'God takes care of fools and little children.' It's been my motto my entire life. So far it has worked for me nicely. I've toddled my way through things and while there were potential dangers - I mostly ignored them. I just kept toddling. But I digress. I'll start at the beginning. We left the … Continue reading Roller Coaster Sunday
Fresh Squeezed
It's a cool crisp morning here in Valencia. Surprise! We woke up to fireworks. Shades of Fallas - reminding us it's coming and we need to book some rooms out of town for that week. First, it rained and then the sun came out like it inevitably does. A day without sunshine here, in some … Continue reading Fresh Squeezed
Zen and the Art of Learning to Drive in Spain: ‘This is why we can’t have nice things’
I don't know much. But one thing I have learned after two driving lessons is that driving a stick is no big deal. Yup - only killed the engine once in an hour and a half, after stopping at a light and trying to start forward in 3rd gear. Another thing I learned is that … Continue reading Zen and the Art of Learning to Drive in Spain: ‘This is why we can’t have nice things’
Finding Room
Being back in Spain has proved busy. In an effort to make more room for our creative pursuits, Jeff and I have been out and about exploring. Jeff has repeatedly been frustrated with the availability of supplies related to the things he likes to do. Whether it's sea kayaks or technical fabrics. Not to mention … Continue reading Finding Room
The Sun Also Rises
Time smooths out the rough edges of memory. Sometimes it makes the past seem rosier than, perhaps, it really was. We are home from Ireland. We were excited to spend Christmas in New Years in weather that felt like so many holidays of the past. Especially all the years we spent in Seattle. And it … Continue reading The Sun Also Rises
Last Days in Ireland – Feeling the Love
We left Derry and made our way back to Dublin. I've finally figured out the roads - what the letters mean - so we used the wider cow paths to get there - mostly uneventfully. I won't lie, I'll miss being called 'Love', 'Pet' or 'Darlin'' liberally sprinkled in any sentence that addressed me for … Continue reading Last Days in Ireland – Feeling the Love
Derry on the Uptick
*Still doing this on my phone. Formatting, etc. May be wonky. Derry is a vibrant walled city with the old and new working side by side. Traffic and people weave through the gates; tourists and locals walk the top of the wall. Life is good here. The walled city sits on an island hill that … Continue reading Derry on the Uptick
Derry: Two Sides One City
I've traveled to conflict zones over the course of my adult life. Some have been boiling over while I was there. Others quietly simmering. Like in the Middle East, being stopped at checkpoints controlled by militia who stationed a 12 year old boy sitting on a bucket to ask why we want to travel a … Continue reading Derry: Two Sides One City
Northern Ireland
We are spending our last week in Ireland in Derry or Londonderry. Depending upon your political point of view. More on that in another post. So it was the moment to see the Giant's Causeway. This basalt rock phenomenon occurs on the Northern coast of Ireland. If you require a little courage before your visit … Continue reading Northern Ireland
Holy Shit! Driving in Ireland
First off, renting a car at the Dublin airport mimicked buying a used car on Aurora Avenue in Seattle. It felt like we were haggling with a used car salesman for insurance, transmission and tire coverage. If he'd mentioned 'clear coat' I would have gone ballistic. We needed a shower after. The swearing started directly … Continue reading Holy Shit! Driving in Ireland
