Where In The World Is Cailie Kafura?: Viva La Vida Loca!

Following the land of Mongols, I was in need of a dose of civilized civilization; I anticipated the final leg of my journey which would bring me to England and beyond.
However, Asia had some separation anxiety and couldn't let me go.
It all began with my 8-hour delay in the Chinggis Khan Mongolian Airport due to "blue skies."
Optimists would appreciate the perk of receiving a hotel room for the delay, yet pessimists make a good point when realizing that the hotel required passengers to share a room with someone. Being a solo traveller, I anxiously watched as a game of roomate roulette played out before me with the winner being a random Chinese chap. Herro Roomie!
Thankfully, it was broad daylight, so I meandered the streets to kill time and also kill the awkwardness that would have been in that room had I stayed. This one delay was simply the beginning. My next two flights left without me and so my arrival in Beijing also paired me with lucky roommate number two! Whilst standing in line, I struck up conversation with an Ozzy who was also on the mongolian flight. We decided it would be best to share a room together, since no one else seemed to be a good candidate.
Laughing at the potentially scandalous sight of us sharing a hotel room in Beijing, he phoned his wife to say that he was stranded in Beijing and sharing a hotel room with a 19-year-old American girl. That probably did not sound too kosher to his wife :)
England finally pulled me from the grips of Asia's airports, and once it did, my multiple train trips around England to see my cousins began! Between family reunions, many other adventures filled the gaps...
The Queen celebrated her 60th anniversary to the throne...to England, this meant Union Jacks, partying, no work, and concerts on the roof of the palace. Long Live the Queen!

After all of this excitement, I popped down to Denmark to visit one of my fellow Cambodian volunteer friends. Twas a blast: seeing the city through a rainbow walkway, being mistaken for a Dane, witnessing a fjord with its jellyfish, and headbanging with long-haired locals to garage bands. Denmark is where it is at!

A trip to Spain was organized with my cousins and we went to the medieval city of Caceres.
One week of tanning, pooling, gymming(not my ideal idea of fun :).... Being near the Portugal border made for a prime atmosphere when the Spain Portugal soccer game began. Walking amongst outdoor cafes in the evening, we saw the masses gathering in front of TVs to watch history in the making.
At the final stop, we sat down to see who would win, and Spain took it home! Everyone jumped in jubilation and the older man in front of us came over to give what I though would be a hug but instead was a kiss; I laughed when his kiss hit my neck instead of my cheek. Again missing the memo, I didn't turn for the other cheek to be kissed and thus my eye received a kiss!
The waiter came to do the same and my wits finally kicked in as we gave kisses on the cheeks like normal people. The atmosphere on the way back to the hotel was exhilarating.
VIVA ESPANA rang through the streets, with coinciding horn honkage. Amazing.

And back to England we went where my cousin and I were invited to an 80s party in an old underground train station in London. My dream party! Even the walls were graffiti-ified just for the event. We showed up in our bright colors ready to dance to some old school beats and we were surrounded by the best fashion-- giant glasses, gold shorts(on men with sweatbands!), high waisted everything, leg warmers, and neon leggings. In the basement, fake tattoos were given as well as vintage clothes for sale. Long Live the 80s!!!

One final trip to France for a week had me in Dijon, Lyon, and Royan. I visited my friends from Cambodia, Mongolia, and my former foreign exchange student. Dijon and Lyon had beautiful cathedrals and castles to offer, while Royan brought the party. Beaching and dancing and going to bed at 6am. Ah, the lives of the youth...

That brings me to today. Today I pack. Pack for America. Tomorrow I will go to New York City and spend four days with my brother...my last hoorah...

For the moral of the gap year story, return to this blog in 4 days... see you soon....

xoxo

Cailie Kafura!