Another Place, Another Time

Ever feel like a place gets under your skin and feel like you can never leave? I have and I wish I had never left. "Where?" You ask. I won't tell you, but you may surmise the place. I went this past fall and took a whirlwind tour of this country. I stayed in three major cities and three small towns. I saw mountains, two different seas, countryside, tall buildings, and a partridge in a pear tree. (Ok, so I didn't see a partridge in a pear tree, but I saw gypsy being told off by an old local man.) Each one with its own unique art and dialect. I felt like I was home as my ancestors were from this country. My language skills were honed day by day and I acknowledged myself becoming more like the locals. Whenever I speak of my trip to people and tell them of all the most delicious morsels that I have ever tasted, people say, "You must have gained 20 lbs with all that food." I just laugh and think to myself, silly American, I lost weight as I ate like a local. Believe me when I tell you, I didn't try to lose weight. I digested many items included whole milk, wine, cheese, liquors, fried foods, bread, dessert, and meats. I drank wine with lunch and dinner; sometimes drinking wine as a midmorning snack. I have never seen such awe inspiring art and architecture. Beautiful pieces sculpted with a chisel or paintbrush. In America, I lived in a old house and it was 60 years old. In the country I visited, that would be modern. I stayed in a hotel that was 500 years old. It was well maintained and I felt like time had stopped. I visited a local outdoor fish market that was probably around 500 years old as well. Fish was so fresh and it looked like it would make a great meal. There were vegetables and fruits of varying colors and made my mouth water just thinking about what I cook make with such fresh and ripe produce. My grandmother as a little girl went to this market and had many memories of this area. She was so happy that I was going back to the land of her birth. All she wanted was a picture taken of me in her city. When I gave her the picture, I'm sure that a tear came to her eye and she remembered a time gone by..... I am currently planning my next trip to this country. The money I spend is a small price to pay for such a wonderful experience. They say you can't take it with you when you die. I plan to enjoy life and not squander my money on stupid purchase that don't matter. So, when did your last purchase change your life?