So "Zen trip 2011" is officially in session people---me, northern Spain, exploration, reflection, and relaxation. I have arrived safe and sound to Galicia after a 9.5 hr overnight train ride. Here is an excerpt, if you will, that I wrote on the train last night:
"So right now, I'm in the dark, on the top bunk of a bunk bed on a train, typing on my phone my end-of-the-day thoughts. I left tonight from Madrid at 10:30pm on a 9.5 hr train right up north to La Coruna, which is in the region of Galicia. I think I said that in my last post that I wanted to take advantage of my free time before my trip to Prague with my students in a couple weeks, so I decided to plan a trip of exploration to the very richly green northern cities along the western coast. I will be alone since all of my friends are still working, but it's cool. It'll be fun taking pictures of beautiful scenery, relaxing, going for runs along the coastline, and overall, simply reflecting over my time spent here in Spain and soaking in the time I have left here. Since I usually tend to attract freaky people and weirdos wherever I go, I'm sure I'll prob meet some interesting people as well :)
Speaking of freaks, there was a weird old man on the metro in Madrid today who pulled a pair of nailclippers from his "murse" ---man purse---and started to clip away. Really? Sir, you are on a crowded metro train right now, do you think you could maybe possibly wait to trim your gross claws until you are at least outdoors?
Another wackjob sat next to me at the train station, proceeded to sneeze without covering his mouth and spit and snotted on my leg--I felt it. Sick. Then he asked me for tissues, I gave him two. He then asked if I was from Poland. I said no and asked why he thought that. He said from my accent. Uhh I didn't even say a word! I had just handed him a tissue. So I guess he was disappointed that I wasnt Polish because he up and left right then when I said no.
Alllllways up for an adventure :)
Ok going to try to sleep on this bumpy train ride. This room is the size of a closet with 4 bunkbeds, 3 of which are occupied. Tight squeeze."
The pic below is the tiny, tiny hallway of the train car with beds. You can choose to get a bed, a super deluxe reclining chair, or a regular train seat. I figure if I'm going to be riding 9.5 hours, I'm going to look at it as a hotel train combo and make the most of the time traveling. Good way to travel---def would do it again and def would recommend it!
We were each given a little goodie-bag in the medicine cabinet haha....
Pretty standard goodie-bag with toiletries and such. How bout them earplugs!!?
