Friday, January 30, 2015
Monday, January 26, 2015
Practice happiness ...
Richard Davidson, professor of Psychology and Psychiatry at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, claims that happiness is a skill that can be continually developed.
"I talk about happiness as a skill. It's actually something that can be cultivated," he said. "Everything we've learned about the brain suggests it's no different than learning the violin. If you practice, you'll get better at it."
Wednesday, January 14, 2015
Day 21: January 14 ... my last day in Spain
My trip has reached its end.
I had a wonderful coffee and pastry in a quiet cafe this morning, watching Madrid stroll by. I've loved spending time here, and I will miss it.
I did a bit of shopping in the early afternoon ... the post holiday sales make this a clothes shopping paradise, and I bought a pair of brown suede shoes. No other city, in my opinion, compares to Madrid for the quality and styling of shoes ... they are simply exquisite.
I'm going to head out now in search of olive oil and saffron.
A taxi in the morning will take me to the airport for a 7 am flight back home, connecting through Amsterdam.
I'll write the final blog for this trip once I am off the ground and have had some quiet time to reflect on this little odyssey that I have lived for the past 21 days. Given the people I have met (especially!), the experiences I have had and the places I have visited, I just cannot imagine how this trip could have been more perfect.
I had a wonderful coffee and pastry in a quiet cafe this morning, watching Madrid stroll by. I've loved spending time here, and I will miss it.
I did a bit of shopping in the early afternoon ... the post holiday sales make this a clothes shopping paradise, and I bought a pair of brown suede shoes. No other city, in my opinion, compares to Madrid for the quality and styling of shoes ... they are simply exquisite.
I'm going to head out now in search of olive oil and saffron.
A taxi in the morning will take me to the airport for a 7 am flight back home, connecting through Amsterdam.
I'll write the final blog for this trip once I am off the ground and have had some quiet time to reflect on this little odyssey that I have lived for the past 21 days. Given the people I have met (especially!), the experiences I have had and the places I have visited, I just cannot imagine how this trip could have been more perfect.
Day 20: January 13 ... return to Madrid for the last stretch
I left Logroño at 10 am and arrived at my new (and last hotel) at 3:30. I splurged a little and booked myself into an old traditional hotel located near the Royal Theatre.
Along the way, I made some new friends in Madrid, and I joined them last evening for dinner and late night cocktails. All 3 work for a private, distance-learning university. Jesus, an archeologist, Carmen, a specialist in preserving cultural heritage. Maria, a Greek woman who was lured by an ex-lover to Madrid ... and stayed; she is a social psychologist. Needless to say, we had quite an interesting, lively and long conversation over a platter of the most delicious seafood. Unfortunately, I failed to snap a photo. I hope one day to see them again. Post-dinner cocktails kept me out way beyond 2 am ... since I have not worn a watch during this entire trip ... I lost track of the time.
Along the way, I made some new friends in Madrid, and I joined them last evening for dinner and late night cocktails. All 3 work for a private, distance-learning university. Jesus, an archeologist, Carmen, a specialist in preserving cultural heritage. Maria, a Greek woman who was lured by an ex-lover to Madrid ... and stayed; she is a social psychologist. Needless to say, we had quite an interesting, lively and long conversation over a platter of the most delicious seafood. Unfortunately, I failed to snap a photo. I hope one day to see them again. Post-dinner cocktails kept me out way beyond 2 am ... since I have not worn a watch during this entire trip ... I lost track of the time.
Day 19: January 12 ... a full day of exploration in Logroño
Logroño is a modern, vibrant, northern city with a historical centre. Absent the bright light and festive nature of sunny Andalucia and the cosmopolitan sophistication of Madrid, Logroño has a different air that has charmed me and made me begin thinking about a future trip to Spain to explore the cities of the north.
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| the Gran Via click on photo to enlarge |
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| the well-known calle Laurel (street of tapas bars) click on photo to enlarge |
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| architectural details that are so unlike the south click on photo to enlarge |
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| a side view of the Cathedral click on photo to enlarge |
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| a lovely cafe click on photo to enlarge |
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| Cathedral click on photo to enlarge |
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| Cathedral rising in background click on photo to enlarge |
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| I like the facade of this eatery click on photo to enlarge |
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| typical architectural style of this region click on photo to enlarge |
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| poplar trees pruned back in winter click on photo to enlarge |
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| a city spotlessly clean click on photo to enlarge |
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| view from my hotel window click on photo to enlarge |
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| view from my hotel window click on photo to enlarge |
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| laundry day click on photo to enlarge |
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| bridge from historical centre across the Ebro River click on photo to enlarge |
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| Centre for Cultural Studies (La Rioja) click on photo to enlarge |
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| the likeness is amazing click on photo to enlarge |
Day 18: January 11 ... in search of the perfect tapa
Shortly after settling in, I began my exploration of a rich culinary tradition ... and stopped by 3 different tapas bars on the famous Laurel Street. A glass of Rioja red and one or two tapas in each bar. Tapas can be intricate creations or a simple chorizo sausage on toasted bread or a portion of Spanish tortilla (eggs/potato).
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| in a bar named Charley's, breaded squash with bechamel sauce ham and cheese click on photo to enlarge |
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| bar #2, breaded asparagus with mushroom sauce and wrapped in iberian ham click on photo to enlarge |
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| bar #3, clients drinking and eating at the bar. Here I ate tapas in the following 2 photos click on photo to enlarge |
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| bruschetta with iberian ham click on photo to enlarge |
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| a simple, but incredibly favourful, chorizo sausage on toasted bread click on photo to enlarge |
The next day, for lunch, I stopped by bar #4.
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| bar #4, a bit of local colour click on photo to enlarge |
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| traditional Spanish tortilla with spicey sauce on the side click on photo to enlarge
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Day 18: January 11 ... off to Logroño
So, everybody whom I've met here has questioned why I would include Logroño in my trip itinerary when there are so many more popular "tourist" destinations. While doing some pre-trip research I came across a convincing review of this city, located in the wine-producing La Rioja region of the north, 336 km (209 mi) from Madrid. It is located on the river Ebro, and the Camino de Santiago passes through the city.
Logroño is the shopping and financial capital of La Rioja. Its economy is heavily reliant on wine.
Logroño has one of the most distinguished culinary traditions in Spain. There are over 50 taperías (tapas restaurants) located within a 4 block area, near the town centre and I am eager to explore as many as I can during my brief 2-day stay. Wine and food are reason enough to have selected this, my final destination.
The trip, by bus, took a little over 4 hours. Here are some photos taken along the way. Everywhere I have traveled during this 3-week odyssey ... I have noted the ubiquitous presence of power-generating wind turbines scattered across the fertile and well tended landscapes, as you will see in the photos below.
Logroño is the shopping and financial capital of La Rioja. Its economy is heavily reliant on wine.
Logroño has one of the most distinguished culinary traditions in Spain. There are over 50 taperías (tapas restaurants) located within a 4 block area, near the town centre and I am eager to explore as many as I can during my brief 2-day stay. Wine and food are reason enough to have selected this, my final destination.
The trip, by bus, took a little over 4 hours. Here are some photos taken along the way. Everywhere I have traveled during this 3-week odyssey ... I have noted the ubiquitous presence of power-generating wind turbines scattered across the fertile and well tended landscapes, as you will see in the photos below.
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Saturday, January 10, 2015
Day 17: January 10 .... back to Madrid
It's a foggy morning in Salamanca, and the temperature is -3c. I'll catch a train back to Madrid at 12:30. Will be off to Logroño tomorrow.
Day 16: January 9 ... a thousand picture taking opportunities in Salamanca
Every street in the old city is a step back in time.
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| the old and the new as neighbours click on photo to enlarge |
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| an old pharmacy click on photo to enlarge |
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| Plaza Mayor click on photo to enlarge |
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| Plaza Mayor in the fog of night on photo to enlarge |
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