It's the usual challenge, returning to the real world after so long away! Work is as one would expect ... hectic ... and I'm not really comfortable with my usual walking paths with no daylight, so that's a challenge. Or maybe an opportunity to do more Cathe, like today!
Sunday I did my climbing workout. It's hard to explain, but climbing on plastic indoors and climbing on rock outdoors are related but different sports. Some of the hard work in Spain is paying off with better indoor form; other areas need work. Still, it's hard to beat this as a way to combat jet lag. I did three easier and shorter routes to stretch and relax, but was having trouble focusing (for no good reason) jumped on one that was about as hard as I ever climb! That woke me up, I can tell you. Nothing like getting six or seven feet off the ground and realizing you may have bitten off too much. But I was on top rope (meaning the fall would not far if I slipped), so mainly it was pride at stake. Anyway I got through it, and made more sensible choices. People told me my footwork showed the improvement, which is nice.
Just before leaving I ordered new DVDs! It has been probably three years since I've done that! Naturally almost all Cathe. I chose ICE upper body for this morning. It is a nice one. The compound movements with the same weight show me where I'm out of balance, and that should make it ideal for doing near a climbing workout - it will push the muscles that aren't going to be stressed as much, and not wear out the muscles that are about to be worked or should be resting. I will try it that way for awhile and see how it goes. I also picked up her HIIT upper body circuit but frankly I don't think I should be doing HIIT right now. Better to build up to that.
Janie, if you want Spain stories, I can give you a few! I may put them on facebook also, when pictures are more sorted. Here's one. I decided to start with an adventure, and spend my first night on Montserrat in a hostel/mini hotel/dorm. Montserrat is known as a very special working monastery and associated tiny community up at the top of a mountain. It's also a tourist destination known for stupendous views. "Breathtaking" is the word on the website, and breathtaking it was. Now, you could get there train, and that is what I planned. But my flight was three hours late and so I missed it, and so instead of hanging around at the Barcelona airport I decided to take a taxi. When we got close, the taxi driver realized I was going to actually stay at the *top* of Montserrat and not at the foot, like a normal tourist
He told me - "I can drive you to the top but it will take half an hour at least. Or, you could take a cable car through the air!"
You know which one I picked
We stopped in a parking lot at the base of the cable car connection. Several other people speaking various languages were there - sounded like german as well as spanish. The ticket sellers spoke no English but it was clear what I needed, so very soon, my three big bags and I (climbing gear and two weeks of tourist gear) got in a commodious cable car that looked like it had been around for two decades. Very sturdy. Glass all around just like in the movies. ,We cruised fast! The view was stunning, and it was exciting to skim the mountain. I was pretty sure that we would not be the first group to hit it ... there weren't any dents on the cable car that I could see ... And anyway, I was too busy looking all around to care much.
And then, at the top, we all got off and saw that there was still a long walk up the hill, perhaps half a mile, to get to the monastery and the place where I was staying, which was a little hostel or hotel, more like a graduate student dorm room, right next to the basilica. So off we went.
A very nice family saw that I was covered with bags, and the gentleman/father with them offered to help. I was reluctant to let him. For one, he didn't look in hugely good shape, and for two, my bags areheavier even than they looked, since I had my climbing gear with me, and for three, it makes me feel good to be self sufficient. But he insisted so generously and rather than hurt feelings I let him have the biggest bag as he asked (it was mostly clothing so not as bad as the smaller one with gear). And it was a relief for me, and a startlement to him, to shift those thirty pounds. It felt somehow appropriate to share burdens approaching a monastery, for him to take on a load and for me to let go of a little pride in accepting help. Montserrat has that effect on people.
And at the top? I will find you a picture, and in the meantime you can look here:
https://www.barcelona-tourist-guide.com/en/tour/montserrat-spain.html
