The Optimistic Musings of a Pessimist

Barcelona: Planning, Getting There, What It Cost…and an Unexpected Footnote

I’ve recycled a bit of the text from my Rome travel summary because, not surprisingly, we plan trips in similar ways year over year.

PLANNING

At this point, we’ve settled on a fairly clear division of…

Barcelona, Organization, Planning, Travel
Apr, 10, 2024
30 Comments

My (Easter) Lesson In Being Easily Delighted

I am a pessimist. Really. It’s in the title of my blog and it’s so true. My natural inclination is to look on the negative side of life and situations. But as I get…

Easter, Holidays, Joy, Life
Apr, 09, 2024
18 Comments

Barcelona Day Six: Bubbles, Whimsy, and New Friends

It’s always good to finish a trip on a high note, and we broke glass with our operatic crescendo on this one! Day Six was wonderful (I still have a special place in my…

Barcelona, Travel
Apr, 08, 2024
21 Comments

Happy Things Friday: 5 April + CBWC Update

It feels good to be back with a “normal” Happy Things Friday post. I am glad to have survived March and April is starting off with promise.

Let’s dive in…

POTATO SCALLOP

John and I have a…

Top Five/Bottom Five: Makeup

It likely will not surprise you to learn I am not really a makeup gal. I mean, I wear it. I like it. But I own very little of it. This was an easy…

Creativity, Favourite Things, Minimalism, Top Five/Bottom Five
Apr, 04, 2024
33 Comments

Barcelona Day Five: Cacti (Ouch!), Stadiums, and All Kinds of Art

Another day – a day I was determined to approach slowly. And we did just that. We didn’t wake up until after 8 am and, again, had leisurely showers before heading down to the…

Barcelona, Travel
Apr, 03, 2024
26 Comments

Barcelona Day Four: Montserrat, Breathtaking Hikes, and Wading in the Mediterranean

This day was simply glorious, even if it didn’t have the most auspicious of starts. (And maybe we shouldn’t pick favourites, but this was definitely my favourite.)

After a somewhat tiring Day Three, I was…