Seville

Oh boy...

I am in a new city now, Seville, Spain, if that wasn't obvious from the title of post. I haven't decided quite what to make of it yet. I think it would be quite a lovely place if it weren't over 100 degrees everyday and if there was a reliable bus or metro system, or maybe even relatively level blocks (I believe this is what happens to a city when everyone drinks all the time and siestas from noon to 5pm--no joke that's really how long siesta is). I've been here since wendesday afternoon and kinda am looking foreword to traveling maybe to a beach, who knows where really at this point, but somewhere with large bodies of water. But thank God my hostel has a pool because this heat would be absolutely unbearable otherwise and it has served very well for meeting new people. In part because of the pool, I definitely think my best times so far have been at the hostel meeting random people from all over the world rather than traveling around with friends. Things just get a little too messy and difficult when you have to incorporate another person's needs and wants into your own, which is exactly why I'm not the biggest fan of dating. It really is just too difficult and stressful to always make sure someone else is alrite and happy, while still doing your own thing. But then again, I can't say that my opinion is formed simply by the challenges of being tied to another person, for the people I have met here have been proven to be quite the lot of entertainers and so begins the story. You might think that a happy story would begin on a nice summer day in Seville, not to hot but not too cold, sun shining, birds chirping, some Spaniards playing guitar and dancing in the streets, good food and wine. The good wine is about all we got so far. The rest I liken to the 9th level of hell in Dante's Inferno. In other words--a wicked time.

After arriving in Seville, we had to trek from the airport--with our 20 lbs suit cases--to our hostel, which was made infinitely more confusing because streets tend to change names every 2 blocks (I believe this brilliant idea also must have arisen from the obnoxiously long siestas and of course, can't forget the wine). The weather was also over 100 degrees, yay summer! *insert not amused face*. After this trek, the only reasonable course of action is to either drown yourself in the river or casually lounge in 10x10 foot pool on the roof of your hostel with 15 other people. The first option did initially seem quite appealing, but, since I'm here, I obviously chose the second. This turned out to be a brilliant choice for upon arrival at the pool I found people doing shots--or rather chugging ladles full of mixed drinks--out of a watermelon and pounding beers. My first thought: Ahh these must be Canadians...yes! And of course most people were from Canada, with one Ozzy and one from England. Only the Canadians can rival our classy american drinking habits of funneling and shotgunning beer, body shots, using fruit as bowls for alcohol, helmets, and shields, and of course drinking games. Needless to say we had a great time at the pool drinking, talking, and oddly doing abs and push ups, which, now that I think about it, is kinda of a weird thing for 20 drunk people to be doing. This was of course led by our wonderful brothers across the border, while the Ozzy--known as "Ozzy Bond" a.k.a Australian James bond--did everything else needed and "England" a.k.a chef from England kept repeating, "England rules the world" and "Damn rebels, we're gonna take you back". Eventually actual foreigners joined the american force and ridiculous sayings escalated, to the point that I was telling everyone that I was from Ohio--a Mexican island territory in the U.S.--which in retrospect also does not make very much sense, but I do think I had a few people goin for a little bit, which makes it so much better.

After this wonderful outing, Saimah and I met up with my friend Mallory, who studied in Seville this semester, and her Spanish friends. This was great because I chatted in spanish for a while with some local spaniards, but more importantly because I met my true love that night--vino tino con limon. I must say, I never thought true love really existed but now, I'm a believer. I like to think it was fate that brought us together. My significant other is a wonderful blend of cheap red wine mixed with the creme of the crop of carbonated beverages-lemon Fanta. When the drink is classy, actual lemons are also added to the mix. After first encounter, I have been almost entirely faithful except for a quick flirtation with Absinthe, but it meant nothing. Ever since then there is not a day that we are apart. Every day since this one, has been even better with more quests, adventures, tales of true love, death and gore, but I am tired and will recount ensuing events hopefully tomorrow.

Miss you all.