pretty good to me. There haven't been any animal attacks, or crashes, or thieves/murderers/rapists. However, there have been many crazy people, including a former cult leader, and a guy whose claim to fame was that he gives "the all star massage".
I'd say the closest I got to a potential animal attack was the rattlesnake outside my tent the other night. That was a bit unnerving.
My favorite part of the trip was probably the Oregon coast. The other cyclists I've met and rode with were some of the coolest people: Emily from Arlington, WA, Jan and Ron from Vancouver, BC, Karla from Alaska, Daryl and Cliff from Mercer Island. I feel really lucky to have met such wonderful people. It's made the entire trip much more enjoyable and rewarding.
Sometimes when I sit and think about it I realize how crazy it sounds that I've traveled this far on my bicycle. But having done it, it doesn't seem crazy at all. It was actually really easy. I've only cried a handful of times, and I've only felt unsafe maybe once or twice. People in general have been so good and so kind to me. I hope I'm able to inspire people to cycle more or at least take better care of cyclists they see on the road.
Monday, August 22, 2011
La resurrección
I suppose it's time to blog again.
This evening I said bye to my friends Julianne and Bjorn as they start their bicycling trip to Whitefish, Montana. Their eventual destination will be Spokane where they are moving so Julie can attend PT school. It was sad to say goodbye, but I am excited for their awesome trip.
And I am excited for my own trip which starts on Sunday. Yes, Sunday! I am leaving Everett to cycle all the way down the coast, ending in San Diego by October 10. I am planning to stay a few days along the way with friends in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. I've also got friends living in Northern California (Mikey), Sunnyvale, Monterey and San Luis Obispo. I am looking forward to visits with people as well as lots of alone time as I'm doing this trip solo (¿sola?).
Kiki likes my bike.
Maybe it's time to change the name of this blog, but "La aventura de la costa oeste" just doesn't sound as nice. Maybe something more like, "Aventurando en bici". Whatever.
This evening I said bye to my friends Julianne and Bjorn as they start their bicycling trip to Whitefish, Montana. Their eventual destination will be Spokane where they are moving so Julie can attend PT school. It was sad to say goodbye, but I am excited for their awesome trip.
And I am excited for my own trip which starts on Sunday. Yes, Sunday! I am leaving Everett to cycle all the way down the coast, ending in San Diego by October 10. I am planning to stay a few days along the way with friends in cities like San Francisco and Los Angeles. I've also got friends living in Northern California (Mikey), Sunnyvale, Monterey and San Luis Obispo. I am looking forward to visits with people as well as lots of alone time as I'm doing this trip solo (¿sola?).
Kiki likes my bike.
Maybe it's time to change the name of this blog, but "La aventura de la costa oeste" just doesn't sound as nice. Maybe something more like, "Aventurando en bici". Whatever.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
El cansancio
My excuse for not blogging is because I am too lazy and tired, really I just can't be bothered to write about my life. These are not in order at all except for the first photo being the oldest and the last photo being from two nights ago, almost the most recent. I think the apple photo is actually the most recent. If you want to know more about any of the photos or things I do, ask me.
I went to Cádiz
I drink German beer with Germans
I drink Japanese beer with Paula
And eat fish shaped waffles?
I spot errors on signs
And then MTV is there and I hear Katy Perry from afar.
I drink cocktails with Terra and Mark in a weird (REALLY COOL) bar
I try to teach Spanish kids to pay attention in P.E.
I tutor 4th grade girls
I have funny friends
I eat Indian food on my birthday
I see my friend play in her funk band
I go to flamenco shows
I visit Jaison in London
I go to the pub after training with Jais's open team in London
And I wear Burro jerseys
I make apple crisp for fake Thanksgiving parties
And I have more funny friends
I went to Cádiz
I drink German beer with Germans
I drink Japanese beer with Paula
And eat fish shaped waffles?
I spot errors on signs
And then MTV is there and I hear Katy Perry from afar.
I drink cocktails with Terra and Mark in a weird (REALLY COOL) bar
I try to teach Spanish kids to pay attention in P.E.
I tutor 4th grade girls
I have funny friends
I eat Indian food on my birthday
I see my friend play in her funk band
I go to flamenco shows
I visit Jaison in London
I go to the pub after training with Jais's open team in London
And I wear Burro jerseys
I make apple crisp for fake Thanksgiving parties
And I have more funny friends
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
La lista
I've been composing a list of all of the bad things about Spain, and I'm finally going to type it up and expand on each item for your reading pleasure.
1. Weird smells
I'm sure you can say that all big cities have their share of weird smells... but let me elaborate. It's not just the giant garbage piles on the street, or the people who decide to light a cigarette in front of you while going up the stairs out of the metro. It is everything. You walk past someone here and their smell is left lingering for various seconds. It might not necessarily be a foul smell (although some definitely are), but the smell of too much cologne or perfume. Why must people douse themselves in these weird smelling liquids before going out and walking by me? I can deal with the cigarette smoke, at least I can see that coming... but the sneaky gross perfume smell? Really? Ugh...
2. Aggressive P.D.A.
Okay, I get it. You are 30-some years old and live with your parents. That's not because you're a bum, but rather because you are Spanish. I also understand that you probably don't want to take your significant other home with you because your parents would start thinking you should move out of the house and marry this significant other. So what are you to do? You can't take your S.O. home to snuggle and make out and whatever else you would normally do if you were a normal adult and not living at home... Does this make the metro, the park, or the street corner fair ground for your aggressive public displays of affection? The answer is no! No one wants to see you getting it on with your significant other, who, by the way, probably smells like gross cheap perfume.
3. Dog shit
Do the madrileños enjoy stepping in dog poo whenever they leave their apartment? I seriously can't imagine they do... but then again, I can't think of any other reason for why they would so adamantly neglect to pick up after their filthy pets. Perhaps it is like this everywhere else in the world except in the States. Can anyone confirm?
4. Sundays
I happen to enjoy leaving my house at least once per day and find it extremely depressing and unenjoyable to sit inside all day, especially when inside is a tiny crappy little apartment. My issue with Sundays is that nothing is open. You can't run errands, you can barely obtain food on Sundays. I must admit, Madrid is a lot better about this than the rest of Spain. There is actually an entire mall that is open on Sundays! Ikea is even open one Sunday a month. How the Swedes talked their Spanish employees into working those absurd hours, I don't know.
5. The children
I thought Mr. Storla's class was loud that one day that I was volunteering at Whittier. That would be considered almost silent in Spanish elementary schools. My voice doesn't get as loud as the normal volume of these kids' voices. It is difficult to get my point across, firstly because I'm not allowed to speak to them in Spanish, and secondly because while I am speaking English at a normal volume there are usually about 25 small Spanish children speaking Spanish at the top of their lungs, prohibiting any of the children to hear what I'm saying. I end up repeating myself about a thousand times a day, and for anyone who knows me even a tiny little bit, you know how much I like repeating myself. Oh yeah, and I'm not supposed to speak to the teachers in Spanish either even though most don't know that much English. The ones who have a decent level of English insist on speaking in English with me, which is fair. However, when I reply in English and they look at me blankly, obviously not understanding, all I can do is repeat myself in various ways until they get it. Or what I normally do: explain it in Spanish. It's such a roundabout way to do things, and especially infuriating when limited in time.
The list goes on but these are the big things. I've started a list of the good things about Spain, too. So far there are only two things on it: seeing fields of solar panels next to hundreds of wind turbines, and the tuna.
1. Weird smells
I'm sure you can say that all big cities have their share of weird smells... but let me elaborate. It's not just the giant garbage piles on the street, or the people who decide to light a cigarette in front of you while going up the stairs out of the metro. It is everything. You walk past someone here and their smell is left lingering for various seconds. It might not necessarily be a foul smell (although some definitely are), but the smell of too much cologne or perfume. Why must people douse themselves in these weird smelling liquids before going out and walking by me? I can deal with the cigarette smoke, at least I can see that coming... but the sneaky gross perfume smell? Really? Ugh...
2. Aggressive P.D.A.
Okay, I get it. You are 30-some years old and live with your parents. That's not because you're a bum, but rather because you are Spanish. I also understand that you probably don't want to take your significant other home with you because your parents would start thinking you should move out of the house and marry this significant other. So what are you to do? You can't take your S.O. home to snuggle and make out and whatever else you would normally do if you were a normal adult and not living at home... Does this make the metro, the park, or the street corner fair ground for your aggressive public displays of affection? The answer is no! No one wants to see you getting it on with your significant other, who, by the way, probably smells like gross cheap perfume.
3. Dog shit
Do the madrileños enjoy stepping in dog poo whenever they leave their apartment? I seriously can't imagine they do... but then again, I can't think of any other reason for why they would so adamantly neglect to pick up after their filthy pets. Perhaps it is like this everywhere else in the world except in the States. Can anyone confirm?
4. Sundays
I happen to enjoy leaving my house at least once per day and find it extremely depressing and unenjoyable to sit inside all day, especially when inside is a tiny crappy little apartment. My issue with Sundays is that nothing is open. You can't run errands, you can barely obtain food on Sundays. I must admit, Madrid is a lot better about this than the rest of Spain. There is actually an entire mall that is open on Sundays! Ikea is even open one Sunday a month. How the Swedes talked their Spanish employees into working those absurd hours, I don't know.
5. The children
I thought Mr. Storla's class was loud that one day that I was volunteering at Whittier. That would be considered almost silent in Spanish elementary schools. My voice doesn't get as loud as the normal volume of these kids' voices. It is difficult to get my point across, firstly because I'm not allowed to speak to them in Spanish, and secondly because while I am speaking English at a normal volume there are usually about 25 small Spanish children speaking Spanish at the top of their lungs, prohibiting any of the children to hear what I'm saying. I end up repeating myself about a thousand times a day, and for anyone who knows me even a tiny little bit, you know how much I like repeating myself. Oh yeah, and I'm not supposed to speak to the teachers in Spanish either even though most don't know that much English. The ones who have a decent level of English insist on speaking in English with me, which is fair. However, when I reply in English and they look at me blankly, obviously not understanding, all I can do is repeat myself in various ways until they get it. Or what I normally do: explain it in Spanish. It's such a roundabout way to do things, and especially infuriating when limited in time.
The list goes on but these are the big things. I've started a list of the good things about Spain, too. So far there are only two things on it: seeing fields of solar panels next to hundreds of wind turbines, and the tuna.
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Y ahora: madrileña
And on the fifth day... I found an apartment!
I've been in Madrid for five days now, it's been really tough. I waited to blog about my time here until now because, although I had so much to say and write about, it would have all come off as extremely negative and pessamistic. I'm not saying I'm feeling totally positive and optomistic right now, although things are looking up. I am still not 100% happy, but when have I ever been? Not often...
The first few days were complete misery. Leaving home was really difficult this time. I feel like it was more difficult than when I left before. Perhaps I feel ready to plant some roots and stick around one place for a while. Or perhaps I am just jaded from having traveled lots already. I usually just blame it on Spain for sucking so much. I even started a list of all of the shitty things about this country. I will share that later, and it will continue to grow. I could probably add to it with each post I make, that might be funny.
Today I feel as if everything is more or less falling into place. I don't love it here, but it's not like I am going to die of hatred for this place. At least not any more than I already have... hah.
The place I am moving into tonight is in Puerta del Ángel, so not the center. I think it is a fine location because it is quiet, but not too far from the bus station where I go for work and also not too far from the center. Kind of like how in Cádiz I lived a bus ride away from most things (school, going out) and in Everett I lived far away from everything (UW, work in Kirkland, ultimate) but I deal with it pretty okay. Commuting has become part of my life and I don't adore it but it also doesn't make me go crazy like I imagine it would make some people. I had thought about possibly living near the school where I teach, but people talked me out of it. I don't think I'd hate living there, but I don't think it is the right option for me at the moment. I hope I made a good decision about my flat.
The roommates are one Spanish guy and one Italian guy. The Italian guy has a little dog that seems nice. When I got there to see the place the Italian guy was smoking hash. So that is interesting. The flat is sunny and has an oven and a washing machine. I don't think I saw a dish washer but a lot of places don't have dish washers. A lot of places also don't have ovens, which is a load of crap. So I'm glad to have an oven because I like to bake.
I want to get a bicycle because I think that would be convenient, especially since I live a few kilometers from the center and one of my friends is like 4km away, the other is nearer, only 2km away. Ultimate practices happen a few km away, but seriously everything is pretty close together.
I'll update about my life again soon, and maybe include my list of hates as well as some photos of my new flat.
I've been in Madrid for five days now, it's been really tough. I waited to blog about my time here until now because, although I had so much to say and write about, it would have all come off as extremely negative and pessamistic. I'm not saying I'm feeling totally positive and optomistic right now, although things are looking up. I am still not 100% happy, but when have I ever been? Not often...
The first few days were complete misery. Leaving home was really difficult this time. I feel like it was more difficult than when I left before. Perhaps I feel ready to plant some roots and stick around one place for a while. Or perhaps I am just jaded from having traveled lots already. I usually just blame it on Spain for sucking so much. I even started a list of all of the shitty things about this country. I will share that later, and it will continue to grow. I could probably add to it with each post I make, that might be funny.
Today I feel as if everything is more or less falling into place. I don't love it here, but it's not like I am going to die of hatred for this place. At least not any more than I already have... hah.
The place I am moving into tonight is in Puerta del Ángel, so not the center. I think it is a fine location because it is quiet, but not too far from the bus station where I go for work and also not too far from the center. Kind of like how in Cádiz I lived a bus ride away from most things (school, going out) and in Everett I lived far away from everything (UW, work in Kirkland, ultimate) but I deal with it pretty okay. Commuting has become part of my life and I don't adore it but it also doesn't make me go crazy like I imagine it would make some people. I had thought about possibly living near the school where I teach, but people talked me out of it. I don't think I'd hate living there, but I don't think it is the right option for me at the moment. I hope I made a good decision about my flat.
The roommates are one Spanish guy and one Italian guy. The Italian guy has a little dog that seems nice. When I got there to see the place the Italian guy was smoking hash. So that is interesting. The flat is sunny and has an oven and a washing machine. I don't think I saw a dish washer but a lot of places don't have dish washers. A lot of places also don't have ovens, which is a load of crap. So I'm glad to have an oven because I like to bake.
I want to get a bicycle because I think that would be convenient, especially since I live a few kilometers from the center and one of my friends is like 4km away, the other is nearer, only 2km away. Ultimate practices happen a few km away, but seriously everything is pretty close together.
I'll update about my life again soon, and maybe include my list of hates as well as some photos of my new flat.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
La aventura continua
I am graduating from the University of Washington in a few short weeks. I have about a million things to do before it ends. I will write three (long) papers, take a few more exams, and probably be completely stressed out for the next fifteen days. But then, on June 10, I will fly to sunny Portugal! I will stay in Lisbon for a few weeks, play at the Bar do Peixe ultimate frisbee tournament with great friends from around the world, and then just hang out for a few more days. After that, I will return to Seattle and start my search for a job. Potlatch will also happen and probably be fabulous. Toolbox is fielding a team, although I am unsure if I want to play with them or if I should rejoin my team from two years ago, the UVM alumni team. I am sure to have a blast with them if I defect from Toolbox... but I am a founding member of Toolbox and this is the first year that we are putting together a team for Potlatch. I'm not sure what I should do!
I accepted a position to go to Spain in October to teach English to kinds until May. I don't really want to go (I know, I sound like a spoiled brat) because I have already been there and it is a great place, just not my favorite place to live. I do have many friends there who I miss and would like to see again. And living in Europe is awesome. I would rather go to Russia... I want to learn a new language and experience new things, not go back to something I am already familiar with and do what I did last year all over again. Tough decisions. If nothing else comes up, I will be going to Spain. It is like a backup plan. If I find a job in Seattle or if I find something else that makes me want to stay, then I will stay. But if I don't, then I will be leaving one way or another. Spain, Russia, who knows.
First things first, though. Portugal in June, Potlatch in July, and Disneyland (yay!) in July. Sonia is supposed to come to Seattle in September, too! So I will get to hang out with her and go hiking and do lovely things like that.
I accepted a position to go to Spain in October to teach English to kinds until May. I don't really want to go (I know, I sound like a spoiled brat) because I have already been there and it is a great place, just not my favorite place to live. I do have many friends there who I miss and would like to see again. And living in Europe is awesome. I would rather go to Russia... I want to learn a new language and experience new things, not go back to something I am already familiar with and do what I did last year all over again. Tough decisions. If nothing else comes up, I will be going to Spain. It is like a backup plan. If I find a job in Seattle or if I find something else that makes me want to stay, then I will stay. But if I don't, then I will be leaving one way or another. Spain, Russia, who knows.
First things first, though. Portugal in June, Potlatch in July, and Disneyland (yay!) in July. Sonia is supposed to come to Seattle in September, too! So I will get to hang out with her and go hiking and do lovely things like that.
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