the only mistake i made in portugal.

the bartender at the hostel takes a group of us out to see lisbon´s nightlife. our first stop is at a small bar a few blocks away to see an electric euro-pop band. we danced- they laughed- everyone was having a great time. one of the band members told me to come talk to them, and like any obnoxious american would, i spoke super slow and super loud, "doo y'aall speeak eenglishh?!" one guy smiled and tilted his head (kinda like a dumb puppy) and he says, "uhh.. a little." then me (slower and louder) "thaaat waasss GOOODD!!!!!" yea, they´re from brooklyn. good one, erin.



i don´t even know how to explain the rest of the evening. drinking beer in glass bottles, on the street, at 3am. (not me.) drinking whiskey out of a clear glass cup on the bus full of cops. (not me, either.) i have no idea where we were, some kind of warehouse filled with many different rooms and a different party in each one. 6 stories high with different electronic dance parties in the hallways of every floor. there were tents outside with dub-step booming from everyone of them, people everywhere drinking in alley ways. at 4am phil and i look at eachother with the same look of despair in our faces. we´re so not european enough for this. gladly, we ditch the group and head for bed.

(i thought the "discotexas" poster was amazing.)

lesson #2- always bring the address and a map of your hostel with you when you go out at night.

and now for the mistake-
i woke up the next morning and saw my foot. it was covered with a red shiny goo like substance. almost like a bloody puss. it was so gross. did i cut my foot!? am i losing a toe nail? i didn´t fall... and nothing hurts... oh wait... my stomache does... ohhh NOOO!!!!!!! what was i thinking?! similar to a 2am taco bell run in texas (which is a good idea at the time, but is a death wish for the next morning) is a hot dog (off the street) in lisbon. i wanted an experience, so i got mine with everything. the goo on my foot was ketchup and mayo. (nasty.) thank god for tumms.