Monday, February 9, 2015
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.
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