After Siesta

Buenes noches people,

I am sitting on the rooftop of my hostel in Malaga after having siesta.

Just your average street in Valencia

I tell you this jet lag has been a bitch. Today is the first morning I didn't wake up at 3am. I woke up at a very respectable 8am yet weirdly I still needed a siesta (my first since getting here).

This guy from Romania

I think Australia should definitely adopt siesta! The pace here in Spain is definitely much more relaxed than it is in Australia. The cities are more hectic but it doesn't feel rushed. Or maybe it's because I'm idlying in holiday mode. Either way I am really enjoying this leg of my travel.

Probably because I don't have any expectations for it.

The church that floored me

Last year when I was travelling Asia I had a lot of expectations I didn't even realise at the time. I had a return date to work and so I felt that I needed to make the most of my travels because it was my one shot to do so, as if I'd never have another holiday. I also was very much hoping to meet my person... but we all know how that panned out.

The city of music and sciences

This time around though I don't have a job waiting for me so I don't feel this pressure to make the most of things, I am just being. And it feels amazing! I am really enjoying myself but also taking things easy.

I have also chosen a life of singleness now and although every now and then I get pangs of lonliness I am able to really soak up and be in the moment. I also love that the perfect special moments I do have can never be tainted in the future by having shared it with another who has left or broken my heart. They are solely my memories to cherish forever.

Anyways, enough of the feels.

After Barcelona I jumped on a train to Valencia and I loved it!

Inside one of the buildings of music and sciences

Valencia was a lot less frenetic than Barcelona and a hell of a lot more beautiful.

There are ancient buildings scattered among the modern buildings and there is a park over the old riverway that is beautiful. After the government diverted the river due to dangerous floodings they planned to transform the courseway into a freeway and the people said NO. And now it is a beautiful park that runs through the city. I love that.

I did a walking tour in Valencia that focused on the modern architecture of the city and I had a great time. I don't get architecture but I wanted to try something different. And the guide was so passionate I was able to see the beauty around me that I would've otherwise missed.

I also met another Australian on the tour and we ended up having lunch together. It's always nice to be able to share a meal with someone else.

I've learned that both the state animal for Barcelona and Valencia is the bat. In both instances the bat played a key part in allerting the locals of invasions. I really like bats so it was nice to find them on buildings and statues etc.

Even though I wasn't too keen on the hostel in Valencia I did meet an aspiring actor from Perth who was also travelling Europe before moving to the UK and we ended up getting along very well. He was tall and very handsome (like, fucking hell!) and very easy company. We went out for beers after siesta and next thing you know it's 11pm and it feels like only 3 hours have passed. That hasn't happened very often in my life but it's always nice when it does.

I suppose jet lag worked in my favour this time because I needed to be on a train to Malaga first thing in the morning.

The sheer size of the place

And you never know, maybe the next time I see Ethan Finchett will be in the movies. Got my fingers crossed for you mate!

Now, Malaga is probably my least favourite place so far. It does feel a little hollow compared to the other two cities. There's nothing at all wrong with the place, maybe Valencia is just a hard act to follow (I did love it there).

Last night was fun though. I went out for dinner and managed to order my whole meal in spanish. The waitress was so awesome! She helped me with my spanish and talked to me in spanish so I could practice, and was just so bubbly and fun.

After my meal I thanked her for helping me and I guess I must've made an impression because she gifted me a shot of baileys! So not only did she help me learn she topped it off with a free shot! Fucking legend! Made sure I gave her a shoutout in the Google review I gave the place - was very yummy food and great service. If you ever come to Malaga go to Pez Wanda.

Found this lovely lady in a park in Malaga

And this morning I made a trip to the post office to post a couple things home, one of them being the caricature I got done of me and The Bont by a street artist in Valencia.

I got the caricature done to cheer me up because I was feeling a little down (I was in this gorgeous city and experiencing it on my own) and you know what, it cheered me right up! And the fact the Doggies beat the Tiges that day was a cherry on top.

I wish I had had the brains to take a photo of it before he rolled it up but I'll get my mum to send me a photo and I'll put it up here when it reaches Australia (about 2 weeks).

This morning I also stumbled upon a beautiful cathedral... no beautiful is not the right word... gob smackingly impressive! There, that's it.

The outside was so impressive I had to go inside, and upside (the roof) and holy shit! The place was next level. Every part of that place was a work of art, from the renaissance paintings to the stained glass windows to the awnings to the doors.

And yet, I could not feel anything.

The cathedral that didn't floor me

I stumbled upon a church in the middle of the old city in Valencia, about a forth of the size of this place and no where near as intricate or flashy. I didn't even know it was a church until I walked through the doors and saw the pews and a wave of emotion hit me. It was like a poor man's church compared to this cathedral and yet I was floored! I sat down and for the first time in about 15 years I prayed to a God I no longer believe in.

Not sure why I had that reaction in that church yet felt nothing in this cathedral, but either way both were a great place to visit.

So yeah. After a fucking shit start to the year I am feeling good. More importantly I am feeling happy.

I think this is just my very own type of walkabout. I'm not doing it just because I love travelling, I'm doing it because I need to, because it brings me peace and sorts my insides out and sets my head right.

The rooftop of the cathedral

And today while having a coffee I was smiling thinking to myself this little girl from Roebourne who was constantly bullied, had no friends, so awkward and scared of the world is sitting in Spain, speaking the language (and getting pretty good) and travelling the world on her own. This little girl who seriously contemplated suicide at 13 because life was just too awful is living a life she couldn't even have imagined possible.

I'm proud of her.

And I love her.

And this post goes out to that little girl who is pretty fucking amazing.

Adios amigos!