6 April 2026

I hope you enjoyed a meaningful Easter, Passover, or just delightful Spring weekend!

Last week was quiet and a return to more routine. Spanish classes, choir practice, walking through the city.

I think I’m going to like my new Spanish teacher. She really seems to have things well planned and organized.

Choir has been making progress. But with the Easter holidays, we have a long pause until our next rehearsal. We won’t meet again until the 15th and 16th, before the opera on the 17th. That’s gives me time to keep memorizing the lyrics and music. This is by far the most difficult musical experience I’ve ever embraced. But, little by little, I’m making progress. I will know this music and the lyrics by the 17th…if it doesn’t kill my first!

This weekend, my friend Nazareno returned. Naza is a young man I met through Couchsurfing in February. He is from Argentina and is spending nine months (!) traveling around the world. We had such a great time when he was here, that he decided to come back and spend more time in Valencia. He has been to India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Egypt, Jordan, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco. He will still go to France, Germany, Switzerland and Netherlands before returning home in May.

Yesterday, we went to a Valencia soccer match! Finally! It was my first time to go to a European soccer match since moving here! It was long overdue.

When we walked into the stadium, they were singing the Valencia Hymn.

Even though Valencia lost 3-2 against Celta de Vigo (from the Galicia region), it was an exciting match.

Today, I had the three stitches removed from my finger. It’s healing really nicely.

Afterwards, we made some sandwiches and went to the beach. We even got into the water…briefly! It’s still quite cold!

As a safe guard, I cut a rubber glove and created a “finger glove.” No sand. No water. No infection.

Here’s wishing you a great week ahead.