Category: New Beginnings

pieces of my Granada……..

el niño de la pinturas


Luna and I walked home the other night……at sunset.  Sometimes I have moments of bliss in this city.  My Granada……the part of it that has always been a part of me, and always will be. There are places that I walk by everyday that are as familiar as my own breathe.  Graffiti, the smell of jasmine and the old gentleman sitting on the bench.

el niño de las pinturas


Sometimes the beauty of the Sierra Nevada silences me.  I forget it is there.  Then,  I look up as it is whispering Good Night.  With the last traces of snow,  its magic casts a shadow over the city.

sierra nevada

Granada is small enough that while I’m sitting having a coffee, a friend suddenly shows up on her bike unexpectedly.  People recognize me wherever I go, whether we met yesterday or years ago.  But, you can also hide in its cracks and crevices.  Under a tree in the Alhambra, in a hidden cafe or bar, or sitting on a rock near the river.

Alhambra

I live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. One of them.

things you find on the “camino”

The "sign" from the Camino


El Camino de Santiago or The Path of St.James is something that I hold dear to my heart. The pilgrimage to Santiago de Campostela has many different routes that begin in various places throughout Spain and the rest of Europe.   I’ve walked it twice, two different routes,  at two very different moments in my life.  For me, the Camino is filled with fear and denial overpowered by magic and love.  At the moments when you aren’t looking for it,  you will always find a sign that points you in the right direction or gives you that last bit of energy needed to move forward.  On my last Camino across Northern Spain we had “un día de estos” or “one of those days”, exhausting and eternal.  It seemed like we would never arrive at our destination that day.

Look of exhaustion with "Psycho" hotel in background at the Salime Reservoir

When we did make it across a very long and slightly creepy dam, we found a “town” with a closed down hotel that only brought one image to my mind……. the film Psycho!!!  My first thought was, ” let’s get the heck out of here”.   After hightailing it 3 more miles up a  very dark and windy road we finally got to our new destination, Grandas de Salime.  We were greeted with a warm wonderful meal and a place to rest.   Although I had many flashes of horror films as we hiked those last 3 miles, I knew that we would be okay. Earlier on that day I had found the most amazing design that someone had left on the earth.  The Camino brings it all to the surface.

The dam that we had to walk over to get to "Psycho" hotel....yikes!!

We’moon

When I lived in the States I used to give myself a New Year’s present each year.  It was the We’moon Astrological Datebook filled with beautiful artwork, poetry and all types of amazing moon love.  In Flagstaff I would trudge through the snow and ice up to my favorite book store to get my new copy each year.  Then I would cross the street to the best coffee shop in the history of coffee shops and order a nice soy latte and an almond danish and dig into my new We’moon. If I was really lucky, the snow would be falling on South Beaver Street and all would be bliss.

New Moon

Well, cheers to the New Year.  I can’t say that my New Year’s Eve was the most exciting to be had but it was enjoyable, relaxing and more or less healthy.  Luna and I and a dear friend enjoyed our leftover homemade seafood ravioli’s with spicy vodka sauce. Of course Luna preferred her ravioli’s with truffle oil and Parmesan cheese. Luna and I ate our mandatory 12 grapes at about 8 o’clock with our friend making the chimes of the clock and then Luna was asleep by 8:30 and my friend went out with the “normal people”.  My partner is out of town working and I kindly turned down all invites by friends.  There was something soothing about starting the New Year  on my couch with a glass of Cava and a movie.  And as an insightful friend said, “you are not a loser, you are a cool Mom”.  So this is how Luna and I began 2011, relaxed, happy, and together.

There will be a New Moon on the 4th of January along with a partial Solar Eclipse.  So said this will bring us good fortune and happiness.  More than anything I hope it will bring some necessary change in the world. For me personally I could definitely use some inspiration and good fortune.  Last summer I promised myself I would finally start my book about great Spanish food and hidden restaurant treasures.  Needless to say I have done plenty of research in the past 16 years but I need to get it together.  So, this blog I am hoping will help me along a bit.  Little by little I plan to share my research along with other experiences of my life here in beautiful Southern Spain.

Happy New Year and Happy New Moon!