A Blow to His Head Hit Two for The Price of One

Yesterday I flew to Las Vegas, NV to spend the day with my brother Sam.  Almost two months ago Sam was involved in a solo motorcycle accident and nearly died.  He spent 32 days in a hospital trauma unit in San Diego, CA most of that time spent in a medically induced coma.  Mike and I were living in Spain when he had his accident.

Sam is incredibly lucky.  He was not paralyzed; his broken ribs, punctured lung and fractured orbit surrounding his right eye have all healed.  The brain injury he suffered lingers.  Doctors say that many people take up to a year to recover from such a dramatic brain event.

I flew to Vegas for a few reasons.  One being to see him for myself and second to see the therapy he is receiving.  He receives therapy in balance training, strength training, brain exercises, brain cognition and counseling for how to assign, relate and deal with living with a brain injury.

It was such a huge relief to see my brother doing so well. He has some work ahead but he is very blessed. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

As is quite common Sam kept asking when he could return to his normal life.  He was frustrated with the therapy because he didn’t see the value in it because it had no bearing on helping him get back to work.  What he missed, and what I foolishly forgot to say to him, was that they were doing therapy that would help his whole life, not just his work life. 

Because the therapists didn’t know Sam before his accident they have no way of knowing what he was like beforehand.  I was asked from time to time to tell them if Sam was acting the same as usual or was he different.  I told them Sam looked tired and even a little sad. I told them that our father had instilled into each of his children (there are 5 of us) an incredibly strong work ethic and Sam was just doing that which came naturally to us all, he spends his time working hard.

It was while I was hearing therapists talk about what Sam’s new normal life would look like that I realized that there was a lesson in there for me as well.  In all my past jobs I would work 60 hour weeks and think nothing of it.  I would work hard and vacation hard but I worked harder. 

Having lunch with one of my favorite people, my cousin Phil. My living harder idea has already begun. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

I realized that a real work life balance needs to exist; I realized that in the blink of an eye the so called normal life we all think we have could change instantly and perhaps permanently.  I realized that if my whole life was my work life I had no real life and no real balance to that life. 

Brain injury patients, depending on many factors, make remarkable recoveries and might have some lingering impairments but nothing that they can’t be taught how to compensate for or how to reassign their brain to help them get the job done.  Sam will work hard to make a full recovery.  I know my brother.  I know how determined he is to get back to his normal life. I will be praying that he gets his wish.  It will take a lot of hard work and dedication from everyone who loves him and perhaps even more so from those that work with him.  

For me I will try to remember the lessons I learned that day as I move forward and I look for work.  I will remember that at the end of the day a job helps me pay the bills and helps me take those great travel adventures Mike and I still want to take.  I will try to remember that when I’m not at work those hours are for me to do as I please and for Mike and I to have some fun.  I will try to sit and read without thinking about how much work I could be doing; I will go out to movies and social events and make more of an effort to have a social life. 

As I said I will also love harder. We were out to dinner last night with my brother Paul and his family. This is my niece Natalia. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

While Sam might have been the one who received the blow to his head I received my own wakeup call that day.  I have decided to work hard, but laugh harder.  I have decided to work hard, but live harder.  And mostly I have decided to work hard, but love family and friends harder. 

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

Racism; Alive and Well in the Pacific Northwest

My husbands high school reunion is being held in Bonney Lake, WA on August 2^nd.  Since we were going to be attending many of the people from his high school befriended me on Facebook so that we could get acquainted before we arrived. 

Today, a woman I do not know, and thankfully not a member of my husbands graduating class but a member of the high school proper, posted the following photo along with the following comment;

“This always makes me laugh.  A little laughter on a Sunday.”

I responded by saying that “I found the photo offensive and racist.  After seeing the mass graves in Srebrenica, Bosnia-Herzegovina I no longer have tolerance for racism in any form.  This was the part of being on Facebook I detested the most.”

I received dozens of nasty comments, such as I needed to stop drinking the Kool Aid, I didn’t have an original thought in my head, Obama was the worst President ever, a liar, a non-friend of the military and more lies than heard on the lips of Jim Carrey in the movie Liar, Liar.  Some of the commenter’s then began to sing the praises of the anti-Obama propaganda movie currently being shown in Seattle called America.  Oh, and none of these people were racists, they told me so.

Because I love my husband I did as he requested and deleted my reply to the personal attacks they directed towards me and their insulting rants.  I did the only thing that would silence such uneducated louts and I un-followed and unfriended almost everyone who chimed in because they were of the same ilk.  I’m sure they are still congratulating themselves that they chased me away.  What they foolishly do not know about me is that I will have the last word.  I decided that commenting and getting into a discussion with those who have no rational thinking process and who do not believe or deal in facts would be a complete waste of my time, so I deleted them all.   

I have had enough of racism in my life.  While living in Salem, Oregon I was cautioned not to walk around the city without my husband because I am Mediterranean in complexion and he is a light skinned blue-eyed man and therefore I would be safer with him in tow.  I never once left the apartment without him.  During our time in Salem, and during the Christmas season, we had a food bank tell us that they wouldn’t give food to anyone who was Mexican because they were all in Oregon illegally.  Really?  Your good Christian self thinks that all Mexicans are illegal?  These were not the type of Christians I wanted to associate with.  Mike and I found another way to help and we adopted five families that Christmas.  

Traveling the way we have been traveling for the last three years has done more for me than I first realized.  I have always detested racism and the veiled way people think that they hide their racist nature behind fake laughter has always rankled me, but I did nothing about it and I said nothing to them. Because of the repercussions I have seen where racism went too far will I no longer let racism slide by without taking a stand.

During our travels we had people from around Latin American ask us what was wrong with the people in the US because no one ever asked them what country they were from, if Americans heard Spanish spoken they just assumed that everyone was from Mexico.  Do not be fooled into thinking that Mike and I spent our time defending this behavior, we did our utmost best to make sure that people in other countries did not think that all Americans were as uncouth. 

Because of how we treated others people assumed we were from Canada because we were open to exploring new countries and new cultures.   After talking with us they knew we weren’t the typical American and they told us so.  We didn’t have a superiority complex or a chip on our shoulders and we treated others with respect.  We were open to new experiences; new adventures and we were open to all people and all races, and with all manner of lifestyles.

There comes a time when those of us who are confronted with blatant hatred, hidden in the mask of humor, we must stand up and say enough is enough.  I guess I have reached that point in my life. The best way to deal with racism is to silence it and I intend to silence as much of it as possible. 

I had always thought that having more Americans travel the world would be a good thing but perhaps it is better that so many of them stay at home. So much of the world already thinks that Americans are gun toting trigger happy fools, greedy, selfish to a fault and ignorant about world events.  There is no reason for any of these people to travel the world and prove them right.

Racism is an ugly thing.   Many Americans, thank God not all, think they are superior to others.  I have news for them; they aren’t superior to anyone.  Living in the Pacific Northwest will be a mind-field for me I fear.  It might however make me speed up the need to leave the US again and live someplace else in the world. 

I have therefore decided to take a stand on social media.  You have the right to post anything on your social media that you like.  If you decide however to post anything that is homophobic; racist; or harmful to children I have the right to delete it and you from my life.  That is the stand I take.  I will not confront you, I will not send you facts or data or proof of the error of your ways.  In this way, and if more people turned off the hatred instead of answering to it, racists will cease to have an audience.  And that will make them crazier than anything I could say in rebuttal to their stupidity.

Our motto as The 6 Monthers was; “don’t make an impact, make a difference”.  Ending racism and taking a stand makes a difference.  It won’t be easy deleting friends and family from social media.  Standing up for what we believe in has never been easy.  Just ask Martin Luther King, Bobby Kennedy and Malcom X.  Racism can end. I hereby give notice that I will do my part.  I will delete one person at a time; I will delete one ugly reference at a time and as we travel I will work hard to treat everyone we meet with dignity and respect.  The next time someone asks us what part of Canada we are from we will smile and tell them, ‘the southern part.’

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

 

Wanted: A Boss With A Good Sense of Humor

Come this August, and for the first time in 3 years, I will be looking for work.  We have been traveling internationally this whole time.   Because a resume is a list of jobs one has held and its death they say to have gaps in your employment history I know for my resume I’ll put those 3 years down as life experience.  During our time away we traveled to 4 continents and over 24 countries.  I have photographic and video proof of where we’ve been so when a job recruiter tries to search for proof of my claims they will be able to see it on my YouTube channel.

I’m rethinking the traditional job search thing however.  I’m going to approach my job search like I am planning a really great vacation.  I have come to realize that work is a lot like travel planning.  You pick the occupation you are interested in, you plan how to get there, you gather the resources you need to get the job done and you go and enjoy your time within its walls. 

No longer is a job someplace that I need to be just because.  A job is to help me get the resources I need to keep traveling.  We won’t be buying a home when we get back to the US, we will rent so that we are free to move around if need be.  We won’t have a car to further burden us so that we can experience how the locals live by traveling by bus or walking everywhere.  We won’t be buying groceries or supplies in bulk but we’ll live in a small apartment with very little furniture and we won’t be going on shopping splurges to fill closets with items we can’t pack into a suitcase.  Ever present will be the life on the road mentality where we can pack up and go when vacation time comes and we’re not stressed out about having to protect the valuables we leave in our apartment because there won’t be any valuables in our apartment to worry about.

I therefore need a boss who knows that I’m going to work hard.  I’m going to be one of the hardest working people they have on staff because I’m also going to be the employee with their eye on the main prize, my vacation time.  I need a boss who has lots of projects they need done because I’m a fantastic multitasker who can plan, organize and facilitate events and projects better than most and I’m not shy about knowing my worth to an organization.  My work history is filled with my success in a myriad of industries. 

There might be gaps in my employment history because of the all the travel however I think in many ways this has only sharpened my employment skills.  I know the real worth of social media to a business and I know how to generate it.  I know the real worth of life on the road and how to get others excited about travel.  I know that working hard can lead to travel to fun and new places.  Mostly what I have learned however is empathy; I have learned about different cultures and its people and what their struggles and concerns are.  I can talk to people in a very different way from many because I have lived with and among them and my perspective on things is different than most.  To many businesses this should be of huge benefit.

Therefore if you have a job that you need a highly motivated employee for contact me; if you have a job that others have tried to master but failed at contact me; if you have a job that might seem too wild to contemplate then contact me.  I need a challenge; I need a new adventure to sink my teeth into; mostly I need a boss who can see the value I bring to their organization.  I have about 10 years left in my working life, longer if I find the right job and the right boss.  I know the right job fit is out there for me just like I know that I’m not done traveling yet.  I guess what I really need is a boss who likes getting post cards from great travel destinations.

 

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

Who Needs Two Buck Chuck*?

On the shelves of our local grocery store here in Torrevieja there is one of the widest selections of wines we have seen thus far in our travels.  The prices are amazingly low.  You can get a bottle of wine for less than a $1. All of these wine bottles made me wonder more about Spain’s wine industry.

Don Simon is to Spain what Gallo is to the United States. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Spain has 2.9 million acres of land planted with grapes to produce wine.   Spain is the most widely planted wine producing nation but it is the third largest producer of wine in Europe, behind France and Italy.  This is due to the very low yields and wide spacing of the old vines planted on the dry, infertile soil. The drought currently affecting Spain is also hampering wine production and articles appear almost daily about Spanish wine producers seeing record low yields. It will not be the first time in Spain’s history that drought or climate change has had an affect on wine production.

Spain reportedly has over 400 varieties of grapes but only 20 varieties of grapes are used for wine production.  In a country that has been producing wine since 4000 – 3000 BC the abundance of native varieties of grapes fostered an early start to viticulture.  Spanish wine under Roman times was widely exported and traded.  When the Moors conquered Spain in the 8^th Century the Moorish rulers held an ambiguous stance on winemaking and even though it was not an accepted Muslim practice many caliphs owned vineyards and drank wine. In 1492 grape vines and wine were exported to the new Spanish Colony in the New World.  In the 19^th Century a phylloxera epidemic hit European vineyards causing a shortage of wine.  The epidemic hit Spain last but the remedy of grafting American rootstock to the European vines had already been discovered and saved the wine industry.  During the Spanish Civil War and World War I and II wine production ground to a halt and many vineyards were neglected and wineries destroyed throughout Spain.  It wasn’t until the 1950’s that the Spanish wine industry recovered. Several large wineries were founded during this period and an international market was created for bulk wines.

The full bodied and high alcohol in most Spanish wines make them favored blending partners for the “weaker” wines of other countries. Many Spanish vineyards will be planted on higher elevations, with many vineyards located over 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level. These high altitudes allow the grapes to maintain acidity levels and coloring. Regions with lower altitude vineyards are suitable for producing grapes of high alcohol levels and low acidity.

One of the largest wine selections we have seen thus far in any country is here in Spain where the many Spanish wines can be enjoyed for very little money. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

As of 2009, there were 79 quality wine areas across Spain.  For the vintage year to appear on the label, a minimum of 85% of the grapes must be from that year’s harvest. There are three accepted aging designations on Spanish wine labels.  They are: Crianza – red wines aged for 2 years with at least 6 months in oak. Crianza whites and rosés must be aged for at least 1 year with at least 6 months in oak. Reserva  – red wines aged for at least 3 years with at least 1 year in oak. Reserva whites and rosés must be aged for at least 2 years with at least 6 months in oak. and Gran Reserva – wines in above average vintages with the red wines requiring at least 5 years aging, 18 months of which in oak and a minimum of 36 months in the bottle. Gran Reserva whites and rosés must be aged for at least 4 years with at least 6 months in oak.

Faustino has been producing wines for over 150 years. It is a moderately priced Spanish wine. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

By the way, the favored oak used in fermentation is American oak which tends to bring with it a rich and nutty flavor. Cava, the most famous sparkling wine in the world after Champagne, makes its home near Barcelona. Spanish wine makers must be doing something right because in 2013 the number one wine on the Wine Spectator Top 100 was a red Spanish wine from Rioja.  It was the first time in the history of the Top 100 that a wine from Spain has been the top wine of the year.  In wine circles this is like an Academy Award. Wine production is so important to the economy of Spain that in the Valencia region vintners have been awarded a 56.6 million euro grant to launch advertising campaigns abroad for 2015-2016.  The money can also be used to extend vineyards, buy new machinery, and equipment.  They will be targeting sales to the US, China and Mexico.  So far 130 projects have been earmarked to be funded. Spanish wine exports increased 39% last year alone with the EU receiving 71% of the exports.

Mike and I have done wine tastings in many countries. Domestic wines are served here in every restaurant; the dining option of Tapas comes with your choice of beer or wine for the affordable price of 2.50 Euros. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

There are many wine tours offered here in Spain. One of the fun experiences that a life of travel affords us comes when we are standing in a liquor store browsing the wine offerings.  Mike and I will count the many countries we have traveled too and remember fondly the wines that we sampled while in those countries.  While we won’t be able to find any Spanish wines for $1 on the shelves in the United States we know what the quality of the wines will be, so when we get homesick for any of these countries we open a bottle of wine and it helps us to feel less homesick.

Mateus is actually from Portugal and is one of Mike’s favorites. It is sold here in Spain but is priced above $5 a bottle. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

  *Two Buck Chuck is the nickname given to the In-House wine Charles Shaw sold through Trader Joe’s in the United States.  Trader Joe’s is the budget friendly half of the Aldi food empire based in Germany.  Trader Joe’s has an extensive selection of wines on offer from countries around the world.  

Royal Pomp and Circumstance

Perhaps it is because we are American’s that we notice things others might not.  We have been traveling through some countries hit pretty hard by the economic collapse.  Many of these countries also have monarchies which they are still financially supporting.  We have asked many residents in both Spain and the UK why they continue to pay for the monarchy even during these hard economic times.  We never get a straight answer as to why, the reaction can be more akin to, ‘well it’s just something that is done’ and ‘how cheeky of us American’s to ask such a question’.

Watching the two hour, low key, swearing in ceremony, military parade and reception for the new King of Spain, Felipe VI, and seeing the Palace Real decked out in its regal splendor, I sat and wondered, what does it cost to keep this pomp and circumstance going?  What does it cost for the guards, the cleaning staffs, the royal residences and the every day expenses to keep people in such opulence that literally are paid to wave their hands at the masses assembled on major events, cut ribbons at the opening of buildings, and who slam champagne bottles against the side of ships to christen them.  I’m still thinking; nice gig if you can get it.

The stunning Palace Real in Madrid, Spain. King Felipe VI and his young family greeted tens of thousands of people here after he was sworn in as the new King of Spain (June 19, 2014). © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

There are three types of monarchies; absolute (where the monarch has no or few legal restraints in state and political matters); constitutional (the monarch maintains a unique legal and ceremonial role, but exercises limited or no political power) and elective (there are three of these still in existence the most famous of which is the Papal appointment in Vatican City).

St. Peter’s Cathedral in Vatican City, Italy. Many people do not think of the Pope as a Monarch but he is an elected one. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Most countries used a monarch until the 19^th Century.  In the 20^th century after World War I and II many countries abolished them.  There are still 44 monarchies in the world today.  Only two of them are absolute (the Kings of Swaziland and Saudi Arabia).  The majority are ceremonial monarchies including those in Spain and the UK. A monarch’s powers and influence depends mostly on tradition, precedent, popular opinion, and law. Popular opinion is now at the forefront of both of the monarchies in the UK and Spain due to the misconduct of the generations that have come after the King or Queen.  This misconduct has caused many to question whether the role of the monarchy is worth the money being spent on them.  The calls for the monarchy to be abolished here in Spain increased dramatically in the last few years with the abuse of power by King Juan Carlos and also the business cheating scandal of the Infanta Cristina’s husband.  The UK has had its share of scandals over the years as well.

Juan Carlos I of Spain became King in 1975 after helping to free Spain and depose the fascist rule of Francisco Franco. King Juan Carlos made Spain a democracy with himself as constitutional monarch.  He enjoyed many years of high favorability ratings with the people of Spain.  The tarnish began to gather on the crown in 2012 when people discovered the king took a luxury elephant-hunting trip to Botswana as they struggled to find jobs in a recession.  When the king’s elder daughter Cristina was named a suspect in her husband’s allegedly corrupt business practices the resentment grew to a crescendo and talk began that perhaps it was time to abolish the Monarchy totally.  Demonstrations to end the Monarchy are gathering steam here in Spain as the economy worsens.  The King then decided, conveniently for health reasons, that it was time to abdicate his throne and hand it down to the younger, good-looking, vibrant Felipe whose approval rating is around 76 percent.  This is no coincidence.

The Cathedral of Madrid where King Felipe VI married Queen Latizia in 2004. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Most monarchies are hereditary where the position is given in an established order of succession which means that the heir to the throne is known well in advance of becoming monarch to ensure a smooth succession.  Most Monarchies however were male heir to male heir no matter their place in the birth order.  In 1980, Sweden became the first European monarchy to declare equal primogeniture, meaning that the eldest child of the monarch, whether female or male, ascends to the throne.  Many countries have since followed suit such as the UK and this would have begun with any child produced from the union of William and Kate.

Loch Leven Castle, the last home of Mary Queen of Scots, Scotland. Her history reminds me that people will do anything to stay in power, and why not, being King or Queen comes with very big purse strings. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The British and Spanish Royal Families are financed mainly by public money. Both Governments meet the cost of the Sovereign’s official expenditure from public funds including the costs of the upkeep of the various royal residences, staffing, travel and state visits, public engagements, and official entertainment. In 2012 the Queen received £7.9 Million pounds ($12.64 Million) to perform her duties.  The King of Spain received 7.8 million Euros ($10.14 Million) for fiscal year 2014.  The costs to run the rest of the empire in the UK in 2009 were £41.5 million ($66.4 Million), which did not include the cost of security provided by the police and the Army. In the UK the Queen and her family feed off multiple revenue schemes.  In addition to her salary she feeds off the profits of the Duchy of Lancaster for expenses not borne by the Sovereign Grant. In 2010 they received £13 Million pounds ($20.8 Million) in income.  This has to beg the question; what expenses?  So far the Queen doesn’t pay for the upkeep of the palaces, the staff to keep the palaces running or for the security to keep her safe.  The money from the Duchy is in addition to her stipend as Queen.

The madness doesn’t stop here however because The Duchy of Cornwall is a property portfolio held in trust for the people of England but used to meet the expenses of the monarch’s eldest son, the Prince of Wales, who receives revenue from it to pay for his official activities and property. Also feeding off this fund are his wife (the incredibly disliked Camilla), his son Williams’ entire family and his second son Harry, who all have their official expenses paid from Duchy income. For the fiscal year 2011-12 the Duchy paid Charles £18.3 million ($29.28 Million). Seriously, is Charles worth 18.3 million pounds?

Queen Isabella of Spain and King Ferdinand (she gave him the title but the rule was hers by birth); they were the Monarch’s who began the Spanish Inquisition to purge Spain of non-Catholics. Sometimes Monarch’s with power did not spare the people from madness. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Even the Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen’s husband) receives the princely sum of £359,000 per year from the Treasury ($574,400).  What exactly does he need to draw a salary for since all of his other expenses are covered?  Isn’t anyone adding up the real cost of the Monarchy to the people who are supporting it?

The Queen is reportedly worth $450 Million dollars based on personal real estate, jewelry and other assets.  The King of Spain has not had his personal wealth disclosed.  Neither sovereign is transparent in the filing of their income taxes so no one really knows how much either one is really worth.  Would the CEO of any major corporation be allowed such secrecy?

If one takes away the need to fund the Monarch’s and just let them exist on their own wealth the countries could put that money to better use by building a better medical environment for the poor, fund food and other lifestyle programs for the needy, perhaps even decrease the tax structure of the country as a whole; it is staggering to think of the programs that could be funded. It is hard as an outsider to see the poverty in the streets in these countries and then to see the pomp and opulence of the palaces that exist and wonder why would anyone continue to fund the lifestyle of those that can afford to live on their own while those that cannot feed their families beg for food or coin in the streets.  Or am I the only one who finds this absurd in this day and age?

Mike with the Queen of Knin, Croatia. All Monarchs’ should be as wonderful and warm. This Monarchy disappeared millennia ago, as perhaps all Monarchies should. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Yes, the new Royal Family here in Spain is incredibly good looking, youthful and of good moral character.  And William, Kate and little George are wonderful in the UK.  If the people in these countries insist on keeping the hand waving monarchies going who am I to pooh pooh their loyalty.  Back in the United States I will keep abreast of the activities of both Monarchies and secretly I’ll be hoping that Elizabeth II will find a way to abdicate, and give the crown to William, but there’s that cheeky American thing again.

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

Pilar de la Horadada

Some cities are automatically on our travel radar; Madrid, Barcelona, Seville.  Some cities are added as we learn more about an area, and a small city like Pilar de la Horadada which might not otherwise have made it on our travel wish list we were drawn to visit after meeting a couple of fellow expats who call this city home.  New friends Ruth and Mick came from the UK 12 years ago and settled on life here in Pilar.

Pilar is the southernmost city in the Valencia region of Spain.  It was less than a two hour bus ride from our base here in Torrevieja.

During Roman times Pilar was called “Thiar’s Mansion” and was a trading post situated at the foot of the Via Augusta, one of the oldest and most important Roman roads in Hispania.  It is believed that this was the main route between Illici (Elche) and Carthago Nova (Cartagena).

Pilar was settled by the Moors in the 8^th Century and remained under Muslim control until the 13^th Century.  Between the 13^th and the 17^th Centuries this region saw many attacks by pirates.  The Watchtower of the nearby village of Torre de la Horadada was built in the 15^th Century to protect the inhabitants from pirate attacks.

The Watchtower was built in the 15th Century. Today it is a private home. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The beach along this area of Spain stretch’s for over 4 kilometers and the crystal clear blue waters and the good visibility the sea offers provides a great location for scuba diving.  For their added pleasure off the coast is a sunken wreck which can be explored by the most experienced of divers.

Tourism hasn’t invaded this area of Spain as of yet. Most of the visitors are vacationers. There are plenty of apartments to rent for short stays scattered throughout the area. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

In the main town square stands the Our Lady of the Virgin of Pilar Roman Catholic Church.  The present church stands on the site of a chapel built in 1616.  That chapel was demolished in 1745 but rebuilt in 1752.  That church stood until 1975 when it too needed to be demolished.  The present church seen today was built in 1982. The bell tower was built in 1899 and stands at a height of 24 meters.  The bell tower houses four large and several smaller bells.

Our Lady of the Virgin of Pilar. The bell tower was built in 1899. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Pilar is a very expat friendly city with the majority of expats coming from the UK, Germany, Norway and Canada and the population of the area is around 25,000.  Most of the region is holiday housing so on the day we visited we were the only people in the complex where Ruth and Mick live.

Our new friends Ruth and Mick who have lived in Pilar for 12 years. They are originally from the UK. We met them while on our excursion to Seville and Cordoba and they invited us to explore their little part of Spain. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Every Friday the city hosts a Farmer’s Market and we timed our visit to coincide with market day.  There was a wonderful selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, dry goods, clothing, cooked meats, candies and baked goods.  Mike loved the fresh cherries he bought and I love the new house dress I got.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Pilar is on the famous Camino de Santiago.  Rough translation of the photo says, ‘from this point in the city of Pilar de la Horadada is the beginning of the southern route of the Camino de Santiago of the southeast.  Its distance is 1240 kilometers (740 miles) to Santiago de Compostela’ (the location of St. James Church in Santiago, Spain).

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Pilar has a laid back and quiet vibe, beautiful beaches, plenty of restaurants to choose from, easy to walk streets and good public transportation.  They even have a senior center where seniors gather to get a hot noon day meal.

Our time spent with Ruth and Mick always seems to fly by and we never seem to run out of things to talk about, so when they suggested we come to Pilar so they could show us around their little town we jumped at the chance. On this day we spent 8 hours walking, talking, exploring, and taking pictures, lots and lots of pictures of this small coastal town. While Pilar does have tourist attractions and would make a worthwhile stop for other travelers what made our time in Pilar so special was the time we got to spend with new friends, and that is something that you won’t find in any guide book.

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

The Call of the Mar Menor

From our home base here in Spain we are less than an hour’s drive from the ancient city of Cartagena.

Cartagena is a port city located in the southeasterly coastal area of Spain.  It has been inhabited since 227 BC.  Being a most advantageous Mediterranean seaport helped to grow Cartagena’s importance to the local economy of the region and also helped to make it the epicenter of the Spanish Navy.  Even present day this is still an important naval seaport, the main military haven of Spain, and home to a naval shipyard.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

With such a long history and being such an important port Cartagena was conquered by many people such as the Romans, the Phoenicians, the Byzantines even the Moors.

The Roman Theater built near the end of the 2nd Century BC in Cartagena. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

Roman Baths © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

Roman Amphitheater found near Concepcion Castle. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Cartagena was limited in its boundaries by five small hills which also acted to protect the city from attack. So important was Cartagena to Roman expansion that Julius Caesar gave the town Latin Rights and the city was central to the Carthaginian and the Roman conquest of the Iberian Peninsula.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

In 298 AD Diocletian (famed for Diocletian’s Palace in Split, Croatia) constituted a new Roman province in Hispania called Carthaginensis and made Cartagena the capital.

During the turbulent years to come this region of Spain was ruled by many factions.  In 1245 King Alfonso X of Castile (Alfonso the Wise) conquered Cartagena.  In 1270 he created the Order of Santa Maria de Espania for naval defense of the Crown of Castile and established its headquarters here which is where it still remains. Cartagena is also a cruise ship port. One to three ships dock here every week from March until about November. Cartagena also has 10 beaches, the most of any Spanish city.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

For the princely sum of 12.50 Euros a person, a tourist can get a three for one all day tourism ticket.  Included in the price is a visit to the Roman Theatre, a ride on the Cartagena tourism bus (a 40 minute ride around the city with recorded commentary on the city’s history) and entrance to Concepcion Castle, which is today the Centre for Interpretation of the History of Cartagena. If you have one day to spend in the city and you don’t mind walking a bit this inclusive tourism ticket is well worth the expense.

Not included in the ticket is entrance to the Naval Museum and other items of note around the city but all of the main attractions of the city are located within a few minutes walk of each other.  You can literally see all of old Cartagena in a day’s time.

Today this is an office building, it used to be the main entrance to the Palace of Cartagena. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Before returning home we stopped in the tiny town of Los Nietos and walked the short distance to the Mar Menor beach front. The Mar Menor is a salty lagoon separated from the Mediterranean by a sand bar. It has warm and clear waters with high salinity, and incredibly high winds perfect for wind surfing.  This inlet has been sanctioned by the United Nations as a protected area and along its coast line you can see the five volcanic islands (Perdiguera, Mayor or del Barón, del Ciervo, Redonda and del Sujeto).

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The Mar Menor is Europes largest salt water lake.  It has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic Era.  Today the Mar Menor is a major tourism center and many of the hotels found along the inlet are first class resorts.

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

 

 

 

Winging It

As you read this blog entry Mike and I should be on a plane, headed from Alicante, Spain to Oslo, Norway on the first leg of our journey.  It is time for us to move on once again.

We have now been traveling internationally for three years with very little downtime.  We have been traveling and sightseeing and overall meeting some extraordinary people. It has been an amazing time.  It has however produced what Mike and I are calling ‘travel fatigue’.

We are weary of packing and repacking our bags; we are tired of trying to find a new place to live and spending hours in researching and exploring options; we are struck with surprise at how unfriendly some folks are when faced with a real expat and lastly we feel isolated from family and friends.  Traveling is therefore no longer fun and exciting; it is hard work and a chore to keep moving on.

Before we began this adventure and before I met my husband Mike I had been traveling internationally for years.  I would plan, investigate and organize my vacations well before I departed US shores.  It was fun and exciting to go places I had never been before.  These vacations were a chance to use my passport; a break from my 9 to 5 job and from daily household chores, a break from the weather, a change of scenery; in general a much-needed respite from every day life.  Mostly however these vacations gave me something to look forward too.

Then I turned travel into a job and created The 6 Monthers.  We began to build a brand and to try to monetize our blogs and our names.  We searched for sponsors for our travels and for those who wanted to share our story.  We built a reputation for solid reviewing and sharing of information, and we lost our passion for travel along the way.  No longer is traveling someplace new exciting or fun; travel has been relegated to being work and we spend far too much time worrying about how will we pay for all the excursions we would like to do and looking so far ahead in our travels that we have lost focus on having fun in the place that we are in.  Because we are always looking for the next assignment or the next web series or the next sponsor we are not enjoying the here and now.

One of the major downsides to this travel lifestyle is that we now both feel unfit.  We have both gained weight as we have traveled because we have not been able to have a stable exercise routine, and a stable diet.  The foods and the way of cooking we are used too (nothing fried; oven baked foods only) are not possible in many countries because ovens are not always available to cook in.  Because we have to spend so much time in looking for the next assignment we also tend to spend a lot of time sitting and working instead of walking and exploring.

We are therefore taking this next year to lose some of the weight we have gained while traveling and get fit once again.  And to do that we are going home; home to Olympia, WA.  We have to find that home of course but as usual I’m already working on it and we have some great leads.

During our year off we will be retooling ourselves.  I will most likely be looking for a job to keep me busy and Mike will spend his time exercising, volunteering, and developing and outlining our next adventure.

We are exploring a couple of new ideas that will all include travel in our lives but from completely new and different angles. We know we have proven that you really can live well all over the world on very little money and so we have nothing more to prove as The 6 Monthers.

My newest venture hopefully launched earlier this month; well the blog should be up and running and my first video will be up shortly. I am calling my newest adventure Lean, Mean and Vegan. Mike will be working on another aspect of travel for us which we are tentatively calling; The Lince’s, At Home on the Road.

And yes, we will also be looking for sponsors.

This is however not my last Reflection, far from it.  I have much to remember and reflect upon and many more stories to share about the wonderful places we have traveled too over the years.  Thank you to everyone for reading, following and commenting on my blog stories when the spirit moves you.

I had Mike come up with a toast that I will use at the end of all my videos going forward. It seems appropriate here to end this entry with it.

“A toast…, to new friends, to a healthier way of living, and safe travels for one and all. Cheers!”

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince

Looking Good Six Hundred Years Old and Counting

This is the Cathedral of Saint Mary of the See, otherwise known as the Cathedral of Seville.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

Groundbreaking took place in 1401 and ended in 1506.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

It is the largest Gothic and third largest church in the world.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

It is the largest cathedral in the world (the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Aparecida and St. Peter’s Basilica are not the seats of bishops).  Yes there is a difference between a Cathedral and a church with and without a Bishop.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The length of the Cathedral is 443 feet; it is 330 feet wide by 138 feet high.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The interior has the longest nave of any church in Spain at 135 feet.

The choir loft section of the nave. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

Through to the main altar in all its gaudiness. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

There are 15 doors that surround the cathedral.  Not all are being used for entry into the cathedral but they make a great photo opportunity.  Many of the doors are only opened during special feast days.

This is the Door of the Prince. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

This is the Door of the Conception which opens onto the Court of the Oranges and is kept closed except on festival days. It was built in the Gothic style to harmonize with the rest of the building. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

This is the Door of Forgiveness. This entrance actually gives access to the Patio of the Oranges so it is technically not a door into the cathedral. It has been here since the time of the mosque. More sculptures were added in the 16th Century. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

This is the Door of Palos. The relief depicts the Adoration of the Magi, created by Miquel Florentin in 1520. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

There are stained glass windows scattered throughout.  I counted well over 30.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The Cathedral has its own treasury.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

The crowns are covered in gold and precious gemstones. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

A gold and gemstone encrusted clerical adornments. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

The cathedral has 80 chapels; less than half of which are available for visiting today.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

The Renaissance Vault. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

They have their own museum as well.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

 

Detail of one panel in the museum. © Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The Cathedral is filled with artwork of course.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

No Cathedral would be complete without a pipe organ.  This cathedral had two of them, one on each side of the nave.  They are two independent pipe organs which suggest that both organs might be played at the same time in order to fill the Cathedral with music.  Or one is the backup to the other.  We could not get a solid answer to this query.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

The bell tower of Seville is called The Giralda.  It stands 343 feet high and 44 feet long.  The tower was originally a minaret for the mosque that stood on this ground; in 1376 an earthquake destroyed the minaret and it was converted into a bell tower.  It was not until the 16^th Century that the belfry was added and on top of all of this in 1568 was placed the statue called “El Giraldillo”, which represents the triumph of the Christian faith.

© Photo by Florence Ricchiazzi Lince

It is believed that Christopher Columbus is buried here.

Florence Lince

http://about.me/florencelince