El Rio de Oro y España (Douro River Cruise)

We took a Viking River Cruise on the Douro River in Portugal and added three days in Madrid, Spain before we boarded our boat, the Viking Helgrim. My mother came with us, it was so nice to spend time traveling with her again. We have often traveled with my parents, but my dad decided to stay home with the dog this time.

The Viking Helgrim

Bridge over the Douro in Porto, Portugal

Russ on our balcony, Mom behind him from her balcony.

As we return from a day trip.

Fishing at the mouth of the Douro River.

My favorite thing about the trip was being able to use my Spanish. I've been studying the language for about four years now, mostly online with Duolingo and Italki (more recently), and I was thrilled to use it. Even though we spent more time in Portugal, I really improved my conversational Spanish. Even my Spanish tutor on Italki noticed! I feel like I leveled up. I find it easier to watch Spanish language programs now, too. Listening comprehension is my weak area, still.

Friends, Food and Travel Preparations

V and J, long time friends, are moving to Arizona. We've been seeing them for a dinner out about once a month for years, and V and I walked together weekly for a while after I retired and she was between jobs. I find it difficult to keep in touch with people after they have moved some distance away. I have been working to keep in touch and to reconnect with friends that are distant, but it feels harder than staying close with friends that live nearby. Even so, I am impelled to continue my efforts; staying close to friends is rewarding and makes my life richer. I'm glad that I seem to make friends easily and keep them for a long time. We do go out to eat a lot as a way to stay connected and spend time with our friends. Every now and then I'll get inspired to invite people over for food at our house instead.

Safe travels and see you when we visit.

Mom, Dad and Z at our favorite: The Red Hot

Friends we met at work (two jobs back) that we keep close.

A new friend for Sharon. I met T in my Pilates class.

Home as A Comfort with a Tattoo Reminder of Death

Since returning home, I've concentrated on the small concerns and comforts that make home feel like home. I did finally decide on the artwork that I would want to see on my body permanently, so I also chose an artist and got a tattoo. My friend Z joined me and got a tattoo of her own. It felt special to share the experience with such a good friend. I was a little nervous about the pain, but I found that I weirdly enjoyed it. It felt almost like an electrical shock, but more. It's now one week later, and it's healing well, but itching and peeling. I will look at my arm every day and see Memento Mori, a constant reminder to live life in the moment and not take anything for granted. A younger me admired cynicism, but now I find that rather sad. Now I want to feel only awe, even in my everyday domestic life.

Fresh reminder of death.

Christen at TygerWolf Tattoo makes her mark.

Z with Marissa.

Gin and Tonic to celebrate the new art.

The Long and Icy Road Home

After our almost mandatory stop at Erick Schat's Bakkery, we turned north and east. Hwy 395 North of Bishop advertised bad conditions with chains required, so we took the lower, longer road to Reno and then moved east and north to Janesville, California. We stayed at a Harvest Host there, Benson's Humble Homestead. It was terrific. Cedar loved the sheep and got his walk before the many dogs were out and about. I bought a fair number of winter seasonal offerings and some treats (persimmons and toffee).

So good. Love this place.

A Bishop institution.

Can't wait. Eat it now!

Turning North and East out of Bishop, CA.

Cold but lovely.

Cedar liked his walk at the farm.

Farm Store.

Breakfast donut from the Schat's Bakkery.

Benson's Humble Homestead Sign.

Dry Camping at a Wet Joshua Tree National Park

We stopped for one night at the Gold Nugget Dispersed Camping. It was an easy off from the freeway just outside of Quartzite, Nevada. I've been trying to plan our return trip with shorter driving days, although it looks like we will have to change our planned route because of snowy and icy conditions north of Bishop, California.

Sunset from Gold Nugget Dispersed Camping.

The I10 freeway was close, but not too loud.

Cedar has figured out how to jump into the bathroom.

The Past Intrudes, Revisiting Places from a Previous Life

We drove south from Albuquerque and stopped in Socorro, where we met, and where we both went to college at New Mexico Tech. We didn't go to campus at all, but we did stop just a few miles south of town in San Antonio to eat an early lunch at the Owl Bar. When I lived here, I usually ate at the Owl about once a month, but never with Russ. He wasn't in my close circle at school (different departments). This lunch triggered an avalanche of nostalgia that has continued all the way through Tucson.

Chaos and Green Chile at the Owl Bar.

Green chile onion rings.

The road south from Albuquerque. I know this road well.

Rocks and Bones; Film at Eleven

We left Aztec for Albuquerque on November 1, el dia de los muertos.  We stopped twice on the way south to give Cedar a chance to rest and use his litter box. He did yowl a bit for the first hour or so... letting us know that he didn't want to be back in his carrier or in the truck. I do enjoy the drive, any drive really, but New Mexico is especially beautiful in the fall. We descend in altitude as we move south, so the fall colors which are all but over in Aztec are going strong in Albuquerque. The Rio Grande Valley is painted with gold. We are staying at the Isleta Lakes RV Park just south of the city. It's a nice, quiet place, not too close to I25, but with regular train traffic disturbingly close.

Our spot at Isleta Lakes RV Park.

Fall color, again.

Trails at the RV Park.