SOMETIMES IT TAKES TRAVELING ACROSS AN OCEAN..
Chris and I were bit by the travel bug sometime ago. I guess we have found a university out there in the world. Lessons that can not be learned in a classroom. Skills we have obtained by trial and error. We learn about the human spirit. We have seen how families come together in different cultures and religions. We have meet new friends from all over. The common thread we all share is the passion for travel.
We hit the road again. Not alone did we embark on this journey we traveled with Ron and Carrie. My parents. This month we headed back to London for a couple of nights and then on to Barcelona Spain. 5 nights in a city with a pulse so loud you need earplugs to sleep. The streets are filled with art. The streets themselves are square stones that meet together like a mosaic. The sun reflects off them and shows a simple shine. The people walking on them are full of color too. From their clothing to the language that rolls off their tongue. The street performers are in every direction. The museums on every corner that showcases Picasso, Dali, and so many more. We saw great churches, the maritime museum. We took the time to see the Temple de la Sagrada Familia. A structure so grand it has taken Gaudi (and generations of crew) over 100 years to finish. It may be finished in 2022. The architecture of Gaudi is on the apartments in front of you, the hotels behind you, the fences that surround you. The local market is one of the best I have every seen. Candies, meats, fishes, flowers, vegetables, oils, spices, yea, it's all there. Even a tapas bar to sample the freshest food.
After leaving the city of art we headed north east to the Costa Brava. No vacation is complete without a trip to the ocean. A place to decompress and get grounded before heading back to London. I have seen many oceans in my 31 years but, let me tell you once you lay your eyes on the Mediterranean sea you have found the daddy of all seas. The color turquoise that blends in with a baby blue then blending once again with a simple green. The ocean is calm as it runs over the jagged rocks. From our hotel room priced at a mere 120 euro a night we had a double view of the sea. We left the doors open all night to sleep to the peaceful sound of the waves crashing gently against the rocks below. I never tasted a glass of cava (local sparkling wine) until I hit Spain. I drank many glasses starring off into the sea. At 9 euros a bottle Chris and I would toast to the good life. Life of the road less taken. Life that we have chosen. We follow the rules but, sometimes we like to take the side road to see where we end up. So far we have been blessed with this road trip we call life.
London brings us joy of course. As we both love love love this city! We toured the tower of London, hit the oldest pub in town rebuilt in 1677, and took in a day at the Tate Modern. We lunched at Harrods pretended to be one of the rich we rubbed elbows with. Only if they knew that are travel fund is getting lower year after year. We had two fun nights out with our friends Tim and Ruth Fernback. They live in a cozy suburb of London. Muswell Hill. One night we ate out with friends for a Thai meal. Later we went dancing until the early hours of morning. The second round in London, we had a big meal at a local Greek restaurant in central London. Packed full of bodies drunk on the savory, sweet Greek cuisine. Yum.
Now back at home I can reflect on the day's spent away. I think for us it takes getting far away to appreciate our glorious home. Where we have fantastic weather, in my humble opinion the best food period. And even now and again you meet a special friend who is in fact an American, and proud to be here. A person full of many colors of life. Maybe a mother, a brother, an old lady, or a three year old running towards us with laughter. All of them just as special, just as unique, just as beautiful as the people we have meet on the road.
Until the next time we board a plane and look at each-other in the eyes and say, damn were lucky...............
1 comment:
I feel like I was just on that trip with you! How very cool. You guys are very lucky! You have done so many neat trips together.
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