On September 22nd 2010 Alia left the country to embark with me into an amazing journey, first backpacking all across Central America and later traveling by car all over Europe. When we were in Mexico, Alia liked to imagine we were two little smurfs, traveling around. Then, we will hold each other's hands and start singing as we walked down the streets of Mexico: "We are the little smurfs, tra-la-ra-la-ra. We are the little smurfs, tra-la-ra-la-ra". Later, when we arrived to Europe, one morning, as we were on our way to visit El Escorial in Northern Madrid, Alia came up with the idea we were like a monkey and a bunny traveling together around the world. That day we became 'Monkey and Bunny'. I was a primitive Monkey and she, being a woman, was, of course, the cute Bunny. With that some funny Monkey vs. Bunny rivalry began. I would wave my Monkey pride, while Alia would wave her Rabbit pride. For example, all songs with a "la-la-la" chorus were rabbit songs and Alia would argue they were the best., Whereas all songs with a "ooh-ooh-ooh" chorus were monkey songs and I would swear they were the best. Then, as we went on with our travels, we started characterizing each country by some power animal. So, Spaniards were monkeys (yeah, Alia argued we were so primitive, but it is well established we are the smartest most evolved in the animal kingdom). Norwegians were rabbits, since Alia is of Norwegian origin and they are all so cute and innocent (or so they like to think...). The Swiss are squirrels, since they are always hoarding their nuts for the rough Winter. Germans are bears; they are so big and strong. Japanese are ants, since they are so disciplined and hard-working. Americans are dogs, because of their diversity: some are so friendly and loving, while some others are more severe and aggressive. Portuguese, Italians and Greeks ...well, you know, those PIGS countries... we are all monkeys!! When we were in Slovenia, we stayed with Mateja, she had three rabbits and Alia fell immediately in love with them when she saw them. Alia started joking we should steal them: we should free them and take them with us. Since that day, throughout our adventures and everywhere we went, we always had our little imaginary rabbit friends with us. Eventually, we concluded those little rabbits were some real troublemakers.
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