We were sitting on a bench on Calle de Alcalá in Madrid, listening to a group of 5 musicians playing Pachabel's Canon in D when I became quite overwhelmed. How long has it been since I heard classical music performed on the streets.? Too long I must admit.
While I have approached the pandemic with a positive attitude, I can't help feeling that it has robbed us of 2 yrs of normal life, especially international travelling pleasure.
Now that the borders are open, the amount of red tape would put anyone off travelling outside Ireland.
What I dislike:
1. Uploading covid related documents onto the flight app. It was good that I had helped a friend earlier to do the necessary. I had my laptop then and it was much easier. But in a foreign country I only had my phone so I had to figure out all over again how to manoeuvre fat fingers over a small phone keypad.
2. Wearing a mask for the whole journey. Friends had advised me to wear a KN95 mask and it wasn't exactly comfortable. I had packed a variety of masks and so I had a choice.
3. Going for the antigen test before returning to Ireland. The test was not scary but wondering what the results would be was nerve wrecking. What if the test turned out positive? That would mean an extended stay and another flight schedule. The inconvenience!
But that is what you call a first time try.
I had to do it. It had been too long not to go for a well deserved break.
And I am glad I did. No regrets.
Madrid is simply beautiful. We experienced the warmth of a kind family. I haven't felt so welcomed in a very long time in the home of a people of a different language and culture. The extent of the food prepared for us and the time taken to accommodate us spoke volumes. It is not everyday that someone invites you to spend Christmas with his family. Christmas is usually family time, and very private. Yet, we felt nothing but love and acceptance.
I was dazzled by the lights. It was not just the likes of Grafton or Henry street or the Christmas market that was lighted up. It was a whole city of lights. The artistry and colour coordination knew no bounds. I had never seen anything quite like it in any European city.
Somehow the lights just blasted away - with a vengeance - the sadness and the darkness of the battle we had been waging for the last two years and are still waging today. The battle that had crippled many and had robbed us of things we are familiar with, of hugging each other, of simply saying hello without restrictions.
And we even went for a Spanish Christmas service. I didn't understand a word of it but the Spirit of God saturated my heart. God is the same, in any language.
And now I am home again in Ireland.
Feeling restless.
So I must plan another trip.
Nothing will stop me now.
Nothing will hold back the little things that I miss.
