​Weathering the Storm with the WP#65

I am back in the states, yes, tested negative for Covid at the airport yesterday morning, so no delays, but one in the group, was not so lucky, but she returned stateside a few days ago. I just wish the US government would drop this ridiculous requirement for testing which has to be done inside of 24 hours before returning. It causes a great deal of stress and anxiety and most other major countries in the world where travel is prevalent have dropped the requirement. Yes, you still must be vaccinated for the most part although, in some places, this too, is no longer the case, but still must fill out a health declaration form or some sort of online form to be tracked, in case of an outbreak. I think I even read that Denmark has dropped the requirements altogether or was it that they are no longer doing vaccinations. In any case, we still need to be conscious of the situation, but enough is enough and we will have to live with it from now on in one way of another. 

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As mentioned, I am back stateside, at least for the next couple of months, and then abroad again, but that is for a later blog. The experience of returning to Barcelona and the Catalonian countryside was wonderful and the group with which I traveled was truly wonderful. At last thought, I think we had done our Vermouth tasting, the mussels and more food, food, wine, and more food. It was an amazing experience, and we did tons of walking, but the kilos returned, so I am back to focusing on getting to where I was. It was my choice to eat all the good food folks, so I have only myself to blame. I have no regrets and I know what I must do, so it will be done. All that said, in the end, it was very much an immersive and wonderful experience even with its pitfalls and there were some, of course and excited the promote the more off the beaten path experiences beyond Barcelona and the usual suspects, as there are many. ​

The best part of the last week, as you all know by now is that Rosa and I were able to spend quality time together and while we had plans to get to certain places, not all was accomplished and that is alright. No, we never did get to Montserrat, another time, for sure. We did not hit all the museums that she wanted to experience, but we did get to the Barcelona Museum of Contemporary Art, which was very interesting and about 5 or 6 blocks from Las Ramblas. We did, indeed, get to Sagrada Familia and Camp Nou, yes where FC Barcelona places soccer, sorry football. We learned that this was a conglomerate of many different sports and we simply wandered around Barcelona, walking 5 or 6 miles a day on average, created our own little tapas moments as we went into several the markets, some more known, some not so much. I did not know she had never eaten macadamia nuts, so little moments. 
We did get to the Hard Rock, number 60 for me, officially and unofficially. You see, even though I have been a big Hard Rick fan for years now, I had not been a rewards member all that time, so I did not get official credit, but I still count my visits, so 60 to date, even if some, not as a rewards member. Unfortunately, some that were unofficial, have since closed, but some are still open, so I was able to make them “official”, like when she and I were in San Francisco last February. Others, I will make my way to again, to do that, but that is not my focus now. My focus is with her, and she and I enjoyed our time together, and we found a little place around the corner from our hotel for tapas, and paella and enjoyed each, so much that we enjoyed it twice. We only were together from Thursday until Sunday, when we once again parted ways, but it was the quality of the time together, the moments shared that for me will be the most important and it shortened the time between our being together again, less than two months from now.
Now, back on this side of the pond, I have to focus on the tasks at hand, including and not in any order, my client’s travels, which are always on my mind, be it here or overseas, finishing out the coursework so I can earn my teaching English certificate, the job at the store, getting myself back into my “fighting” weight and preparing for my time in Europe in summer. The next two months will be intense with all the loose ends to tie up and the ongoing arrangements. Everything will fall into place, as each is simply a bump in the road. I don’t call this blog, Weathering the Storm for no reason. 
As always, I am interested in your thoughts, comments, questions and adding to the discourse is always appreciated be in on the site itself or on Facebook, Twitter or wherever you read this. Thank you for your support of this small business and it is truly appreciated!!!