"England and America are two countries separated by a common language." ---George Bernard Shaw Growing up in Chicagoland, I am a native English speaker. However, now that I live in Spain, I have learned lots of expressions used by British people. The part of Alicante Province where we have retired is filled with retired Brits … Continue reading Learning English Expressions
Tag: spain
Exploring Toledo, Spain
Photo of Toledo with Cathedral in background Toledo is a Spanish city with a rich history that blends Christian, Muslim and Jewish cultural influences through the centuries. Located in central Spain next to the Tagus river, the city was capital of the Visigoth-Catholic kingdom from 542 to 725 AD. This kingdom came into being after … Continue reading Exploring Toledo, Spain
Helping Spaniards Improve Their English
Since the Covid-19 pandemic hit Spain in March, I haven't gone anywhere overnight. Being forced to stay in one place for months on end was hard for me, as it has undoubtedly been for many other people. I love to travel and look for opportunities to go somewhere and do something. So when my Canadian … Continue reading Helping Spaniards Improve Their English
Scenes of Spain Photo Essay
Spain is such a beautiful and fascinating country. I share these photos to give you an idea of the kinds of things you can see in this Mediterranean country if you ever get a chance to visit it. Amazing churches, beautiful bodies of water, impressive castles, awe-inspiring palaces, interesting traditions, stunning architecture, fun festivals and … Continue reading Scenes of Spain Photo Essay
Spain’s State of Emergency Ends
Ninety-nine days after it started, Spain has finally ended its state of emergency. As of now, summer solstice day, there have been 293,018 Covid-19 cases and 28,322 deaths here in Spain. Those of us who survived this ordeal are glad it is over, of course, but we now wonder what will happen once the tourists … Continue reading Spain’s State of Emergency Ends
Covid-19 Musings
Have you ever wondered what life would be like if Covid-19 never goes away? No vaccine was ever found to prevent HIV. What if it is the same with Covid-19? At least the earth will be cleaner with so few people traveling. Levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have already dropped markedly since the … Continue reading Covid-19 Musings
Day 52 of Spain’s Lockdown
This weekend was the first time people in Spain were allowed out to walk around. It was a joyful sight to see others when I walked our dog Tess along the nearby canal on Saturday morning. Some couples were strolling along, other people were running and still others flew by on bikes. It almost felt … Continue reading Day 52 of Spain’s Lockdown
The US is Falling Apart
It feels like the United States has been unraveling since the coronovirus traveled there from Europe. Things aren't great in Europe but the countries here seem to have a better handle on how to deal with a public health crisis. For one thing, there are national health systems here, where people are insured through their … Continue reading The US is Falling Apart
Life Lesson 16: Attitude is Everything!
"Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by the attitude you bring to life; not so much by what happens to you as by the way your mind looks at what happens."--Khalil Gibran One month into the lockdown in Spain, I saw my English neighbor Ray walking his … Continue reading Life Lesson 16: Attitude is Everything!
Day 16 of Spain’s Lockdown
Spain now has 85,195 cases of covid-19, with 7,340 deaths. On March 1, there were only 84 cases here. That wasn't even a month ago. I think this month, March 2020, will be remembered as the longest one we have ever experienced. Each day has passed so slowly, with dramatic increases in deaths reported in … Continue reading Day 16 of Spain’s Lockdown
US Author Nancy Klein in Spain 