summer creatures

there are these creatures that resurface every summer in europe. they drive the locals out of their homes and take over the city. oddly misshapen with a huge hump on their backs, they crowd the cities and go around with faces full of glee and excitement for the unknown and unfamiliar they are about to encounter.

i traveled throughout all the seasons of europe and i never experienced this increased number of these creatures in any other season but summer. having been a resident of Padova, i know it is not a city that is on the list of musts of every backpacker but as summer approached, the double decker City Sightseeing bus i have seen full in any other big city slowly filled up. during the other seasons, me and my friends would see this bus with less than five people and to see it in this condition is just a sure sign that summer has creeped on the city along with the empty streets of the residential areas and shops closed for the summer.

im not used to the city's local vibe dying in this season. as a matter of fact, im not used to an empty city at all. in europe, i realized how much they value their time-offs. they take advantage of the weather even with the ridiculously jacked up prices. i guess its a good thing. everyone does need a break but for all to go at the same time is just crazy. once you travel during this period, you just get to meet travelers like you as opposed to my usual preference of meeting the locals. couchsurfing is not a good option in this time of the year too as you can imagine. looking for a couch is frustrating because everyone goes on holiday and can't host! so you end up in a hostel and follow the tourist route. and looking for a hostel isn't easy as well! in cinque terre, i was seriously afraid i'd end up sleeping in the train station with the storm keeping me moist the whole night long. my luck turned as you know and found Levanto!

anyway, all im saying is, im not sure if summer is the best time to see europe for me. the weather can get too hot or too rainy even. im not sure if this goes only for this past year when all the weather traditions got reorganized though. but spring was great for traveling and for me the best time to go around. then, autumn, winter and lastly, summer. winter was cool because i got to see the city under a blanket of snow and got to do winter sports. bad side is that it gets too cold sometimes and the coats and warm clothing take up a lot of room in the luggage. autumn with the changing of colors and spring with the blooming of flowers are the perfect seasons for me. not too cold and not too warm. and lastly in summer, as i have started out in this post, these creatures or should i say, us creatures for a few trips at least, are a bittersweet addition to an experience of traveling.

goes and wanders