Barcelona Sept 2018

  Finally I have entered the inner sanctum of the Sagrata Familia in Barcelona.  The attention to detail that Gaudi insisted on warms my DIY self. Soaring hyperboloidal vaults and so much more. The light from the windows is carefully crafted to maximise light and move it for the time of day.     In the Casa Batló, carved woodwork on doors that would have made my carpenter father gasp. The door handles are a mold of his grip. The umbre coloring of the tiles in the lightwell keeps the light even.   I was totally entranced.
     My house sit gave me the opportunity to use my monocular to observe the workers on the tower as the crane lifted big pieces up and up to start a new floor.
  Guess he invented modern mosaic work. In a window for Nespresso, was a hugh coffee pot done in mosaic. I think the locals like having Gaudi as a homeboy.
      The city bicycles have a new twist, the locals pay a yearly fee and can use them at their discression. 
   
   
 

Brazil bits May 2018

+Ibis are scarlet from eating the red clawed crabs
+Hundreds of new windmills along the NE coast
+Still have donkey carts
+Beans and rice, more beans and rice
+Mold everywhere
+Hammocks are the way to go
+Sand dunes with fresh water pools between them, for miles
+Capoeira on the beach at sunset
+Murals
+Black and white cobblestones in lovely patterns everywhere
+Church and Opera House have mosaics from very small tiles
+Pastel Colonial buildings, some restored, some decaying
+Big moulded swimming pools for sale alongside the roads, lit at night
+Buffet meals sold by weight
+Pop-up eating places at gas stations and underpasses
+Bars on the beach that are just a cart with electricity for mixing the all popular Caporinia
+Many speed bumps
+Street sellers at the speed bumps, clever
+Thousands of acres of sugar cane and coconut trees
+Braces on many for that American smile

BRAZIL, The Guyanas 2018

  Started out this adventure in Manaus to see the meeting of the Amazonian waters. Was exciting to see.  The different rivers do not mix for many miles.
    Then met the next Dragoman truck in Boa Vista, Brazil. I road that truck, thru Guyana, Suriname, French Guinea and Brazil.  Waited many years to see this part of the world. Jungle, heat, bugs, basic food, basic rooms, normal Dragoman trip.
    The three countries, so different. English, Dutch, French. At least in French Guinea I could get cheese and baguettes.  
     My first good experience with a hammock. I'm now a fan. 
      Saw the satellite launching facility in French Guiana and a boat ride to see the famous Devils Island. Bad vibes.

Chihuahua, Mexico March 2018

Hola,
    Just in case you would ask, I did not see one- Chihuahua dog. 
    My plan to go on the Copper Canyon train was thwarted by their site being hacked, couldn't get thru, when I finally did, all sold out-it was Easter and a big holiday.
   What I did get up to is
* Saw a Doctor about arrhythmia, turns out I wasn't dying, was altitude.
* Dentist for sore tooth, attempted root canal, nope, oral surgery was next. A hard one.
*Skin was so dry, frightening.
   My Airbnb host was so helpful, would have been lost without him.
    Some prices: $1 equals 18 Pesos.
Root canal  800
Surgery  3200
Progressive lenses  1400
Pedicure 250
Haircut 250
Groceries for two weeks 750
   The locals are so friendly, helpful and smiley. 
   I left a better person.

Minnesota in January

    What? Minnesota in January? Yes, if your going to go ‘home’ might as well make it count.

   I’ve been a month, visiting friends and family. 

   Now flying over the Rocky Mountains. I think they are there, all I see is a blanket of white fluff and feel the bumps. 

   In fact, I have seen much white this month. Missed the blood, blue, eclipse -due to the snow. 

   On the return from Iowa, seeing family, the bus encountered the blizzard. The bus was in a white out, moving slowly along the road among a long string of vehicles. I missed my connection, lined up a hotel, wasn’t going to ask my sister in law to come out on that. 

    The transit man told me the city bus would drop me by the hotel. Not. The driver knew nothing, I just got off. Went into the closest motel, and, straight out again- the smell was bad. I’m a big girl- I tell myself. I can walk to the right hotel, thru a blizzard, I’m from Minnesota. Was not dressed for this adventure, got confident in the weather and didn't have boots nor the big feather coat. Mistake. It wasn’t that far. But, glad for that, my feet especially. Curled up in the big bed, with 5 pillows, and watched the snow pile up. Had to walk back in the morning to the bus stop, much more snow and dam cold.

   Helped my school friend from 7th grade with her new house, new widowhood, new area. We laughed, she shopped, I played handy-woman and listened. 

    Had a lovely reunion with brothers children and grandchildren. 

   Ate cheese curds.  Yumm