It’s Monday ….
Can anyone say “Monday, Funday”? Or was that yesterday?!? Yes. Today is my last day in Sabadell, Barcelona … Spain. I was just watching the news here regarding the possible secession of Catalunya from Spain … So much going on “politically” world-wide. Can you say, “Peace … be still …”?!
The trip has been wonderful … after arriving 3 months ago in Sabadell and taking on other countries’ borders and cities to enjoy a much needed trip. I mean, before I knew it, I was back in Barcelona! Valencia was probably where I relaxed the most … taking in the beach there – Malvarrosa Beach – and many of the tourist’s sights … as well as the “not so touristy” sights! Going on from Valencia to Hamburg with a day lay over in Prague was quite an experience as well. I met some of the nicest people and on one occasion, either a problematic person or a “stupid” person who gave me the wrong directions to an address that was right where I started when I got out of the train there in Hamburg where I asked him for help! We’ll chalk that one up to experience because I should have looked around before asking someone where a street was … which was directly behind me! Lesson: “Trust … but not everybody!” Hamburg was also delightful with the new Philharmonic Hall and the Port of Hamburg, though I didn’t get to see a German friend who lives in Kiel, and, I was momentarily disappointed. Life goes on …
Amsterdam was a place that I had never anticipated traveling to but had a “funtastic” time there! The people were kind, the ladies were as beautiful as they were in Prague and Valencia, and I had two unexpected “dates” with people … one I hadn’t seen since leaving White Plains as a teacher! The other surprise was from a woman who is a yoga teacher in Amsterdam but who knows an acquaintance of mine from Ft. Lauderdale, FL. So, I had an unexpected dinner in downtown Amsterdam with a former student, Trevor Henry, as well as a boat cruise on the canals in that City’s lovely ambiance with Cheryl Nesbit. Peaceful people everywhere! I never intended to visit Paris … but I did! I stayed there for like five days and enjoyed everything I could from the Eiffel Tower to Arc de Triomfe as well as a foot trip to “The Louvre” … I didn’t go in … I was too tired! Shucks, I even saw the original “Moulin Rouge”! I had some of the coolest room mates in the hostel there in Paris, co-ed type thing, and made some cool new friends. Paris is truly a city with its own “style”!! From Paris, I took a 12 hour bus trip back to Barcelona where I hung out another month with the same hostess I met when I had first arrived in Sabadell. After a month or so of more sight seeing, I took off to Valencia again … I just had to see that beach one more time! I stayed in the City … downtown Valencia … and got to see yet another aspect of this beautiful city!
So, now I am winding up two weeks here in Sabadell again with a cool hostess, Vicky Lao, who has her own Air BnB set up that functions pretty well! I can tell you that I have had some meals here that she prepared that were superb! After arriving back in Sabadell, I had the pleasure of meeting an older gent, a retired doctor, who was born in Spain but grew up in New York’s Queens. We met at a health food store and became friends instantly. He invited me on a trip to a place called “Costa Brava” which stretches from Catalunya in Spain to the French border where we had a day of relaxation, beautiful scenery and … some excellent food. Thanks, Francisco! Tomorrow morning, I will board the Delta flight back to Atlanta and finally to Ft. Lauderdale. I will hunker down for a few days in the FTL and then probably on to Daytona Beach while I work out my trip to South America …
But for now, “That’s all folks!”
Have a great day and a greater week!
Peace,
John I. Cook, Director
