18 May 2025

Thank you to everyone who sent birthday greetings this week. I am humbled and grateful for all of the friends and family who have reached out to express their love and good wishes. Thank you.

It was a good week. But with one significant frustration that has me a little worried.

My school has moved to a shiny new location. I should be thrilled. But in fact, it was very badly designed. Despite all of the new tables and chairs, carpets and whiteboards, the classrooms are too small and too few. We are now packed into a space that should have six or eight students, with twelve or thirteen of us. There are no windows and very little ventilation. It is hot, crowded and stifling. I’m hoping that they start making adjustments to class sizes. I’m hoping that the air quality conditioning is improved. I’m hoping that things get better. I still have seven months of classes to attend (including the dog days of summer). Wish me well!

Other than that, it was a great week.

On Wednesday, I took chocolate chip cookies that I baked to class to celebrate my birthday. You may remember that in Spain the tradition is that the person who is having the birthday, is the one who hosts the party and pays for the celebration. This year, I kept things simple, and it was very warmly received. I also took Vicente out for lunch at one of my favorite places that day. So, it was a lovely day.

On Friday, Vicente and I left for Girona right after school to continue the birthday celebrations. Girona is in the northeast of Spain, very near the French border. We went to see a concert with Rufus Wainwright and the Girona symphony. And wow! What a special event it was! We had great seats, in the eighth row. The stage was filled with flowers that created a magical and enchanted setting. The musical arrangements and the Girona Symphony were captivating.

Here are some glimpses.

On Saturday, we drove to Cadaqués (even closer to France) and toured the home of Salvador Dalí. His home was a cluster of former fisherman homes that were joined together and added onto. His creativity, genius, and zaniness were evident throughout the place.

Afterwards, we found a quiet little cove with a beach that had about a dozen people on it.

Little by little, they each left. And when we left a few hours later, there was no one there but us. Enjoying our private cove on a warm Spring Day was priceless!

On the way back to Girona, we stopped at a nearby Masias (Catalan farmhouse) turned restaurant. We enjoyed the house wine (bottle for 3€), snails, sausage, calamari and more (it was a mix of Spanish and French fare that made for a very fun meal).

Afterwards, back in Girona, we explored the old city by night. It was eerily captivating.

We didn’t know it when we planned the trip, but the city was hosting a festival that concluded today, with dramatic flower installations throughout the city in large, mind-blowing arrangements that highlighted the architecture of the city. Today, we saw more of that.

We also saw the ancient city including grand walls, the cathedral and the Arab baths.

Before leaving Girona, we found a restaurant that came recommended and enjoyed snails and roasted pigs feet for lunch.

I almost caused an international incident and I’m both proud and embarrassed to tell you what I did.

Because of the flower festival, the city was uber-crowded. We went to the restaurant and found a parking lot that was completely full. So rather than drive around and risk not finding a place, we waited for someone to leave. It took more than 15 minutes, but finally a couple of women left. I ran over to them as they were getting in their car and asked if Spanish if they were leaving and could we have their parking spot. As Vicente pulled the car around, another car pulled into the parking lot and wanted the spot. I told him that this spot was taken and that we had been waiting 15 minutes. He kept shouting in Spanish, “That doesn’t exist!” The women pulled out and I stood there smiling and letting him know that he wasn’t taking our parking spot. He kept yelling at me. Vicente, behind him, got out of his car and went to his window to explain that we had been waiting and were taking this spot. The driver was furious, more cars were trying to get around him, they began honking, and I stood there in the parking spot and directed him to go past. He refused and at one point started to drive at me, like he would run me over. I stood there and shook my head and smiled. After a stand-off of a few minutes, and with other cars blaring their horns, he finally drove away yelling, “That doesn’t exist!” Vicente pulled in, and we went and enjoyed our lunch. And yes, after lunch, before beginning the long drive back to Valencia, we walked around the car and confirmed that Vicente’s tires had not been slashed and there were no key scratches in the paint.

May you always have the space you need and may you always enjoy moments of delight, without fear.