Bajai Life Camp 16.22: Day 473
Mv Cruise Smeralda
Saturday September 22, 2018
Mediterranean Sea
25.9% reclaiming my mojo

There are families on board and couples of all ages. Some kids, a teen or two. Seems like a few single guys floating around; Muslims for sure. There's a room set aside for prayer. Christians of course, but I didn't see a church on board. Anyway, you get the idea. I haven't seen and ladies night groups. It's the kind of cast you'd find on a ship that goes where this one goes.

Deck seating in a well worn lounge. Kept my bags with me.

I've been wanting to take one of these Italian ferries since last year. I thought about going from Roma to Barcelona, but didn't have the time. I caught a flight. So here I am. Living the dream. Most likely getting it out of my system.

If this vagabonding is just a matter of getting something out of my system, then what's next? I could be moving towards something that I can't identify yet. My imagination runs towards educating. Not to be confused with teaching. I remember less of what I was taught than what I learned. The difference?

If you have to ask...

"Didn't get seasick. It's a good way to kill some travel time."

It's a sunny Saturday at sea. No issues on the water. I think I've gotten my sea legs. However, I'm reminded the Mediterranean is smooth. I actually got some sleep between this marathon round of sudoku I've been literally playing for hours, and over the course of months, as I put this puzzle down for weeks at a time. I'm beginning to think it's unsolvable, but I'm also determined to solve it.

The population was sparse. Plenty of room to lounge.

I've actually been taking pictures of my failed attempts.

Just over an hour away from docking in Barcelona. Less than a week away from the next program.

I completed the toughest sudoku for me ever. It made me put the game down for long periods of time... but I had plenty of time on this boat to complete it.

Good ride. Not mad. Didn't get seasick. It's a good way to kill some travel time. It's roomier than a bus, but more costly in the long run, especially if you have to get to a place like Savona just to catch a ferry. It's an indulgence. Grimaldi would have gotten more of my dough had I been able to stow my gear. Maybe I missed the luggage magazine, or maybe there isn't one. I imagine most passengers have vehicles of some sort.

"A lot of the men on the boat were truckers."

It's warm out on deck. I think it will be a hot week in Spain. Good. I can use a little more summer before I go back.

Less than half an hour now. I'm ready. It's a bank holiday weekend in Spain. I'm told people get away on such weekends. I'm looking forward to chillin' and re-acclimating myself to Spain and Spanish. Of course I have to get to Madrid Tuesday. I'm thinking phuqette, I'll take the train. I'm ready to ride cabs and trains for a while.

It was nice out on deck. But not much to see.

The next time I'll have to pay off my credit card, I'll be back in the USSA.

It's still abstract year. While I was waiting in the wrong line to get off this boat, I went the wrong way, missed the shuttle. I had to wait while the tractor trailers were offloaded. What a spectacle. It was a great show of teamwork too.

A lot of the men on the boat were truckers. That explained a lot.

"I mentally declared an end to this twilight zone experience."

Anyway, a security vehicle picked me up and took me to the terminal. This ferry journey was not on my bucket list and it's the closest experience to hitching a ride on a freighter I'm interested in, for now.

I started footing it towards the statue of Columbus, spotted a taxi. It was free, and so on.

Welcome to Barcelona. A beautiful view.
The hotel I booked was much further away than I realized. It's actually outside of Barcelona. Oddly enough I thought about booking outside of the city. Good thing too, there's a festival this weekend. No wonder I couldn't find a place closer.

When I got into the cab I mentally declared an end to this twilight zone experience. But then the cab ride lasted almost 30 minutes, I realized my declaration meant nothing.

Speaking of declarations, at the beginning of 2018, I declared it the year of personal responsibility. As a reminder, I may be complaining, but not blaming. Even if I was blaming these recent events on, say, Fate. The weight is still on me. At least part of this mess was my own dim perspective. And if nothing else, it makes a good story.

We talked tonight. After four months. I still feel the vibes. I hope live is even better.

There's so much more, but it will have to wait.

Bed sweet bed. It's been a long-ass day!
Ciao