This trip has been a whirlwind. I've enjoyed every minute of my time with family, and a chance to see stuff I have never seen before. It reminds me how much I need to stay connected to time and place. One of the things I have never really experienced in my travels to other places is what I experienced half a century ago in Madrid. The people were so kind. It is out of a genuine concern, that at least in the States you will only get if you are married to someone or in therapy. Let me explain.
When I first traveled to Madrid, I was quite thin, and had a bad cavity to boot. Over the next month everything only got worse. I kept eating less and less because it was too painful. The place I stayed at was quite uncomfortable, it was a back hallway in a restaurant. I felt ok there even though it was ridden with bed bugs, the owner seemed safe. I ate very little. Finally the owner came up to me and said "do you know what a spoon is?" I nodded my head. "You have to eat with a spoon, here is a bowl of food, use your spoon." In short order without a charge of any kind he served up a bowl of white beans, they were the most delicious beans in the world. I ate and my weight stabilized, finally I was able to go to a dentist who was able to stop the pain. I was on my way.
This happened again to me only in Mallorca. We all ordered salads and my eyes popped when I saw salmon on the menu and I ordered that too. The waiter looked at me and shook his head "that is too much food for you, you are getting a lot to eat." He tried to help me and made suggestions but they seemed like questions and so I didn't understand. The food arrived all at once and it was WAY TOO MUCH. It was 90 degrees out, everyone was ready to crash, including the staff at the restaurant.
I have been reading George Sands Winter in Mallorca and she laments that the people are not more industrious. I think that whole concept is misplaced. When you live here you really SHOULDN'T LIVE IN EXCESS. There is no need to overwork, to overeat, to over drink. This is a place where you should live at a snail's pace, take your time. Slow it down.
It's quite easy to make more than you need, but if it is too hot to move, where exactly will you be going?
George Sand and Winter in Mallorca, has a type of writing that could bore someone to tears, but it is engaging somehow. She does wonder about some of the superstitions, and overall lack of industriousness on the part of the people here. But then again points out, if they are given property of their own, they WILL cultivate it and that land will be very productive.
So, I think I should write a book: Summer in Mallorca. Four exquisite days, not for the faint at heart, or for anyone who might faint from the heat anyway. I LOVE THE HEAT, just not the sun, so I have successfully avoided a sun tan with my SPF 50, hat, dark glasses and long sleeves and swimming as the sun goes down!!!
When I first traveled to Madrid, I was quite thin, and had a bad cavity to boot. Over the next month everything only got worse. I kept eating less and less because it was too painful. The place I stayed at was quite uncomfortable, it was a back hallway in a restaurant. I felt ok there even though it was ridden with bed bugs, the owner seemed safe. I ate very little. Finally the owner came up to me and said "do you know what a spoon is?" I nodded my head. "You have to eat with a spoon, here is a bowl of food, use your spoon." In short order without a charge of any kind he served up a bowl of white beans, they were the most delicious beans in the world. I ate and my weight stabilized, finally I was able to go to a dentist who was able to stop the pain. I was on my way.
This happened again to me only in Mallorca. We all ordered salads and my eyes popped when I saw salmon on the menu and I ordered that too. The waiter looked at me and shook his head "that is too much food for you, you are getting a lot to eat." He tried to help me and made suggestions but they seemed like questions and so I didn't understand. The food arrived all at once and it was WAY TOO MUCH. It was 90 degrees out, everyone was ready to crash, including the staff at the restaurant.
I have been reading George Sands Winter in Mallorca and she laments that the people are not more industrious. I think that whole concept is misplaced. When you live here you really SHOULDN'T LIVE IN EXCESS. There is no need to overwork, to overeat, to over drink. This is a place where you should live at a snail's pace, take your time. Slow it down.
It's quite easy to make more than you need, but if it is too hot to move, where exactly will you be going?
George Sand and Winter in Mallorca, has a type of writing that could bore someone to tears, but it is engaging somehow. She does wonder about some of the superstitions, and overall lack of industriousness on the part of the people here. But then again points out, if they are given property of their own, they WILL cultivate it and that land will be very productive.
So, I think I should write a book: Summer in Mallorca. Four exquisite days, not for the faint at heart, or for anyone who might faint from the heat anyway. I LOVE THE HEAT, just not the sun, so I have successfully avoided a sun tan with my SPF 50, hat, dark glasses and long sleeves and swimming as the sun goes down!!!
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