Vaughan Town in Alcazar de San Juan, Spain, October 12 - 17, 2025

I did my regular day at the Desert Botanical Garden on Tuesday Oct. 7 and then on Wednesday and Thursday, I flew to Madrid.  Thursday evening I met my longtime friend Carol for dinner.  I have met her friend Laura on a previous trip.  We had an excellent dinner and great time together at Restaurant Triana.

On Friday evening, I made my usual trek to Cafeteria Restaurente Via 22 for the weekly meeting of the English Speaking Group, also known as La Tienda de las Lanos.  Saturday, I relaxed and also explored La Casa de la Moñeda, a museum that I have enjoyed before.  Sunday, I met up with other Anglo Volunteers and Spanish learners for the bus ride to Alcazar de San Juan.  On the way, we stopped for coffee and I knew we were in La Mancha because of the Don Quixote and Sancho Panza statue in front of the cafe.

 The hotel was excellent, we had a fun week, including a photo scavenger hunt in town.

We visited the market one day

This was a topic that was debated by two teams of Spaniards

This is the first of five photos of our photo scavenger hunt

Lots of chestnuts in the park across the street from the hotel

On the east side of town, there is a park with four windmills

Windmills like those that Don Quixote charged at

On Friday, it was back to Madrid.  First, Katty (another Anglo) I met up with Mayte, Nelsy and some of the other Vaughan staff.  We went to a local bar for a quick drink - two hours later I finally left for my hotel.  Then it was off to the regular Friday night meeting of the the English Speaking Group.  Whenever I am in Madrid on a Friday, I join them - I have been doing this for more than 15 years.  And then Saturday, October 18, it was back to Phoenix so I could give platelets at the Red Cross on Sunday and do my usual day at the Desert Botanical Garden on Tuesday.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2025 in Portland, Oregon

We decided to rent a two bedroom apartment in Portland, to allow us to excape the heat of Phoenix and to help take care of Piper while Megan worked.  As usual, we had many walks with Piper while Megan was away flying and when she was back home.

Many of the walks were along the Columbia River

And then we helped Megan move from her second floor apartment in a three story apartment block with a dozen apartments to a single family home with a fenced in backyard and off street parking.

 We had more walks with Piper when Megan was flying and when Megan was home.

Piper enjoys the front porch

 

We had more walks, observed some the art work for which Portland is famous and went to some local restaurants.

And then it was October and time to return to Phoenix.

Munds Park, Arizona, August 2025

For the month of August, we rented a home in Munds Park.  It was a house that we looked at buying in 2019 before buying our townhouse in Flagstaff.  Munds Park is 6,500 elevation and we were on the higher eastern side about 6,800 feet in elevation - so much cooler than both Sedona and Phoenix.  After getting Patty settled in to the house, I flew back to Portland because Megan could not find a sitter for Piper.  I got to spend five days back at Megan's apartment, and was also able to visit periodically with Ben and Martha.  And the colorful flowers were still in bloom.

Once I got to Munds Park, the house backs up to the national forest, so it was very quiet and very scenic.  It was well marked with clear rules and most people seemed to obey them.  It was a very nice stay and I would go there again on a future escape from the heat of Phoenix.

There was construction in places and sometimes the signs were confusing.

And then it was back to Phoenix for one night.