Si como no?

Today we left Valencia and flew to Milano Italia! It was about time to leave Valencia...don't get me wrong, we had a wonderful time there but that time was definitly up. Valencia itself was not my favorite city. Besides from the fact that people were speaking Spanish it was easy to forget you were in Spain. Instead it felt more like L.A or some other large, dirty city that prioritizes beaches and the night life. We went out partying a totaly of three nights while we were there and I think the earliest we were ever home was 4:30 in the morning! Thats crazy for me. Call me lame but I love a good party and then a good nights rest of being in bed by at least 1:30-2:00...but when in Spain party like the Spanish people si como no?!? So to sum it all up...in Valencia we tanned, we shopped, we partied, we watched a wicked dolphin show at the arts and science center and we ate good spanish food. There were a few other monumental moments as well...including tanning topless on the public beaches. At first this was slightly unnerving, then pretty liberating and finally very normal. Actually normal to the point where I could walk around or go swimming without a second thought. Out of curiosity can you even legally tan topless in Canada?? Carolyn and I were having this debate...I said yes she said not in public places. Nudity doesn't seem to be a big problem here and I seriously enjoy this mentality. In Barcelona we saw this completley naked older man just walkin down the road, strutting his stuff. He actually even went up to someone and bummed a cigarette and a light. That seemed a little out of the ordinary but I didn't see too many people even give him a second glance. Some other recent changes include that I now drink espresso (because its considered a crime here if you dont, PLUS people dont listen to you when you say you dont want a coffee!) and I am even listening to (and enjoying) some electronic music. Prehaps Europe is having a bad effect on me?

In other news...Carolyn and I are testing out couch surfing for the first time tonight. Man is it nice. We are staying with a very nice 35 year old man named Carlo and his rooommate. If you havent heard of couch surfing look it up! It's a genuis idea. Basically its a way to connect people of different cultures and countries with one another. So Carlo lets us stay on his couch for free, and we in turn have nice convsersation over dinner and some bottles of wine. Then in the future if he needs a place to stay in Canada we open up our couch for him. You make connections with people all over the world this way, plus you meet local people who show you the good sights, the good restuarants and some things they dont write in the tourist books. For example, for tonights dinner we went to a gay bar. You buy one drink during happy hour and then its unlimited food from the buffet for the rest of the evening. Good food too! Risotto, tomatoes and cheese, salads mmm Italian food.

Tomorrow it's off to possibly one of the most romantic places in the world...Venice! Hopefully next time I write I can include some Italian phrases although I wont lie...the combination of German, Spanish, English and Italian could get messy!