As many of you already know, I split my time between the US and Granada, Spain. My most recent move to Europe happened in late spring. Now that I’ve unpacked and settled in, I’ve started putting the final touches on Code Red. I’ll head back to the States later this summer to kick off my final book tour for the Rapp series.
We’re adapting to the rhythm of a different culture and language once again just as many locals are clearing out of the city to escape the heat. It seems like all that pent-up travel demand we’ve been reading about has finally come to be. The streets are full of people from all over the world checking out the historic sites, sipping gin and tonics, and enjoying a little paella and flamenco.
One last look at my beloved Tetons until next summer… I’ve received mail and social media comments from fans asking why I’ve left the US. I’m not leaving America behind. I’m just a person who loves variety and a good challenge. Living in a foreign country makes you realize how much you take for granted the ease of life in your home country. From serious stuff like dealing with immigration to trivial issues like buying appliances. Not only do you have to do it all in Spanish, but everything works a little differently here. Ask someone to sell you a clothes dryer with a vent and they look at you like you’re nuts. Then you’re standing there wondering if your crappy Spanish failed you or if their dryers don’t work the same way as ours.
It was good to finally have a chance to relax because my spring was a blur this year. Packing up the house, saying goodbye to friends, and gathering the paperwork that allows us to stay in Europe didn’t leave much time for skiing or biking.
We arrived just in time for feria and Corpus Christi celebrations that take place across Andalucía. Think dancing, eating, and drinking until the wee hours of the morning. And then getting up the next day to do it all over again.
This year we’re living in the city center rather than the atmospheric 800-year-old barrio where we normally stay. Clanging church bells and revving motorbikes are the backdrop, while lively conversations flowing from bars and restaurants keep the energy high. The neighborhood also has an evolving canvas of vibrant street art.
One reason we’ve chosen Granada as our Spanish base is that we can easily escape the city on a bike. There are lots of gravel roads, and the surrounding landscape’s spectacular patchwork of pueblos, orchards, and olive groves make for beautiful and challenging rides. Spain is the largest producer of olives in the world, but unfortunately, this year’s harvest has been on shaky ground due to an ongoing drought. Fingers crossed that recent rains will save the crop. I’m not sure what I would do without my Spanish olives.
If you like to travel, check out my posts about Greece, Normandy, Spain here and here, and Portugal.