David Grajal

I arrived in Venice the day the carnival started. Venice is a magical place, but in carnival is even more special because there are a lot of people wearing really elaborated, classical customs that add a lot to the experience. You need to visit it without prejudices and with an open mind. Yes, Venice is crawled. Yes, it is a tourist trap. But still you need to go there because it is something you need to do if you are visiting Italy.

Venize main channel from Rialto Bridge

A good experience was to get lost in Venice. Without a map and with a poor knowledge about the city – I must admit I thought the city was 10 times smaller and that there were only a few streets with channels – I just started walking and after a while I was completely lost with no tourist or local trying to sell something around. It was just me, the city and the occasional boat and that was fantastic. Another nice experience was to wear a mask and a robe and took pictures with the people on amazing costumes all over the city, particularly on San Marco square. My best experience was at night, when I took a boat from San Marco’s square to go back to the train station sailing thought the big channel. It was absolutely magical.

That's me, on St. Mark Square

I couchsurfed with Massimo Benelli, a very well know couchsurfer that require their guests to wrestle against each other. I heard from this guy when I first joined CS and I’ve been hearing from him from time to time since then. And I finally met him! He taught me how to wrestle and I fought against Amin, a Turkish couchsurfer and also Jürgen, a huge German. Obviously they kicked my ass but It was a different, kind of weird, experience. At least, I learned  wrestling!

Carnival's masks are amazing

When I woke up in Milan the entire city was white. It snowed during the entire night. And it didn’t stop. By the time I went to Pavia and I went for a walk it was snowing a lot. Another misconception… I thought Italy was as warm and hot as Spain!

Reading the Wikitravel (Using Oxigenguide, a must have in the cell phone for travelers) I realized that Milan does have nightlife but it is not in the Statione Centrale area. Well, maybe in another occasion I will be able to experience it. What I’ve already tried is the Italian aperitivo. Between 19h and 21h lots of bars in Northern Italy have a buffet with fast food, pasta, rice and small snacks.

You only need to have one drink to have access to the buffet and you can eat as much as you want. This is such a beautiful idea I don’t understand why it does not exist in Spain. Owners are happy because bars are full, customers are happy because they feel a great value for their money. I feel the idea is specially good for students because they can eat for cheap, something important in otherwise expensive Milan.

Jumping@Pavia

When I landed in Bergamo last evening and I was surprised because two reasons. First, it was freezing cold. As much as Germany. And second, the entire city looked dark and deserted. Where was the people? I was expecting lots of Italians having fun in the city center!

I was lucky because I had a couch in the city center. Giancarlo Rosso was my host, a really nice Italian guy that studied Arabic culture and language for pleasure. We had a long conversation till late at night speaking about the differences between northern and southern Italians and beautiful places he visited in northern Africa and middle east. He has traveled a lot in the area so it was quite a revelatory experience. I didn’t know the sand is pink in the Moroccan deserts and now I’m already planning to see them with my own eyes in the next weeks!

Couchsurfing in Milan

On 4th of February, 2010 I left Germany for good. This is the last post I will write from this city. This is what I wrote when I first arrived at Würzburg. At that time I could not imagine how much this city was going to change me. I feel different because I changed a lot personally and professionally. I’m more confident and more caring. I’ve met a lot of people that have influenced me. I’m still as open minded as before but I’m stating to forge my own oppinions. I guess I’m just becoming an adult and this is time to start a new stage in my life.

My lovely apartment and my friends stayed in Würzburg. I spent my last days in the city saying goodbye to the city and the people and just having plain fun. It has been another hard goodbye, leaving the city when I felt most comfortable. I will always remember the places, the smiles, the people, the jokes and the amazing good times I had there.

The next time I will be in the country I will be just a tourist. This is a weird feeling for me because I really think of Würzburg as my home. Thanks everybody for making it possible.

I’m really attached to this apartment, I really like it and it has been hard to say goodbye.

CS brunch at behiche’s place.