Young and restless in Europe
MANILA, Philippines - My family and I visited Europe for the first time this year. We walked until our feet hurt, learned to say no to gypsies and cunning shoe polishers, and sometimes got by on one bottle of water for the entire family (we were 12) at mealtime because nothing prepared us for four-euro bottled water. The sun was unforgivably brilliant, and it got so cold at night I’d open a window in the places we stayed at to see fog form in my breath.
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Venice
The most mysterious lady in Venice — and the most affected old man.
Rush hour in Venice, with all the gondolas swamped with Asians draped in luxury scarves and waiting to be photographed — my kind of people.
We did see the Vatican, but then all these tourists came out of it looking like their lives weren’t changed so I figured, nah.
Santorini
No one tells you about the kilometer-high donkey trail you need to climb to reach Santorini’s famous ridge.
But it is so worth it.
Istanbul
Istanbul is just beautiful and messy and random; youths would make art outside the Hagia Sofia and be better than you.
The ship was leaving so we left as the city lit up and begged me to stay.
Rome
“Babe I’m so bored and we’re the Roman Empire; let’s put three fountains in one place, the tourists will love it.”
After five million stunning monuments, my sister and I gave up trying to photograph them seriously.
Didn’t get to ask the Romans how they could spend all day sitting around drinking coffee, but it didn’t stop them and I wanted it.
Everyone was smoking and tossing butts everywhere, but somehow it looked really good and I wanted it.
I’ve never been to New York but I thought it would look like this.
Normcore obviously hadn’t reached Rome.
One day we just walked and saw the Colosseo like it was no big deal, but I loved the walking more.
Youths — my new term for foreign young people who are casually living happier lives that allow for layering and smiling at nothing.
