From the Kitchen Counter…

View from my mother in law’s entry way on her 90^th birthday (Amersham, England):

 Mood Reading: ZZZ’s:  Had a decent night’s sleep after staying up late to watch the Olympics, my new and I hope temporary obsession!  (How the heck am I going to get anything done over the next 17 days?)

I thought it only fitting to conclude my travel journal and our time in England (after a fabulous 5 days in Barcelona) to coincide with the Summer Olympics opening in London.  The Games officially launched two nights ago and I’m glued to the TV already on the second day of competition, watching sports I’d never normally pay any attention to. But you gotta love it!  Here I am yelling like a maniacal, die-hard fan of the US Men’s Volleyball team when only two days ago, I thought “dig”, “dink”, and “dive” were intricate dance steps on the ballroom floor! Read the rest of this entry »

View from Gaudi’s Park Gluell (Barcelona):

Mood Reading: ZZZ’s (actually just woke from a nap on plane and not feeling too bad – only 4 hours to go until we’re back in the ol’ USA)

I’m flying the friendly skies again — heading for home after a whirlwind but wonderful trip to Barcelona and England, all in 10 days.  Have had a cuppa (tea), a ‘biscuit’ (shortbread cookie), and half of a watercress sandwich made by the hubby in his mum’s kitchen early this morning, and am feeling pretty chipper – gotta love the British way, we always take as much of it home with us as we can.

Just flipped through all the pictures in my camera to refresh my memory about the heat, flavor and late night sizzle of Barcelona which seems so distant now after the constant cloudy, drizzle of England, but was in reality only last week. After a rather Read the rest of this entry »

View from Las Ramblas – Barcelona:

Mood Reading: ZZZZ’s (after a week of debauchery – finally got a good 9 hours in!)

After 34 hours, 3 layovers and enough airline food to challenge the healthiest of digestive tracts, we arrived in Barcelona hot, tired, and rumpled to bits…only to find our bags hadn’t!  They were apparently still sitting on a tarmac somewhere between London and Paris so – what’s a girl to do? Run around Las Ramblas for two days in the same sink-rinsed underwear and the wrinkled, not so fresh pink shirt worn the previous 34 hours and now smelling more than slightly fragrant – that’s what!  Read the rest of this entry »

View from Seat 24E American Airlines Flight 520 (at 7:15 AM ):

Mood Reading:  ZZ’s (Not so great-spent the night at a casino/hotel in preparation for early flight – guy in next room on a winning streak and slamming doors all night and into wee hours – including the one sounding my alarm.)

So, here I am on a layover in Dallas after awaking at 4:30 this morning to catch the shuttle for an early flight heading to Barcelona.  I should be happy and excited at getting away, which I am, but still groggy and a bit grumpy from a less than stellar night’s sleep and the hurry-up-and-wait routine that has redefined air travel these days.  Am blogging from the airport during a 4 hour layover, waiting for a 9 hour flight to London with another layover and then on to Barcelona from there — justification for a few stiff margaritas if ever there was one! Read the rest of this entry »