Mane

It was a rainy day in Girona. The weather forecast predicted sunny day in Barcelona. So, I took a train to Barcelona. I did not have anything special in mind, just to read on the train and to have a drink in Barcelona. So, what do I do when I have 5 hours to spend in Barcelona? It depends where I find myself. This time, as I came by train from Girona, I found myself in Passeig de Gracia. As its name says, it is near Gracia, a kind of bohemian neighborhood, which is full of nice bars and cafes. I walked up the hill to Gracia, took some random turns and found a shop selling foreign newspapers. Such shops are rare here. No such shop in Girona. I bought the New York Review of Books, the best literary newspaper in the world. With my paper, I then spend the afternoon reading, drinking vermouth, observing street life and just enjoying myself. The newspaper has many interesting articles on sex and teenage girls in America, economic history of the US, drone warfare. I will write ...

After a month or so active working and building up routines in Girona, my working days are now Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. On Thursday, I always take part in the weekly shop ride of Girona Bike Breaks - just to meet friends and see how fit I am.  My working days have a pattern. I wake up at around 7am-8am, eat some müsli, read. By 9am, I will be in El Cafe for a few cups of coffee and a small bocadillo and working. This takes at most 3 hours. El Cafe A short walk follows. More work at home. Around 2pm, lunch in either El Pati de la Viena or Campus Cafe . Depends on whether I fancy salad or fideua as the 1st course. The menus never change here. Some more work until about 5pm. Altogether maybe 6 hours of work. M aybe a short nap. Later, Cycling for 2-3 hours. Easy pace with some hill intervals maybe. Shower, some food, evening stroll. After 9pm, reading in some of the cafés in Plaça de Infependecia. Maybe a beer or a glass of vermut. On the way back ho...