The Marks Take the Mediterranean - Part 1

The 14 day Mark family trip to the Mediterranean is ova. It's taken me 3ish days to recoup after the jet lag, PVSD, laziness and grueling unpacking (accessory knots, shoes filled with souvenirs to save space, clothes, toiletries, etc.). So I am finally going to publish this first post as one of a few since I cannot stand to write this all in one..still recovering and my adjusting-to-EST is taking a while...meesaaa tiyahhhed. So I will get through all of the wordy junk in this part and introduce more media friendly posts later. Dealio (that sucker was expanded and dangerous when I returned).

I was told that traveling changes you, or at least your bio schedule (papayas anyone?). Ew gross, who makes toilet jokes?...Bahahaha, I do and I love zem! (ps. teaser picture below, if you're my fb friend you must look up my video from spring break 2011 in DR)

Real talk, seeing different countries and experiencing new cultures can change you. Even if it isn't a school-building trip to Africa for 6 months. It is true, even on a family friendly, country-hopping, Royal Caribbean cruise to the med may invite a lil introverted thinking. I mean, there's really only so much thoughtless tanning and unlimited soft-serve eating you can do. Muah haha, so fun. 

It all started in Barcelona, we flew out 2 days early so that we could be at the port on time, so I got to spend a night in a city who's culture I completely fell in love with.

I visited Italy on a high school exchange (picture above with Fede, my Italian exchange student), which was my first introduction to a reality where people live a little more romantically. It's hard to explain without being vague and repetitive. But, it's as if the goal was to be always present and always appreciative.

• Food is to be savoured and enjoyed (I hadn't really noticed any women anywhere who were ordering/not ordering food because of self-consciousness, confidence is so refreshing)

• If you see somebody beautiful you should stare, perhaps smile seducingly and greedily! (Different than your typical Hess village creeper, but still it was still creepy)
• Music = dancing, everyone dances and passionately, not robotically or savagely (unless you count me, who of course was killing the shuffle which looked comparatively robotic and savage)

Also the majority of the population was unfairly beautiful, just completely not what I thought could exist in such quantities. I wish I could say I fell in love with a particular Spanish man, but I really would never be able to choose! So I am moving there tomorrow, k thanks bye!

And that was just Barcelona! The anticipation of seeing/experiencing more was half the excitement. And experience is what we did; I mean if we wanted to lounge around in the sun we woulda stayed home by our pool! While I didn't pack for it (heels, oops?), I did mentally prepare for the early morning excursions and lengthy guided tours in the sun. I sound like I'm complaining, but reflecting on the adventures I had with just us is what I'll remember most fondly. Of course La Pieta in St. Peter's Basilica is saved in my memory, as every other piece of art/architecture is, but the imagery of my brother hanging on to the rails of a run-away treadmill or my sister smirking at our waiter with strategically stained chocolate teeth during formal dinner is kind of unbeatable. 

Will be posting the follow up with photos/videos of the food, places and planking (not over yet!) etc soon. But for now, I must take a shower with a non animal-sculpted towel, and then pick it up off the floor myself...oh the luxury of being taken care of.

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