OMG I am at it again, loving where I have landed and deciding to stay on awhile longer. Who knew at the end of October and first of November that the sun would actually come out and you could lounge on the Beaches of Barcelona. I keep expecting fall to turn overnight into winter but so far even Mother Nature has been agreeable and although it rained last night it was cleared up and sunny for the better part of the day. I can tour the great Gaudi sites and visit a museum or two on the overcast and cold blustery days. but for being able to relax by the sea in Barcelona takes priority so that I can have some much needed rest and a few days to off my aching feet. Actually they don't ache but any excuse to lounge for a day or two this late in the year as I know that winter is inevitable and then it will be bundled up and freezing and not sure it will be my favorite. I am hardly known for cold weather vacations. I did make an interesting purchase while i was in Venice. As the waters were rising and there was a threat of rain, I buckled and purchased a pair of black knee high plastic waders (Wellies). Nothing sexy about them but I figured being practical rather than functional at this junction of my adventure was called for. I hate being wet and cold but if it is going to happen I will be prepared. I actually had to wear them when I arrived in Barcelona as they are too bulky/heavy to carry or put into my bag and i found them to been extremely comfortable for what they are. have a feeling they will not endure the wearage that I plan to put on them with all the walking that I will be doing on the cold/wet days ahead but hey; they were relatively cheap compared to other wet/cold winter footwear options available. I wasn't ready to drop a couple hundred on a pair of designer footwear knowing how the last few pair of travel shoes have ended up in the trash as i had walked the soles right out of them. i recently put a pair of flip flops that I acquired in Thailand to their final resting place as they too had served their purpose well and actually I was beginning to feel it was easier to go barefoot the soles were so flat and that so little support was being provided. I definitely recommend shower shoes based on the Hostel environment that i reside, I take good care of myself and my feet should receive no less attention. So new tennis shoes from Czech Republic (Prague), waders from Venice and Havellians(sp) from Barcelona, i don't have them on so i don't know how to spell. Hmmm... not bad for traveling 10 months to blow thru 2 pair of shoes and 1 pair of flip flops. can't wait to get home to my 50+ pair that I have awaiting me at home. I can wear a new pair everyday for almost 2 months...I am ashamed to admit my shoe fetish but hey there are worse vices. I my never have to buy new shoes again...what am I saying...i did not have to buy so many in the first place but now at least I may be set for quite awhile upon my return. I continue to giggle at the fact that I have two pair of 29 waist jeans with me that I was..well squeezed into when I left because they are my favorites only now to have to wear a belt on the 4th notch or they will literally fall off...not just the gangster below the butt, show your boxers look but literally fall to the floor. I can't wait to get home...Not...to see what I'm gonna do with all the 30,31, 32 waist jeans/slacks that I was wearing before I left. Guess i'll cross that bridge when I arrive. I don't think it will be a negative situation as I really am looking better than I have in a long time....Healthy is a good look. Just a great reason to go shopping; for essentials; of course.
I had an interesting restaurant encounter with a couple of older cruise ship tourists who asked what i was doing in Barcelona. I was wearing my Texas Ranger ball cap otherwise I guess i just look american or hopefully I wasn't mumbling to myself ...you never know. Traveling alone gets lonely occasionally. Anyway, they are from Georgia. One of the ladies reminded me of Paula Dean the Southern Chef with their very strong accents. They are traveling via a cruise back to Florida. They definitely appeared to be cruise tourist types. I was proud of them for venturing out into Barcelona alone but hey I am staying in a very high end part of BCN so they may have been at the high end hotel right across the street. Anyway they were nice and seemed amazed that I took a year off to travel. One of the ladies had been a realtor up until 4 years ago and i don't think that she did as well as i did in her career. She seemed to want to kick me or at least her husband after i told her my year long plan and that seemed to make her very quiet. Her friend and the 2 husbands had all kinda of questions about how to plan an around the world trip and although I advised I did have a travel agent they seemed to do all their traveling by cruise as they had been several places but all had cruise port as the starting point. Too each their own. Life is a Beach!
I had an interesting restaurant encounter with a couple of older cruise ship tourists who asked what i was doing in Barcelona. I was wearing my Texas Ranger ball cap otherwise I guess i just look american or hopefully I wasn't mumbling to myself ...you never know. Traveling alone gets lonely occasionally. Anyway, they are from Georgia. One of the ladies reminded me of Paula Dean the Southern Chef with their very strong accents. They are traveling via a cruise back to Florida. They definitely appeared to be cruise tourist types. I was proud of them for venturing out into Barcelona alone but hey I am staying in a very high end part of BCN so they may have been at the high end hotel right across the street. Anyway they were nice and seemed amazed that I took a year off to travel. One of the ladies had been a realtor up until 4 years ago and i don't think that she did as well as i did in her career. She seemed to want to kick me or at least her husband after i told her my year long plan and that seemed to make her very quiet. Her friend and the 2 husbands had all kinda of questions about how to plan an around the world trip and although I advised I did have a travel agent they seemed to do all their traveling by cruise as they had been several places but all had cruise port as the starting point. Too each their own. Life is a Beach!
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