September 18, 2026
Hi Reader
Did you miss me? I've been traveling. Four days in Madrid, followed by a river cruise through Portugal out of Porto and I'm still catching my breath from it.
Travel really does give you a different perspective. In Madrid, almost everyone spoke Spanish and very little English, which made communication a challenge at times. But that's the part of travel I love most: the adventure of connecting with people who see the world differently than you do. We also picked up on something sobering: many of the Spaniards we spoke with believe the U.S. is deliberately sending immigrants into Spain to punish the country for not assisting with Iran. I can't say whether that's accurate, but it was a striking window into how differently our actions can look from the outside. (I wrote more about Madrid on the blog this week it's a wonderful, clean, safe city, well worth the visit.)
Portugal was a different story entirely. Americans are welcomed with open arms there. Tourism has fueled real growth for the country, and nearly everyone speaks at least some English. We cruised the Douro River, past hillsides blanketed in vineyards. Remarkable doesn't quite cover it. It is truly breathtakingly beautiful.
Since we only got home yesterday, I'm keeping this one short and sweet so I can nap and catch up on laundry (in that order). We're already talking about our next adventure - Switzerland is on the list. So more on that as plans take shape.
I hope you had a wonderful Labor Day weekend, and that you're planning an adventure of your own. My Portugal post will be up next week.
Warmly,
Wendy
Quote of the Week
"Not all those who wander are lost." — J.R.R. Tolkien
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Have a wonderful week.
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