Lost in Translation (and Laundry)
okay, so i just spent the last week in…well, i’m still trying to figure out where exactly. the numbers 1732903 and 1458509635 popped up somewhere - probably a code or something. it’s honestly a blur right now. i’m pretty sure i’m in some vaguely european city. it’s… humid. like, carry-a-fan-everywhere humid. i just checked and it's...there right now, hope you like that kind of thing. the temperature is a balmy 31.29 degrees celsius, feeling like 38.29. the pressure is normal, a little humidity at 70%, and the ground level is surprisingly high. seems like a place that appreciates height, or maybe just a really well-maintained park.
i'm officially a budget backpacker, which means my accommodation is a hostel with questionable hygiene standards and a shared bathroom that smells vaguely of stale beer and regret. the beds are surprisingly comfy, though. i'm currently sitting in a tiny cafe, trying to decipher a menu written entirely in a language i don't understand. the coffee is…interesting. very strong. i’m pretty sure it’s made with something other than actual coffee beans.
my camera is covered in dust, but i managed to snag a few shots. i'm trying to capture the essence of the place - the architecture, the people, the general vibe. it’s definitely not Paris, and it’s even less romantic than Rome. it's… real. there’s a certain grittiness to it, a feeling of history etched into every cobblestone.
i heard that this city’s nightlife is pretty intense. someone told me that the clubs are packed and the music’s loud. i’m not really into clubbing, but i might check out a bar or two. i’m more of a people-watching kind of traveler, honestly. you can find some good people-watching spots around the main square. i saw a street performer earlier - a guy juggling flaming torches. impressive.
i’m trying to soak it all in, but it’s hard. my brain is full of random thoughts and half-formed plans. i'm also running low on laundry detergent, which is a major crisis. i'm thinking of trying to find a laundromat nearby. if you get bored, [cities] are just a short drive away. i’m considering a day trip.
i really need to figure out where i’m going next. this trip feels…unplanned. which is kind of the point, isn’t it?
i saw a stunning park with a beautiful building in the middle, and a boat in the distance - it was quite picturesque.
i could spend hours just wandering around, losing myself in the city's maze of streets.
i'm also attempting to improve my rusty italian. it’s going…slowly. i just managed to order a croissant without accidentally asking for a goat. small victories, right?
the hostel staff are…eccentric. there’s a woman who claims to be a retired opera singer and a guy who speaks exclusively in limericks. it's a bit much, but it's entertaining.
i'm taking this as a whole adventure and embracing the chaos. it's not always pretty, and it’s definitely not always easy, but it’s real. and that’s what matters, right?
anyway, gotta go. my phone battery is warning me that it’s about to die. wish me luck. and please, send coffee.
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