by Wendy
If only we could have a virtual cocktail party, featuring amazing gin and tonic drinks like the ones they serve in Spain. For those who do not drink alcohol, might I suggest the incredible fresh squeezed orange juice they serve in Spain. Yes, the theme is Spain. We’ll have plates of snacks too, of course. Continue reading
by Wendy
A couple of years ago, I realized I was spending a little too much time on CandyCrush and television reruns. So I set a goal of reading at least 12 books a year, kept a list and got back into a habit I didn’t realize how much I missed. As Sunny points out in her excellent post, books inspire trips and provide a window to unfamiliar lifestyles and cultures. When reviewing what I read over the past 12 months, I realized how many are translations or stories that take place in other countries. Reading is in itself a form of travel, and I have loved that aspect since I was a kid. Here are my top favorites from 2015. Not necessarily all published in 2015, but the best ones I happened to read. I haven’t written about books since school, so I’m out of practice. As a result everything below will be brief. Continue reading
by Wendy
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My husband Jack said I am a collector of cities. I love trying to find a connection to the energy and color and diverse daily scenes of cities I visit. Cities offer reinvention and reassurance. They spark imagination. You learn to share your living space with others, while you’re also challenged to showcase uniqueness. There is an art to living in a city.
Madrid is the city we’ve visited most often in Spain. It is magical to me. History and cutting-edge are side by side. The landmark plazas and modern restaurants. The seedy and the sophisticated. The architecture and museums. It can feel like New York City, a night owl’s haven, a refuge for the weird, a sense that there is always a new discovery no matter how many streets you wander. I’ve heard other visitors sound less enthusiastic, but I love Madrid and will always try to claim it as one of my cities. In my mind I pretend that I’m more than a tourist. Instead, Jack and I have a relationship with Madrid, we’re on familiar terms. There’s no real must-see must-do list. We keep the camera-crazy gaping to a minimum and instead, play it cool. Well we try. Here are some city scenes/observations from our recent stops at the beginning and end of our fall road trip. Continue reading