Misty, Messi, Missy Elliot...

My name is difficult for non-native English speakers. I'm not sure why, but it always takes at least 3 tries for someone to get my name right. Conversations usually go something like this:

Hi, what's your name?

Missy

What? Misty?

No, it's Missy - without a "t"

Oh, Messi! like the football player!!

Um, no. It's Missy. As in... Missy Elliot. You know, the rapper?

OH, yes, Missy Elliot! Nice to meet you Missy!

This conversation has taken place hundreds of times since I started travelling. Some less common variations are Pissy (love it), Betsy (at least it's a real name), and Whiskey (yeah, my parents named me after alcohol).  Therefore, I've gotten used to referencing a certain female rapper to clarify my name. Missy...as in Missy Elliot. It works about 90% of the time. 

So, that's the background of using Missy Elliot as a reference everywhere I go. 

Now here's a weird story: Two nights ago I was on a pub crawl in Madrid. The bar was crowded, noisy, etc...pretty much the usual social conditions in which backpackers meet each other. I was introducing myself to a few new people, and at the same time standing next to a guy I had met earlier in the evening. Unsurprisingly, the standard conversation took place, so I mentioned Missy Elliot. At the same time, the guy next to me (whose name I already knew) was introducing himself. All of a sudden, one of the girls shouted "WAIT...together you guys are Missy Eliot!" It took a few seconds for us to realize it, but it's true I'm Missy, and the guy standing next to me was Eliot (he spells it with one "l"). So, literally, together we formed MISSY ELIOT. It was pretty bizarre, but hilarious at the same time. 

Missy + Eliot = Missy Eliot

Gaudi's Barcelona

I would love to write some intelligent facts about Gaudi here - his life, his work, etc - except I don't know much. Even though I saw most of his major works in Barcelona, I didn't go inside any of them (either too expensive or the line was too long). The one interesting tidbit I picked up on my (free) walking tour is how he died.  Gaudi spent the last few years of his life living inside the Segrada Familia. He was obsessed with it, and rarely left his work in progress, except to go to his favorite church in Barcelona - St. Felip Neri in the Barrio Gotic.  One day while on his way to the church, Gaudi was hit by a tram. Even though he was one of the most famous men in Barcelona, because of his unkempt appearance, no one recognized him and passerby were reluctant to help him.  Eventually he was taken to a paupers' hospital. When friends finally found him and tried to move him to better hospital, he refused, saying he belonged among the poor. He died a few days later from his injuries. So there you go - that's what I know about Gaudi as a person. Now here are some pictures of what he created while he was alive...

Segrada Familia

Casa Mila

Casa Mila

Casa Batllo

Casa Battlo

Parc Guell

Parc Guell

St. Felip de Neri - Gaudi's favorite church (the bullet holes came later - this square was bombed during the Spanish revolution, and later on soldiers executed prisoners here) 

Ciao! Florence and Siena

I spent three days in Italy - two in Florence and one in Siena. I really loved both places - they were both beautiful and charming, and I got my pizza fix many times over. I do need to go back to Florence though, because there are still a few things I didn't get to do - the Uffizi Gallery (2.5 hour wait...I don't think so) and walking up to the lookout point for a view over the entire city. Also, I didn't eat a single scoop of gelato while there. This is shocking for anyone who knows me well; ice cream - in any form - is pretty much my favorite thing ever.  Not sure what happened, but I promise I'll make up for it next time.

On a completely unrelated note, this summer has been blissfully mosquito-free...until Italy. I only ever saw one or two mosquitoes, but they were definitely out in force. I ended up with enormous bites all over my stomach and shoulders, although none on my legs. Each bite swelled up to about the size of my fist, and they are just now starting to fade. Barcelona (where I am now) also has mosquitoes, but fortunately they seem to be the normal kind and I've only had a few small bites. Remind me not to go to Italy during the summer next time!

Florence is pretty

Piazza della Republica

Duomo! view from the top of Giotto's bell tower

Giotto's bell tower

fun night at a karaoke bar

wandering Florence at night

Palazzo Vecchio

the famous Ponte Vecchio

Florence Synagogue - possibly the most beautiful synagogue I've ever seen

Siena - Palazzo Publico (Town Hall)

Siena - Piazza del Campo

Siena - Duomo

enjoying the gorgeaus views in Siena

Siena

Vienna...FAIL

I went to Vienna, saw some of the major sights, ate a piece of sachertort and left. It's one of only two European capital cities (the other being Zagreb) that I didn't particularly like. There was nothing bad about Vienna, I just found it lacked the personality and charm so forthcoming in most European cities.  I actually enjoyed studying the history of the Hapsburg Empire (in college) more than I enjoyed visiting their city and palaces. Usually it's the opposite.  I'm tempted to say it's because it didn't fit in with the theme of this mini-Euro trip - essentially partying and meeting other backpackers from around the world - but I can't use that as an excuse because I've done legitimate sightseeing in every city I've visited (even if I was hungover). With all the operas, historical museums and expensive hotels, I have a feeling my 50-year-old self might appreciate it more, so perhaps I'll give Vienna another shot in 25 years or so.

part of the former Hapsburg Palace

sachertort at the Sacher Hotel...probably the highlight of my time in Vienna

Schonbrunn Palace

Krakow

For some reason, I never imagined Krakow to be so beautiful. I wanted to go there for the Jewish history and to see Auschwitz, but not for the city itself. So, I was pleasantly surprised to find myself "oohing" and "aahing" while wandering around the old city.  The main square is enormous - it's split into two halves with a market hall running down the middle- and there are many artisan stalls selling various products. As I'm trying to be somewhat frugal, I didn't go to any museums. Instead, I did both of the free walking tours - the morning tour focused on the old city and Krakow's history, and the afternoon tour focused on Kazimierz (the Jewish quarter) and the fate of Krakow's Jewish population. Both tours were great, but by the end of the day my legs were like jelly - I walked for almost 8 hours straight!  

Of course I also went to Auschwitz. It was kind of surreal - I've learned about the holocaust my entire life, and I know the horrible things that went on there, so to finally be there, on a warm, sunny day surrounded by hundreds of tourists...it was just strange. Many of the buildings at Auschwitz labor camp have been turned into exhibits so it's all very neat and matter of fact. The tour guides usher you in and out of the buildings quickly, so there is no time to explore on your own.  Birkenau extermination camp is a lot more jarring. It hasn't been changed at all, and you just see endless rows of barracks, the railroad tracks and the remains of the gas chambers (the Nazis blew them up before they fled). Very depressing, but of course I'm glad I saw it for myself. 

main square

St. Mary Church

main square (the other side)

Kazimierz - used to be the main Jewish square

 Krakow Castle