Let's Go, Jane!

In the 14-months I’ve been posting this weekly blog, I have never missed a Friday morning deadline. And here we are, well into the afternoon and I’m just now sitting down to write. It’s not only my first day in Barcelona, it’s my first day of an extended 4-month trip. I arrived last night and I’m still trying to get my bearings.

I had a lovely visit with my family for my last weekend stateside. My parents, sisters, sons, nephew, and one of two nieces all gathered for a cherished Labor Day tradition in Marblehead, MA, a town just north of Boston. On Wednesday afternoon, I boarded the Salem Ferry to make my way to the airport. Yes, there would have been faster and more efficient (and cheaper!) ways to get to Logan Airport, but this one was so much more fun! I got to see my parents’ house from the water, and what a fun way to approach the city.

I flew into London’s Heathrow Airport, where I dozed on and off during my 7-hour layover. A quick sub-two-hour flight into Barcelona, and my trip has officially begun. The last few places I’ve gone, I’ve arrived in the morning and had all day to settle in. This time I landed after 7 pm and by the time I’d taken two buses to the hostel, dropped off my bags, made my bed, and eaten something, it was 10 pm. I was struggling to figure out the public transportation system until I realized my jet-lagged brain had searched for Madrid instead of Barcelona.

Despite the time change, I slept for 10 straight hours and woke up at 9 am, having to then scramble to make the 10 am walking tour I’d booked. I made time for a quick shower, and then had to take an Uber (which I never do!) to make it to the meeting spot in time. When the tour wrapped up and I finally got to sit down for a cup of coffee, I looked at the clock and it was only an hour from the time that I normally post. I gave myself an extension. When in Barcelona…

The experience of the last 24 hours, and my persistent sense of disorientation, makes me realize how important routine is to me. I like waking up and having a cup of coffee, writing in my journal, scanning the headlines, checking my calendar, and setting my intentions for the day. Getting up and rushing out the door, on my first day in a new city, has left my head spinning. I’m sure in a day or two I’ll be fully oriented. Luckily I have 5 nights here.

The weather today is absolutely beautiful, and the walking tour was really nice. I went to a cafe recommended by the tour guide, only to run into two ladies from the tour who kindly invited me to join them. Then I walked to a food market and stopped at a local restaurant for some delicious tapas. On my walk back to the hostel I stopped to listen to a talented street musician for nearly an hour. Now I’m writing this post before tackling a couple hours of work that I need to finish this week.

Thanks for bearing with me as I transition into full-time travel. I will be sure to bring you more interesting stories in the weeks that follow!