Antoni Gaudí ‘s Park Güell, Barcelona – Creative Commons Photo Credit MorBCN
OK, three major snow storms in three weeks and rumor of yet another. Even though Piney Point was somewhat spared, I have had it!
Odd how the right-wing nut cases wrongly and vigorously proclaim that this nasty east coast bout with blizzards disproves climate change (my two credible sources for global warming facts are either the Daily Show or the Colbert Report – who incidentally are always right).
Seriously, this January, major meteorological organizations throughout the world, including NASA, released reports showing that the past decade, 2000-2009, was the warmest on record. And guess what happens when things warm up – more water evaporates into the atmosphere – duh, more snow falls, as it happens to be winter. Collective stupidity will never die.
Anyway, I did not even have a remote desire to photograph more blowing snow. I did not even think about leaving the house.
Instead I booked my flight and hotel to Spain – 10 days split between Le Méridien Barcelona and the Westin Palace Madrid in late in April – perfectly cool (but not cold) weather just before the tourist invasion. I’ve got day trips planned to historic Toledo, outside Madrid, and from Barcelona to Montserrat, Dali’s home in Figueres and a coastal drive to France via the rugged Costa Brava.
In deciding where I’d go, I determined I’d actually needed three months, not ten days, to really explore Spain. Well, ten days in five star hotels is nothing to complain about, and I can always return. No, I am not even remotely a part of the global jet set – I just have all these leftover air miles and hotel points soon to expire. Use or lose!
I’d leave today, if the airport were open and it was a bit warmer in Spain. No matter, as I’ve got lot’s of planning. I’ve got to decide if I travel alone with my cameras or invite a companion – a tough choice as always, but the cameras are here and packed.
Before I leave I got a major project to tackle – I’ve opted enclose my screened porch with windows and convert that large useless section of my house into something usable year round (it’s too hot in the summer and too damn cold in the winter).
Perhaps it is just this dreadful winter, but Maryland is not looking to be as desirable as I had hoped. I’ll say it again, California is calling me. Do I sound a bit unhappy?
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
As you say, April is a good time to visit Barcelona, the weather should be warm and, most important, before the tourist invasion!
Regarding the use of my picture, it should be used with the embed code provided by flickr, but as you link back to it, it’s OK for me.
I hope that you enjoy your visit, and take good pictures!
Thank you on all counts! I will embed the code properly just as soon as I can.