Valencia, Spain

I don’t condone any of the activity in this post.*

And then, it was suddenly my last night in a hostel for 5 weeks. I hadn’t intended on doing anything that night, really. I needed to edit some photos and write some posts and what not. I wanted to get things done and relax a bit before meeting up with friends the next day.

21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

And then, two girls from England came into my room. It was one of their birthdays. Her 21st. They were going to get Pie-el-a and asked if I wanted to join. I said yes and packed up my laptop.

21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

And then, I met them, and their group of male followers – one from Australia, one from Poland, one from Mexico – up on the rooftop. We had a shot of something.

21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

And then, we wandered the streets looking for the paella restaurant recommended by the hostel. Many wrong turns later we found the right place.


21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

And then, we ordered paella, which came in a big pan in the middle of the table. And three bottles of wine. And we ate and talked and a man with no eyes sang happy birthday.

21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

21st birthday paella in Valencia, Spain.

And then, one of the boys stole two bottles of wine, that we drank in the streets.

Drinking in the streets in Valencia, Spain.

Drinking in the streets in Valencia, Spain.

And then, one of the boys, the Australian, took me by the hand, and led me away and said “do you know what cocaine is?”

Drinking in the streets in Valencia, Spain.

And then, a couple of the boys went to buy some as the rest of us danced in the square.

Dancing in a square in Valencia, Spain.

And then, they made a deal and we headed back to the hostel.

In the hostel in Valencia, Spain.

In the hostel in Valencia, Spain.

And then, the boys snorted, the music blared, the bed broke, the girls ran away.

In the hostel in Valencia, Spain.

And then, the guy from Mexico kept trying to kiss me. And after a sob life story I gave in a little.

In the hostel in Valencia, Spain.

And then, I ran away too.

 

*Except for paella. That’s cool.

Hi, I'm Val. I spent most of my 20s in a standstill, unable to pick which path in life I wanted to take. I wanted the nomadic life of a traveler but also wanted the husband, the condo, and the kitten. Unable to decide which life I wanted more, I did nothing. When I turned 30 I’d had enough of putting my life on hold and decided to start “choosing my figs.” So, I quit my job, bought a one-way ticket to Europe, and traveled for three years. Now I'm back in Chicago, decorating my apartment in all the teal, petting my cats, and planning my next adventure.

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2 Comments
  • Jaime
    September 2, 2011at4:42 am

    I love it… you have really got out of your comfort zone now. I am enjoying watching you change as the trip continues.

    Love the shot of the guy with 2 tats… oh & scary that the bed broke.

  • Katrina Mauro
    September 2, 2011at1:55 pm

    Val! This is a great post! Seems like a VERY fun night…even what you didn’t condone, lol, which at least makes for a great story! Cheers to good fun…and good paella (I want some now).

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