Over a decade ago there was a long period during which I was relentlessly angry at my mother over the management of the rental house she had inherited from her aunt. This was a constant source of stress between not only between her and me, but also between my husband and myself. From the time … More The Great Idea and Lessons in Humility
A friend recently asked me about how I felt about dining in restaurants when I travel solo. I jokingly replied ‘it sucks’. After a dramatic pause I added ‘but only because I don’t get to taste more things from the menu’. She laughed. I laughed. But then she asked again. This time she added something … More Dining Solo And The Red Paisley Bandana
Last day in Madrid. Last chance to fit in that elusive daytrip to Alcalá de Henares. I tried to muster the enthusiasm. I tried real hard. And then I re-nestled into my cozy (Read: Small. But I like to stay positive.) but comfy twin-sized bed and slept for another hour. Nope. No motivation. Nothing. Not … More The Not So Lazy Last Day in Madrid
I’m not big on sweets (thank God!!!!) but there are a few things I really like. The short list includes ice cream. I also like coffee, so it is only natural that an affogato is something I might veer out of my way to get to quench a sugar craving. I have no idea why … More A Long Walk, A Gintonic and Flamenco
After a few days of eating way too much rich food (and maybe drinking copious amounts of wine) I was not up to having much for breakfast, though my caffeine addiction still demanded at least a cup of coffee. And I had a very full day ahead; even by my admittedly – ahem– aggressive sightseeing … More Coffee, My Mater Dolorosa, and A Spanish Hamburger
I love museums. Anyone that has ever read my ramblings probably knows that. The hubs has a deep appreciation for beauty (of course he does!) but was never an art-loving person until we started traveling together. He will choose every time the view from Inspiration Point in Bryce Canyon over Botticelli’s Birth of Venus, Bernini’s … More 2-Museum Days and Travel Shoes
Mondays often wreak havoc to compulsive museum-going trip planners. Everything I had identified as Top Priority in The Spreadsheet to visit in Madrid was closed on Mondays. Perfect for a daytrip, right? Not quite, because most of the things you want to see at the daytrip location are also closed. Part of the growing up … More Daytrips, Confusions, General Travel Ramblings and a Pizza
Waking up on the first day of vacation, when all the adventures are still ahead of you, is a wonderful thing…. given two things: how kindly jetlag is treating you and whether you need to set up an alarm for waking up. My staying up late the night before paid off. I woke up before … More Dipping Churros and Artistic Disappointment
The plane landed at Madrid airport at 10:30am on a direct and blessedly quiet flight from San Juan on Iberia. Entirely forgettable flight. The good kind of flight. The challenge -as it always is- was to strike the perfect balance between staying hydrated and minimizing trips to the restroom. And that was the only one … More ¡Hola Madrid! Let’s Do This
Early in 2017 I started planning a trip to Spain with my sister, my absolute favorite destination. It was to be her 1st time visiting so we (well, mostly I) struggled to find an itinerary that would fit her 10 available days, give her a chance to savor a few of the many flavors of … More Hurricane María and The Unexpectedly Solo Trip
Stella's Spoon 