Sen Sabastian the city in the past

Early in the morning I woke up, had a quick shower, prepared a sandwich, said farewell to the girls and left home with Guiller, he took me to the bus station, I promised to send a postcard from Turkey, thanked everything, got on the bus and at once I fell into sleep again when the bus moved Gijon. On the road sometimes I opened my eyes and looked out od the window and saw the two sides are with green trees and grass. In Spain travelling bus is more expensive to compare with Turkey. I have a chance to listen music on the bus in some channels support by Asla company. We passed Llanes, San Vicenta, Gobierno, Santender, Laredo, Carto Urdiales. In Carto Urdiales three old ladies who are coming from trekking got on the bus. One of them sat next to me. She could speak English a little. She tought me to count from 1 to 30 in Spanish and some basic Spanish words as if "hi", "where are you from", "how much".

At last I was in Sen Sabastian, it is in Bask Region of Spain and near the Atlantic Ocean, like a city pop out in a fairy tale. Everybody told me that it is beautiful and facinating like a beautiful young lady but with a diffrence it comes form the past. First the city took me attention with the bridges on the river which falls to the Atlantic Ocean. And there are two big statues which are knights on the horses on the bridges. the river makes a circle in the city and meet the ocean at the end. And the beaches in the city centre. While swiming you can see the small island in the sea, whole small green hills in the city. There is a stage in the sea if you want to jump.

People in Sen Sabastian care aobut their appearance, they go to gym, run, swim, wind surf, ride a bike e.t.c. I couldn't any fat people on the beach they seem like models. This is for woman you can sun bath without a top. Nobody stares at you. I did it. If you want you can wind surf in another beach in the city centre too.

You cna stay many pansions to stay starts 40 Euros but you need to be careful at weekend. You need a reservation for weekend othervise you have to stay outside like me. I couldn't any place to stay, All of them were full so I stayed on a bench whole night wiated for the new day. I ate icecream, there are many different types of icecream. You should better to try before leaving Sn. Sn.

The new day started with a breakfast, I wanted to swim so much. It would be my first in Spain. I wore my swimsuit and run to seaside. The beach was covered yellow sands, there are many gates to open the beaches, showers, toilets for free. The water is clean and warm for hours I didn't want to get out the sea. A guy made a  statue by sand, it is comman here to build statue by sand and make money. I strolled in the city than, was lucky to see a marriage ceremony in a biggest Catedral of the city, women wear elegant dress, men wear fancy suits, I celabrated the bride, kissed her cheeks, said congratulations in Spanish, took some photos an left. She is so happy with cries on her cheeks.

At night I planned to go to Tolouse in France to visit one of my friend, I went to bus station. There aren't any offices here, I asked for help to the buses's drivers. I checked internet it should be a night bus to go to Tolouse, but I understood hours later after I asked drivers. Tonight there is no buses. What should I do. Tİll 2:00am I waited than I decided to come back to city centre, the taxi dirver told me that it id not possible to find a free passion or hotel at that time. So I waited for the morning under a tree, I canceled to go there, I sent  a message my friend Aymeric. I was cold to be outside, used internet in my mobile, slept for half an hour, wathched people to walk, run, ride a bike wholenight long, shot photos.

And decided to go to Madrid in hte morning to visit David, he was waiting for me.

The city is %99 safe, you can strole around 4 in the morning if you want. Taxis are white Mercedes. Amara Plaza is one of the famous Hotel here, it is next to bus station.

Leaving Barcelona, Going to Gijon, Asturias

Salinas, Aviles.

I went home with hopes and fell into sleep easily and early in the morning I woke suddenly because I was cold. I has to go to Maro's house to get my luggage before 8 I had to be there to get it. After I ate something I left home went to Maragall by metro,got it and carried to the Paralel, it was a fault to carry a luggage more than one week trip, I need to carry it home to home, it is not a pleasure for me. So, I did it and went to meet Monica near Metro Paralel. She came to take me to the Universidat. I hosted her in December in Izmir and  she invited me to come to Spain in May she would move to Barcelona. I was her guest that time.When I saw her I held her tightly, missed her so much. She lost weight, has many dress in her room and she shares the flat with two woman and pays 350£ just a small room in Paralel. It is too expensive. After I has a shower and changed my clothes we got out.

San Juan, Aviles.

Whole day long it rained, we saw many shopping centres, tried clothes, swiming suits, had fun, ate American pie with took alot of funny photos, tonight I had to leave that's why we weren't enough time to travel more in the city and she would flying to States next week, the day I would flying back to Turkey. She is sad, I am sad, I gave her birthday gift and Turkish Raki. She held me tightly, kissed my cheeks, thanked me a lot, made a big
smile on her lovely small face.  We left in the evening and hope to see each other again.

In Univesidat the prices starts 1300£ if you want to rent a flat. And water and electricity is extremly expensive here. People make siesta from 2:00pm-4:30pm. Usually whole shops are closed in that time.

L1 Red Line I went to Arc the Triomf now it was raining heavily, it was pouring down. I asked for help to somoone to carry my luggage to the Arc. I didn't care the rain, I got wet a little and a guy who wore a dark suit took my photo in front of the Arc the Triomf. More than half an hour I waited for stopping rain under the Arc with other people. Also umbrellas weren't enough to protect from rain. I ate sandwich that I made it , talkd the people around to spend time. Than I walked the Bus Estation. I went to toilet, met some old priestesses inside the building, I have taken photos with them. They had big smile their faces to take a photo with me. My longest trip are gonna start in a few minutes with ALSA company in Spain.

On the road I was thinking my next destination San Sebastian, my cats, to make a baby, worries about pregnancy, my brain is full of worries, don't like making faults, my younger brother Mustafa, want to travel more, to come back home alive, to go to Greek Islands in this Summer, to need to smile more, to be lucky to live in a big house, to buy food cheaper than Spain in Turkey, and care about my weight, send postcards to my friends from where I am.

After 13 hours I arrived Gijon. On the intercity buses noone serves tea, water, cake in Spain. Nobody helps you to put your luggage in the bus. At night the temparature was 10C and I was cold. When the bus stopped at night I went to WC and  I saw a hole to put coins on the door of the WC to get pee.I tis weird fo rme to put coin in the toilet. I was going the North. North of Spain has four Provinces are Galicia, Asturias, Cantavria and Bask.
 Guillerr and I would meet at 1:00pm so I have some time to explore the city. I need stamps, I found them in Tobacco Shop and sent postcards to my firends in Turkey and Tunusia. I bought some banana, apples and orange juice from a local maket. I sat on a wooden bench and tried to get warm under the afternoon sun and watced doves and sparrows. An old lady was strolling with her puppies. We talked for a short time, I stroked little puppies in my lap and was so happy. In an internet cafe I sent messages  to my friends and realized that you can use internet for at least 10 minutes.

Gijon is near the Atlantic ocean and most crowded city of Asturias Province with 300.000 people. And here people eat dinner at around 10pm. I t is too late for Turkish people because we eat dinner at 7-8pm.

Guillerr lives with two Polish girls whom names are Alexandra for one week. He has lived in Ireland for 2 years and travelled in Shouth America for one and half years. He has been in Gijon for 7 months and looking for a job. He cooked rice with cheakpea and tuna fish. He always has a smile on his face, it caught me at once when we meet in Bus Estation. He showed my room that I 'll stay for a few days, I never forget his kindness. He showed me around, made me feel I am at home.

Gijon

I went to nearer city Aviles by bus and met Jose from CS on the same day. Aviles is near the Cantabric Sea. I met Jose in Bus Estation, he took me to the Salinas beach his car. This area is a protective area and with green hills, we walked along the seaside and wrote Izmir and Aviles in a heart on the sand. We wathed the big  waves under the sunset from the view-terrace, listened to waves and felt the sun upon me. Than Jose drove to Casa Moises which is famous types of Cider. Cider is made of apple whish has %6 alcohol. It serves with a style that pours down from half a metre to make oxygen in it. I tasted and drank a few bottles of and I was  a litle drunk. When I arrived home I was so tired I fell into sleep easily.

Gijon.

The other day  I left home late went to city centre with a map in my hand tried to find blue cafe near the seaside. For a short time I got lost than I found my way. In half an hour I was on the beach, people were walking, running, scating, riding bikes, walking on the sand on the beach and peace was everywhere. I found the Blue cafe. Just Guillerr and Alejandro came for CS weekly meeting. Alejandro and I talked about Turkey,  Spain, music, windsurf. He recomended me to see Penaronda beach in Galicia Province to swim. After that we walked to seaside, we watched fabolouse sunset while we were walking near the sea and towards harbour. The sky had painted with the red by the sun like an artist was painting the sky with his brush quickly and changed the picture second to second. We looked at fishermen's boats. And I noticed that I miss silence, till half of June here is so peacefull. Today is the last day in Gijon, I loved this small city with nice people. I couldn't sleep easly, I was thinking of my new trip to San Sebastian, the city of wealthinness.

Park Guel, Sagrada Familia

I didn't plan anything to do today, just want to do something makes me happy and find something different. After I searched what shall I do in Barcelona I decided to go to Park Guel at first. It is built up famous sculptor Antoni Gaudi It was raining outside everybody is want to go there bought an umbrella near the park. I wanted to get wet under the rain. I met a  teacher and students are coming from Toulouse for a tour in Barcelona. I drew one of the castle black&white, whatched people buying things, taking photos, drawing castles. On the top of the Park I wachted the whole city with old and new city together.

Than I went to Sagrada Familia which is famous for sculptor Antoni Gaudi and hasn't ended up yet. There is a long queue outside yo get in, I didn't want to pay money to get in, I prefered to look at outdoor figures, those are  
facinating. I saw a couple who was passing away slowly I requested them to take a photo of me in front of the Catedral. The black girl accepted my request and shot my photo and I learnt that they came from States, California and than I climbed the barrier and a man shot my photo there with the Katedral and a security guard saw me and worned me to climb down. I obeyed  the rule and jumbed down. But a photo has taken there...

By metro I went to Bus Estacian to buy a ticket to Gijon. I was thinking for days to get to Gijon and meet Guilermo. Someone inside me to meet with this guy soon and I fallowed my feelings that time and I paid 54£ to the ticket officer and left there.

At night I was so excited to see Rares again, blue eyes, shy, skinny, tall, funny, 25 years old Romanian guy. We met the night that we were watching the Final match together and went to disco together. He is a young photographer and came from Romania and take wedding photos outside. He has been Barcelona for a few months and wants to be best photographer of the world. I support him in his way to be the best photographer  of the world. He wants to take nude photos in the nature. If I have time we would take some nude photos outside, but I didn't have time, time to leave now. We wished to see each other on the way back from Gijon.

City Tour in Barcelona and see Barca team

Naturally I woke up late and wore my casual clothes and ate lunch with Mario. He cooked some Peruan meal and invite me to eat together, I didn't know it is pork. As a muslim I don't eat pork, with wrong I ate a little.

There are a lot georgios woman and man here. Most of the people who I met here thought I am European. I met with Carlos. He's gonna show me the city centre. He is Peruan and has been living here for years.  We visited Katedralo  Barcelona in Plaza Real.

Everybody with their children, couples, with Barca tshirts, hats, paintings on the faces, helicopters in the sky show us where the team bus is, like the water pour down people were floating one road to another to see the team bus with excitement. I could hear the music up to the sky and mix the air. At last we could see the team bus. TV channels, cameras, people's screams were together and it is not possible to walk easyly because of the crowded. My face was wide with a big smile, everybody was having fun, happy and make each other happy.
After that we walked to Plaza Catulanya and walked along the Raslambas Street that is the famous street in Barcelona for tourists. But I don't care about it much. I noticed that some teeneagers was wearing torn, asimetric desing clothes and asimetric cut hair.

In Barcelona taxis are black and yellow. White and red bikes are rented 35£ for a year. Carlos took me my new host, Ariadna's house in Paralel.

Ariadna, France-Catalan mixture, can speak English, Catalan, Spanish, Italian, France, work as a translator at home, interested in climbing mountains, painting. She has interesting, beautiful clothes and always has a smile on her face. She lives on the 9th floor with a big teras and show whole city view. She showed me her teras and we watched the city with the night lights. 

Champion Barca

Today is Saturday and the metro is 24 hours open. I am lazy today, woke up at 1:00 pm, offf offff. After I had a shower wore my short light blue skirt and checked grey shirt and brown flip-flop. I polished red finger polish and wore my black hat.
By metro we went to Olimpia region and I realised that everbody speaks loudly in Barcelona and I listened people even though I don't understand any Spanish word. Spanish is the second common language in the world.

We joined on a picnic near the seaside. I walked around the side, I didn't liek the people who are firends of Marco they don't seem so friendly. I didn't care about it. We left there and went to watch Manchester United-Barcelona European Shampion League on two big screen with thousonds of people. And there was a Couchsurfing meeting there many people from States, Belgium and Sweden gathered together. Barca scored a goal in the first half and two in second half. And Barcelona Team won the match and we screamed in every goal the team scored and hugged each other with happyness. I was a fan of Barca tonight and felt like a Spanish person.

Whole people who are members of Couchsurfing countunied to celebrate shampion after we left Placa Reial and shared happyness with others they were dancing on the roads with Samba. I didn't remember how long we walked, just relaised that is Place Catulanya. We came into City Hall Teatre Edance . There are 2 stages for house music and 80s music. Till morning we were there a nd had fun alot with my new CS friends from around the world. Andreas took me home to Maragall. And the big day ended up full of happyness.

First Impression in Barcelona

I bealived that it is gonna be great to being Barcelona as I heard about my friends who have been there. I was looking out of the window for two hours dreamt to how wonderful to be in Barcelona. By Eurobus I went to Espano Metro. It was the first time I used metro map in a big foreing city in abroad. Everything is new and makes me crazy some times. I needed to use ticket machines by credit card or 10£. Otherwise it doesn't work.

I got off the Maragall station and saw some people were running out at night in the streets. Mario, my new host was waiting for me. After I had a shower I wore my new clothes and we went to Barri Gotic by metro, this area is one of the oldest place in Barcelona. We went to small restaurant which prepares Piadina. Mattias(German) and Eliana(Colombian) work together. There is dashboard to write something with chalk. I drew a heart and wrote Turkey and Spain inside and wrote a short note for Mattias and Eliana.


We went on a Latin Club with his friends everybosy was dancing Salsa like crazy some friends of Marco thought me how to dance Salsa. It was amazing to watch people to turn down again and again with Salsa music.

Mario has been leaving in Brcelona for 6 years and he came from Peru. He has graduated from Information Tecnology and he didn't like the conditions of the job and bored with working in Peru and moved Barcelona as student at first than he became a residence here.

And I told him that Machu Picchu is one of the places I want to see in my life time than he started giving some information about Peru. Peru has a flag with white and red and famous for Huayno music. This kind of music is common in Andean countries as if Arjentina, Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia. And From May and October is the best time to visit Machu Picchu and above 2000 metres. Pasific side of  the country is desert and the other side is covered with green Amazon and Rain Forests and in the shouth, from Lima is 40 minutes away by plane to Cusko. As a tip you need to stay in Aquas Calientes(Hot Water) for at least one night. Because it is forbidden to stay in Machu Picchu. Most of the Peruan come to live to Spain. Because; cultures are smilar and the language is the same.

Spain is the one to speak Spanish in Europe.

In Athens with a demostration

Beginning of my European Trip.

In the early morning of the 23rd of May my little kittens wake me up , I feeded them and went to sleep again because I care about sleeping so much. At around 8:30am again I woke up and wore my grey tight jeans, grey checked shirt, black hat and black high hills Summer shoes. I was ready to leave house and I called a cab in a minute but it was late I got on a cab that was passing in the street. We need to go to Goztepe harbour in 10 minutes I couldn’t forget the bus that goes to airport passed away in front of our eyes quiclky we missed it. So I had to go to the airport by taxi and paid a lot of Money. Shit! I didn’t want it.  Anyway I  arrived at airport on time and I put my red luggage on the check in desk and than paid 15 TL  to get abroad. After that  I was ligth tos hop from a dutty free shop and I bought Turkish Raki for my friend in Spain, Turkish Delight.  I got on the plain and I was very excited to go abroad after two months. The travel took about 40 minutes from Izmir to Athens like get to Urla form Izmir I didn’t know it is quite close by plane.

When I arrived at Athens airport first Greek Letters took my attention and I understood and was sure I am in Greece and than I called my host Natty. He would waiting for me in the city centre by X95 bus I went to city centre the driver was a woman  I realized that  when I needed to ask a question where should I get off the bus. In Turkey it is not common to see a woman bus driver. And I notice there a re lot of motorbikes. The plates of the cars have three letters and four numbers.  So, when I arrived at city centre Natty took me to the home.  The weather was perfect the is no clouds in the air.

He is slim, long hair since 2003, handsome , 25 years old guy.  He has a black&white poster taken by Helmut Newton in his room and he likes Reggy music, ofcourse Bob Marley and hats. He has a bonzai tree in the red window with a yellow curtains. He puts a photo of a model who is taken by Helmut Newton.

He lives with two other guys more than a year. THe house that he lives has 2 flats, He is on the first floor and each room with different colour of painting. Whole guys had painted the house with red, yellow and blue. In the hall there is a hamak for people to want to get rest.

Tonight Konstantinos  will show me around by his motorbike. We decided to meet in front of the Hilton Hotel and I was very excited to see him, I would know he is very handsome and cool guy in the photos of him but when I saw him I was upset because he has lost more than 10 kilograms probably the sadness of his father’s  illness. So, by motorbike in teh warm breeze he rode met o the highest point of Athens, I had to hold him tighty not  to get down the motorbike while riding up with the warm breeze. We could see the whole view of Athens here if we want we can get down with the teleferic.

Sometimes I feel so lonely in a country that I don't know any friends. Before I came to Athens I made some friends to meet. Natty has a personal computer but he doesn't let me to use it for a while I think he is very bussy with his job. I had to use internet in my cell phone.

There is a nearer shopping centre that is AB I walked there and bought something to prepare salad for everybody at night and I prepared salad for more than 10 people. Natty, his two roommates, neighbours and I ate Turkish style salad, baked potatoes in a small tiny cute kitchen with happyness. After dinner girls cooked Turkish coffee I was surprised that they know how to cook Turkish coffee, I love it.

The  other day  my CS friend Kriton invited me for a Greek dinner in   Stzefis hill restaurant. We  ate rakomelo( Raki with honey) and  mezes and alive Greek music.n It was great to know such a great person here, not  to live alone. I was happy to with staying with him, He is curly grey hair and full beard and funny guy. He took me to the Keramikos by his car and liked the music poured out of Hive cafe- bar and sat on the roof bar and listened to club music and feel the musin in my blood that is one of the food I like to eat. There are many bars side by side you can choose one of them to have fun.

I stayed with Kriton for a few days and met his other guest Daniela, she is curly hair, olive skin cute girl from States.

We planned to go to demostration tomorrow evening together.  Since last Spring there is a financial crisis in Greece, After crisis government cut the salary %15 of the people.

Daniela and I prepared breakfast together, I fired red-green-yellow peppers, choped tomotoes and cucumbers, cheese and Daniela made caciki. The table was desinged with clourful dishes, this made me so happy an wanted to eat all of them at once.

One of the important thing I learnt in Athens is to stroll without getting lost in a foreing country. That's great. I got on the 224 bus went to Sintagma Square and met Kriton and Daniela after spent good times with Georgios. He is a little shy, handsome, skinny, long blond hair young boy with a big heart. We talked about travelling for hours and he recomended me to see Gavdos island. This island has the second most beautiful beach and wiht no electricity. So you can see the whole stars at night.. Georgios gives nude pose in the university for 3 hours twice a week. He fired three months ago. The government gives 400£ for a year. He wants to live in a small village in Greece. We were talking about many thing in a gloomy cafe which is Booze Bar and drank nescafe and beer. I asked him what he wants to do in five years. He stopped making planes since January because of he  and his brother had a car accident. He has stayed at hospital for almost a month. He told me that nobody knows what happens tomorrow. His ultimate dream is to move to Shouth America and get lost there in a village with his family and firends and if it is possible he doesn' t want to wear and being naked. He lived in England for 8 years and studied Physiclogy and Spanish, he had wanted to have a career but he couldn't, his mother was ill and he had to go back to Greece and he has desided that there are something important more than have a career. And he likes kulas so much.

Kriton, Daniela and went to Art School in Tavros and wathced a show about bike porn. Kriton took me to the Natty's house by his car.

Natty prepared vegatable omlette for bearkfast the last day before I left in Athens for Barcelona. Natty made me so happy he boiled sage. Thanasis helped me to carry the luggage to the Evangelismos metro station and took my photo in the metro.  Kriton sent a messag eto say have a safe trip. I was sad to leave Georgios, Kriton, Thanasis, Daniela. I left my heart here and went to airport.