Mar 15, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
Dear Michael: I can't think of a better "addiction" to have than to want to travel the world. Just look at the treatment plan you've set up for yourself. Recovery includes meeting and getting to know different people, sampling different languages and food, enjoying and photographing different scenery, and adding memories to your memory banks. I'm living my life vicariously through yours and Brent's travels. Often I pick a book to read or a TV series or movie to watch due to the location of the story. And Spain always tops the list. One day, I'll have to tell you how I was fooled by Patricia Nell Warren in her book, "The Wild Man", about a Spanish toreador and his partner, a world-famous veterinarian. But that's a tale for another time. In the meantime, enjoy your recovery from travel by continuing to travel. Take care.
Mar 14, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
Michael, I just read that you're planning a trip to Valencia and Seville. Although you haven't asked for it, I thought I'd offer some suggestions, simply because they're really good ones! My wife and I stayed in Valencia for a month and Seville for 3 months 3 years ago. You must check out Valencia Arthouse on AirBnB or else email me for a private contact email. The hostess is a multi-lingual Dutch woman named Ita and her apartment is fantastic. You would get your own comfy room with your own bathroom and even kitchen, and it's only a five minute walk from the Centro Historico. She also prepares the most sumptuous breakfasts. She knows everything about Valencia and will turn you on to many things you might never have thought of seeing or doing, and she's a real sweetheart too. We've remained friends ever since our visit. In Sevilla we stayed for 3 months in the house of a gay lawyer named Manuel. Totally campy, with all kinds of incredible oil paintings and old books, it's nonetheless a beautiful, comfortable home in the district of Nervion, just a short subway ride away from the city center. Manuel is about your age and lives with his much younger boyfriend, Jose, when Jose is not on assignment with the army. He is a real sweetheart. He picked us up at the airport and took us on a tour of Sevilla, with particular emphasis on the flamenco clubs. Only downside is, he only speaks Spanish, which was good for me, as I was trying to learn it! I don't remember what he is listed under on AirBnB, but I have his private contact info....we still text each other after all this time!
Mar 14, 2022Liked by Brent Hartinger, Michael Jensen
We spent a couple of weeks in Spain in 2019 and loved it! I think you should check all those places out. It's wonderful. Will look forward to seeing your posts from there.
Glad I'm not the only one! I'm also glad that I don't have a compulsion to see EVERYTHING. I'm more like Brent - if we see the big stuff, great. The rest of the time should be left for little surprises here and there :) Great post to help other travelers question and learn about the source of our addiction!
Seville is known as the "oven of Spain". You might want to go there first and then Valencia. We loved Valencia but haven't made it to Seville as yet. (We've heard good things about it.) Make sure you go to the Albufeira Nature Preserve. You can get there by bus but make sure you know where to get on and have small denomination bills (I speak from experience, unfortunately). No bathrooms, also unfortunately. But very interesting.
Dear Michael: I can't think of a better "addiction" to have than to want to travel the world. Just look at the treatment plan you've set up for yourself. Recovery includes meeting and getting to know different people, sampling different languages and food, enjoying and photographing different scenery, and adding memories to your memory banks. I'm living my life vicariously through yours and Brent's travels. Often I pick a book to read or a TV series or movie to watch due to the location of the story. And Spain always tops the list. One day, I'll have to tell you how I was fooled by Patricia Nell Warren in her book, "The Wild Man", about a Spanish toreador and his partner, a world-famous veterinarian. But that's a tale for another time. In the meantime, enjoy your recovery from travel by continuing to travel. Take care.
Michael, I just read that you're planning a trip to Valencia and Seville. Although you haven't asked for it, I thought I'd offer some suggestions, simply because they're really good ones! My wife and I stayed in Valencia for a month and Seville for 3 months 3 years ago. You must check out Valencia Arthouse on AirBnB or else email me for a private contact email. The hostess is a multi-lingual Dutch woman named Ita and her apartment is fantastic. You would get your own comfy room with your own bathroom and even kitchen, and it's only a five minute walk from the Centro Historico. She also prepares the most sumptuous breakfasts. She knows everything about Valencia and will turn you on to many things you might never have thought of seeing or doing, and she's a real sweetheart too. We've remained friends ever since our visit. In Sevilla we stayed for 3 months in the house of a gay lawyer named Manuel. Totally campy, with all kinds of incredible oil paintings and old books, it's nonetheless a beautiful, comfortable home in the district of Nervion, just a short subway ride away from the city center. Manuel is about your age and lives with his much younger boyfriend, Jose, when Jose is not on assignment with the army. He is a real sweetheart. He picked us up at the airport and took us on a tour of Sevilla, with particular emphasis on the flamenco clubs. Only downside is, he only speaks Spanish, which was good for me, as I was trying to learn it! I don't remember what he is listed under on AirBnB, but I have his private contact info....we still text each other after all this time!
We spent a couple of weeks in Spain in 2019 and loved it! I think you should check all those places out. It's wonderful. Will look forward to seeing your posts from there.
Well, New Zealand is opening its borders again so you'll have another chance to visit us soon
Glad I'm not the only one! I'm also glad that I don't have a compulsion to see EVERYTHING. I'm more like Brent - if we see the big stuff, great. The rest of the time should be left for little surprises here and there :) Great post to help other travelers question and learn about the source of our addiction!
Seville is known as the "oven of Spain". You might want to go there first and then Valencia. We loved Valencia but haven't made it to Seville as yet. (We've heard good things about it.) Make sure you go to the Albufeira Nature Preserve. You can get there by bus but make sure you know where to get on and have small denomination bills (I speak from experience, unfortunately). No bathrooms, also unfortunately. But very interesting.