Off to pedicure appointment…Grocery prices in Barcelona…

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Houses in the surrounding area.in Savusavu, Fiji, ten years ago.

It wasn’t easy finding a highly rated taxi that could book reservations online. Calling would have been futile with the language barrier. We’re doing fine when ordering groceries and takeaway meals. But calling, as many online services recommended, would have been challenging.

As a result, I ordered an Uber, which will be here in less than an hour to take me to my appointment. Considering we don’t have a rental car here, using an Uber or taxi is much less costly for transportation than a rental car would have been.

This will be my first time out and about by myself in a long time, except for pedicure appointments in Marloth Park. It will be nice to get out. The salon is less than a mile from here, but there was no way I could easily walk that far on my own.

Yesterday, our second grocery order arrived. After reviewing the receipt, it’s clear that prices are approximately 40% higher here than in Marloth Park. Since we’re only cooking a few nights a week, it seems that ordering takeaway can be economical, especially since many of Tom’s selections are under US $20 per day.

My choices are a lot more since there’s very little I can order other than whole chickens. The chickens come with roasted potatoes, which Tom eats. In these cases, we can get by with about $20 per day for both of us.

Since we’re both steadily losing weight through intermittent fasting, I have started making some meals for myself, while Tom orders from Uber Eats, which offers free delivery. I’ve been making chicken breasts and bunless burgers along with scrambled eggs and salad, enough to hold me until we eat again the next day.

The grocery order was $108, which included ingredients for making salad, as well as bacon, tomatoes, ground beef, and tomato sauce and vinegar (I will make homemade ketchup later today) to accompany the burgers. Additionally, we purchased shampoo and conditioner to ensure a sufficient supply for the upcoming cruise, along with some miscellaneous household items.

Our baggage won’t be an issue boarding the cruise, as there are no weight restrictions for cruises. There are other restrictions, such as bringing certain plugs and adapters onboard and alcohol. Only two bottles of wine are allowed, and with our drink allowance, it makes no sense for us to bring any on board.

We have an ample supply of our iced tea (Crystal Light for Tom and herbal for me), which we’ll drink on the ship each day, since neither of us drinks soda, except for an occasional Sprite Zero.

It’s time for me to get ready to go. The temperature is only 59 °C, 15 °C this morning, and it may make sense to bring a light jacket to wear while I am standing outdoors waiting for the Uber.

Not much excitement to share here. Sorry about that. However, we are content after having accepted the limitations those steps present while we’re here.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 26, 2015:

When we went to buy eggs, we approached this pair atop this table, who turned away from us, while others curiously meandered toward us. For more photos, please click here.

We are teetotallers while in Barcelona…

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While in Marloth Park, we frequently enjoyed sundowners; wine for me and beer for Tom.
Taking a break from drinking alcohol has been a refreshing change since we arrived in Barcelona. Back in Marloth Park, our sundowners were almost a ritual, as natural to the rhythm of our days as the sounds of the birds calling at dusk or the gentle rustling of kudus grazing in the bush. The late afternoon would arrive, the sun dipping lower in the sky, and Tom and I would often pour ourselves a drink, sit on the veranda, and watch the wildlife wander into our garden. There was something so fitting about having a beer, a cocktail, or a glass of red wine while elephants trumpeted in the distance.
Those sundowners were less about the alcohol itself and more about marking the day’s end, a way to pause and appreciate where we were in the world.

But here in Barcelona, life feels different. The evenings in Sant Martí have their own charm, which we easily hear from our apartment. Yet, without the same bush backdrop, we feel less inclined to have a drink. At first, I thought it might feel like something was missing, but instead, I’ve noticed something unexpected: I sleep better. Much better.

Without alcohol in my system, my nights are deeper, less restless, and my mornings brighter. For years, I told myself that a glass of wine or two didn’t really affect me, that it was harmless. And maybe in moderation, that’s true. But stepping away from it has reminded me that even small amounts can change the way I rest. I’ve woken each day in Barcelona with a clear head, more energy, and a sense of lightness. For two people like us, who are constantly on the move and relying on our health to keep up with our nomadic lifestyle, that clarity matters.

Of course, the reality is that alcohol has always been woven into social situations. If we dine out in Barcelona, it almost feels expected to order a glass of red wine. Yet, I doubt I won’t miss it as much as I thought I would. A sparkling water with a slice of lemon feels just as festive when I’m in the right frame of mind. Tom, too, has been mindful. While he enjoys a cocktail or beer here and there, he’s been just as content to skip it, knowing that moderation is key. We both know that keeping our health intact is the real prize, far beyond the fleeting pleasure of a few extra drinks.

The timing of this little hiatus is interesting, though, as we’re only a month away from embarking on our upcoming 47-night cruise. On paper, the cruise sounds like an open invitation to indulge. Included in our perk benefits is a beverage credit that allows each of us to enjoy five drinks per day. Five drinks! That’s ten between us. I can’t imagine consuming that much. If I have two glasses of wine with dinner, that feels more than enough. Tom will likely have a few cocktails, especially when socializing, but even then, not the limit.

We laugh when we think about it. Ten drinks a day is designed for people much younger, or those who see the cruise as one long party. For us, it’s more about the journey, the destinations, and the company we’ll keep. Yes, we’ll certainly enjoy an adult beverage now and then, especially when meeting new friends onboard or toasting to a beautiful sunset at sea. But we’ve reached a stage in life where we know our limits and have no desire to push them.

It’s not about abstaining completely. We both enjoy the ritual of sharing a drink, the way it can open conversation and create a relaxed atmosphere. There’s something celebratory about clinking glasses with fellow travelers or savoring a glass of wine that pairs perfectly with a fine meal. Those moments add to the enjoyment of travel, but they don’t define it. If anything, our time in Barcelona has reminded us that we don’t need alcohol.

This little break has also been a good reset. It’s easy to let routine slip into habits without much thought. In Marloth Park, sundowners were part of the landscape, and I never questioned it. Here, away from that familiar rhythm, I’ve had the chance to step back and reconsider. It feels empowering to know that I can enjoy both ways of living, sipping a drink as the day winds down or passing on it altogether, and still feeling just as content.

As the cruise approaches, I feel ready to strike a balance. I’ll happily enjoy a glass or two of wine in the evenings, especially when paired with the onboard dining, which is always a highlight. Tom will indulge in his favorites, a Marguerita here and there, but we’ll both keep it reasonable. Our health, energy, and ability to enjoy every moment are more important than anything else.

So, as I sit here in Barcelona, enjoying nights of deep sleep and mornings filled with clarity, I’m grateful for this pause. It’s been a gentle reminder that moderation doesn’t mean deprivation, and sometimes stepping away entirely, even for a short while, can bring unexpected benefits. When we sail away at the end of October, we’ll do so with a renewed perspective, not feeling pressured by the abundance of what’s included but instead savoring only what enhances the journey. After all, travel, like life, is best experienced with mindfulness, balance, and a clear head to take it all in.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 25, 2015:

The views from the property we rented in the Huon Valley in Tasmania, referred to as Anchorage Waterfront (no relation to Alaska). For more photos, please click here.

Finally, we’re flushed!…Booking flights…

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Tasmania is home to many horses, a beautifully remote location.

Booking flights has always been one of the most challenging aspects of our world travels. Over the years, we’ve learned that no matter how organized we try to be, or how many tips we pick up along the way, flights remain a puzzle filled with ever-changing variables. The costs fluctuate, routes get complicated, layovers turn into mini-nightmares, and cancellations or delays can quickly undo weeks of planning. And yet, flying is unavoidable. Unless we want to confine ourselves to traveling only by ship or land, air travel is part of the deal. It gets us from Point A to Point B, often across oceans, in a way nothing else can. But it doesn’t mean we enjoy the process.

For us, booking flights is not just about finding the lowest fare; it’s about balancing convenience, safety, loyalty rewards, and timing. Over the years, we’ve experimented with numerous booking platforms, airline websites, and discount search engines. Some looked promising at first, but ultimately offered more headaches than help. In the end, we’ve consistently circled back to Expedia. We receive a small commission since they advertise on our site. We encourage our readers to try it, which helps cover a small portion of the costs associated with managing our site.

It has become our trusted platform for booking flights, not because it’s flawless, no booking service ever is, but because it consistently delivers the best combination of price, convenience, and, most importantly for us, points. Those Expedia Rewards points have helped offset costs and made some of our more expensive long-haul flights feel a little less painful.

But getting to that “Book Now” button is rarely simple. The first challenge is choosing dates. Our travels seldom follow a straight line. We’re not simply flying from a “home” or destination to destination, and then back again. We’re bouncing around the globe with a mix of cruises, extended stays, and stopovers in places that appeal to us. That means our flights often need to line up with embarkation dates or the expiration of a visa.

Then there’s the issue of connections. We’ve had our share of awful layovers. Airports in unfamiliar cities can either be a traveler’s dream or a complete disaster. I’ll never forget the time we spent nearly twelve hours in a crowded terminal with no decent food options and chairs so uncomfortable they left us sore for days. Now, whenever we book, we carefully study layovers. A one-hour connection might look attractive on paper, but in reality, it’s often a sprint across a massive airport, worrying the entire time about missing the next flight. On the other hand, a ten-hour layover feels like wasted time, especially after an overnight flight. So, we find ourselves balancing the impossible: not too short, not too long, and always in airports that are known to be manageable.

Price, of course, is the significant factor. Flying isn’t cheap, especially when you’re covering long distances several times a year. We’ve spent countless hours comparing fares, often to find that a “great deal” isn’t so great once you add in baggage fees, seat selection charges, or the inconvenience of flying at odd hours. That’s where Expedia has saved us more than once. The transparency of their system, which clearly shows what’s included and what’s not, gives us a better sense of the actual cost. And when you’re booking multiple flights in a year, saving even a little here and there adds up.

Still, even with the best tools, airlines can throw curveballs. Flight schedules change. Planes are swapped. Seats we carefully selected weeks in advance suddenly disappear. Cancellations are perhaps the most challenging part to stomach, although we’ve only experienced it a few times. The most challenging experience was on March 20, 2020, when our flight (at the beginning of the pandemic) from Mumbai to Johannesburg was canceled due to the international airport in South Africa closing while we were waiting to board in Mumbai.

Another challenge we face is the emotional toll of flight planning. Booking a flight means committing. Unlike booking a hotel or even a cruise, flights often come with stiff penalties for changes or cancellations. Every time I hover over that “confirm purchase” button, I feel a tiny knot of anxiety. What if something changes in our schedule? What if there’s a better deal tomorrow? What if we’ve overlooked a cheaper or more direct route? That “what if” never really goes away, no matter how many times we’ve done this.

And yet, there’s also a sense of relief once the flight is booked. Suddenly, the blurry lines on our travel calendar sharpen into focus. A flight means we’re going somewhere new, somewhere exciting, and all the frustrations of planning fade into the background as anticipation takes over. That’s the bittersweet nature of booking flights: the stress and the excitement are inseparably bound together.

At the end of the day, booking flights will probably never feel effortless. The airlines set the rules, and as travelers, we do our best to follow them. We’ve learned to accept that sometimes we’ll overpay, sometimes we’ll be inconvenienced, and sometimes everything will fall perfectly into place. What makes it manageable is finding a system that works for us.

So yes, booking flights is one of the toughest parts of our travels. But it’s also one of the most rewarding, because each booked flight is another step forward in our journey around the world. It’s another opportunity for discovery, another chance to adapt, and another reminder that even the most stressful parts of travel eventually lead us to new experiences we wouldn’t trade for anything.

In the past few days, amid the maintenance issues in our apartment here in Barcelona, we booked the following flights.

  1. December 13, 2025: Brisbane, Australia to Auckland, New Zealand
  2. February 12, 2026: Auckland, New Zealand to Hobart, Tasmania

We still have to book the flight from Tasmania, Australia to Brisbane, Australia, where we’ll board another cruise, sailing from Brisbane on April 14, 2026, which we’ll book in the next few days.

As for the repairs in our apartment in Sant Marti, the toilet is working again after two professionals arrived last night and performed the equivalent of a Roto-Rooter service. In 20 minutes, they solved the problem, cleaned the toilet, and had us sign an acknowledgement that they had completed the job and were on their way.

Another maintenance person arrived in the early evening and got the dryer working properly again. Apparently, since the dryer lacks an external vent, a water receptacle collects the moisture and needs to be emptied frequently. We’d never seen such a thing since we never stay in apartments. I doubt we ever will again, after this experience.

Today, we won’t order takeaway. Instead, I’ll cook chicken breasts with a side of cheesy scrambled eggs, onions, and a side salad.

Tom’s hearing aid charger is expected to arrive in about ten days. I can hardly wait to talk to him again!

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 24, 2015:

There was no post on this date ten years ago.

Ugh!…This is awful…

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We lived on an alpaca farm in NZ when this situation occurred in the paddock in the backyard. Luckily, it turned out OK for the alpacas. We laughed over this once we realized they were both doing well after figuring out how to untangle themselves. For more on this story, please click here.

This is day five with no working toilet. Last evening at 6:00 pm, a maintenance guy came to fix it, but was unable to do so. This morning, he’s scheduled to return with a heavy-duty piece of equipment that hopefully will resolve this issue. There is nothing we’ve done to cause this.

When we first arrived eight days ago, we noticed that the toilet paper wouldn’t flush. Over the next few days, the situation worsened, and the toilet quit flushing sufficiently for anything to go down. You know what I mean. I will not describe what we’ve had to do during this dreadful situation.

Additionally, the hot water doesn’t work correctly, and we rarely have hot water. No, it’s not as simple as turning on the faucet in the proper direction to produce hot water. It’s a confusing and convoluted hot water heating system in a closet in the bathroom that isn’t working correctly.

Then, as mentioned, the dryer doesn’t work. There is a clothes drying rack which we’re using to hang clothes, but when we do the sheets again, there is nowhere to hang them to dry in time to put them back on the bed. We’ll have to wash one sheet on one day, drape it over the rack, and then do the second sheet once the first one dries, using only one sheet at a time during these periods.

What does all this remind me of?… Lockdown in India in a hotel room for ten months, with no laundry service and having to wash our clothes in the shower. Ugh. However, I must admit, this is much worse. Not having a working toilet is unbearable.

Last night, we reported this situation to Capital One Travel. If the toilet issue isn’t resolved today, we are calling them back to help get our money back, including the $1500 deposit we paid when we arrived, which wasn’t disclosed as required at the time of booking, nor were the three flights of stairs to get to the apartment. There was a notation that there were a “few steps” to the front door of the unit.

If this doesn’t get resolved, we’ll have no choice but to move to a hotel at a significantly higher cost, hoping to recoup our US $ 6,500.

In the meantime, we have no interest in exploring the area or dining out. Our entire focus is on getting things fixed here. Little things, such as the absence of kitchen towels, an extra set of sheets, cleaning supplies, a toilet paper holder, or bathroom towel racks, contribute to the inconvenience of this apartment. Gosh, we had it made in the bush in South Africa!

We haven’t experienced such issues since the first house we rented in Belize in 2013, our first holiday rental, which we left after a week due to a lack of water and an infestation of sand fleas, resulting in a loss of the money we paid. Without a rental car (rentals were US $3500 a month at that time), with horrible WiFi to use to find something else. We ended up renting a golf cart and driving to resorts to find something else.

In Belize, we lucked out and found the fabulous Laru Beya, where we were able to negotiate a 50% discount for the two-month stay in a beautiful oceanfront condo. It all turned out well in the end, when we loved the location, the people we met, and the easy walking distance to restaurants. But now? Ugh!

Additionally, the fact that Tom can’t hear a thing only exacerbates the issues. Need I say, he is frustrated and grumpy?

As of this writing, the maintenance guy is late by 90 minutes.

That’s all of my whining for yet another day. Hopefully, we’ll be back tomorrow with good news.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 23, 2015:

The sunrise over Penguin Beach, Tasmania. Can’t wait to see this in person once again in five months! Then again, we’re not wishing for time to pass quickly. We’re looking forward to upcoming bookings. For more photos, please click here.

Most affordable countries for digital nomads…

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Penguin Beach in Tasmania, where we’ll be in five months.

From Travel and Leisure Magazine:

“This Country Was Just Named the Most Affordable Destination for Digital Nomads

India tops the 2025 ranking thanks to low living costs, vibrant culture, and thriving tech hubs. By Katie Nadworny, Published on September 10, 2025

If you’ve ever been tempted to become a digital nomad, one global destination is officially the most affordable choice.

That honor belongs to India, according to a report from Global Citizen Solutions, a firm that specializes in residency and citizenship by investment. The company’s Global Digital Nomad Report 2025, shared with Travel + Leisure, examined the cost of living, the cost of co-working, and the cost of a hot desk to compile its list. Factors taken into account included housing, groceries, transportation, and other essential living costs.

Delhi and Mumbai are popular destinations in India, renowned for their vibrant and bustling culture and affordable cost of living. Goa can also be an appealing destination thanks to its fantastic beaches, UNESCO-recognized churches, and unique Portuguese-influenced cuisine.

“The digital nomad phenomenon has evolved from a niche lifestyle choice to a mainstream economic driver,” Laura Madrid Sartoretto, the lead researcher at Global Citizen Solutions’ Intelligence Unit, said in a statement shared with T+L.

In fact, the report examined digital nomad visa programs in 64 different countries and found that 91 percent of these programs have been launched since 2020.

India was followed by Ecuador, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Colombia, rounding out the top five most affordable destinations for living and working remotely.

On the other end of the spectrum were countries like Iceland and Norway, which ranked very high in quality of life metrics, but were expensive to live and work in.

The Netherlands actually took the top spot in quality of life, which is assessed by a combination of public infrastructure, safety, and cultural appeal.

Overall, the most extensive collection of digital nomad programs is concentrated in the Americas, accounting for 36 percent of the analyzed programs, followed by Europe, which comprises 33 percent of the programs, and Asia, which has 9 percent of the programs.

Many digital nomad programs encourage temporary stays, but a few offer long-term opportunities to remain in the country. Of the countries analyzed, Global Citizen Solutions found 14 that offer a path to permanent residency and three that offer a direct path to citizenship.

“Over the past two decades, the growing availability of high-speed internet, mobile technologies, and the normalization of remote work have transformed this once niche concept into a global movement,” Patricia Casaburi, the CEO of Global Citizen Solutions, said in a statement shared with T+L, adding the “digital revolution” and the pandemic “propelled it into the mainstream.”

These are the top 10 most affordable destinations for digital nomads, according to Global Citizen Solutions.

  1. India
  2. Ecuador
  3. Malaysia
  4. Indonesia
  5. Colombia
  6. Namibia
  7. South Africa
  8. Armenia
  9. Mauritius
  10. Serbia”
By the end of our upcoming 47-night cruise, we will have visited eight of the above-listed ten countries (excluding Armenia and Serbia). Of course, the only country we’d consider living in for extended periods is South Africa, mainly because we have spent a considerable amount of time there and are familiar with the lifestyle on a broader scale than those we may have visited for shorter periods.
Based on our prior visits and experiences in other countries, we have no interest in extended stays or revisiting the above countries in the future. However, this is due to personal preferences which may be very different than ours. At no point would we consider acquiring citizenship in another country.
We’re hoping the property management company sends a plumber today to fix the clogged toilet. The weekend has been challenging!
Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 22,015:

Flowers are blooming profusely due to the excessive rainfall. For more photos, please click here.

What did we do about Tom’s hearing aids?…

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In the days to come, we will dine at one of the local cafes.

Yesterday, at 4:30 pm, when the Costco store opened, where Tom purchased his hearing aids in July 2024, Tom explained his dilemma regarding the failure of his Phillips hearing aid charger to work. The only solution they suggested is that we order a new charger for US $199 from their store, and once we return to the US in May, they will refund the cost.

Of course, they won’t cover the cost of shipping it internationally, and thus, we had no choice but to have it sent to our mailing service in Nevada, which will send it to us here in Barcelona as soon as it arrives from Costco on September 29. No doubt, the cost to send this small package overnight will be hundreds of dollars.

There are Costco stores in Spain, but they don’t carry Phillips hearing aids or accessories. Nor could we find anywhere in this country where we could order it and have it shipped to us. The Costco order is the only viable option.

The interior of a local restaurant.

In the meantime, Tom can’t hear anything I say unless I talk so loudly that I end up with a sore throat. Most likely, we won’t have the device until at least two weeks from now. If Tom is facing me, he can read my lips if I speak loudly enough. It will be a long few weeks.

Also, yesterday, the toilet clogged, not due to anything we had done. That’s been quite a challenge, along with the fact that we still have no hot water, and the clothes dryer doesn’t work. Good grief. There is a clothes drying rack, but washing and drying the stiff sheets will be a hassle.

There’s only one set of sheets, and neither is a fitted sheet that’s too small to tuck in on the sides. As a result, every night we get tangled in the sheets, and making the bed is awful. Oh, good grief, listen to me whining. Since we’re ordering most of our meals from Uber Eats, I now wish we had stayed in a hotel without all these issues. We are not apartment people and will most likely never rent an apartment again, if possible.

The view near our building.

Over and over again, we’ve reminded ourselves to choose single-family holiday homes. We’ve had very few issues with these, and in most situations, the owner or property manager lives nearby and responds quickly. In this case, it’s a property management company, and they seem to have little to no interest in resolving these issues for us.

This will be one of those rare occasions where our review will be candid about our negative experiences.

Fortunately, the WiFi works well enough that we can stream shows in the evenings, and Tom can listen to his favorite podcasts and watch football games while I am busy online. I enjoy watching the Minnesota Vikings football games with him. There’s no HDMI access on the smart TV, but it appears we can cast shows to the TV from our phones from other streaming services we use.

That’s all I have to say today, dear readers.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 21, 2015:

The main street in Savusavu is always bursting with activity, with more locals shopping than tourists. For more photos, please click here.

We ventured out on a walk….A new challenge…

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We walked along one street and will try others next time. Since I can only walk so far, next time we go out, we’ll try another street.

Yesterday afternoon, we decided to “give it a try” and head down those 30 steps for a walk in the neighborhood. I went down as gingerly as possible with Tom in front of me in case I fell. Once on the street, we both sighed a breath of fresh air and began a short 15-minute walk, taking photos along the way. My legs held up well.

Every few days, we’ll head out again for more walks over the next 37 days until we board the ship. Once on the ship, walking will be easier for me due to the level surfaces. Additionally, I plan to utilize the fitness center on the ship to work out on the treadmill, elliptical, and lift weights several times a week.

As far as the new challenge is concerned, we’re facing the fact that Tom’s hearing aids have stopped working. It appears to be due to a problem with the lithium battery charger. This afternoon, we’ll call Costco, where he purchased them in 2024 in Minnesota, and see if they can provide a replacement charger or offer an alternative solution.

Tom likes lasagne inspiring us to visit this restaurant in the future.

Most likely, they won’t send it to us in Spain, but they will send it to our mailing service in Nevada. Once it arrives there, we’ll have them ship it to us overnight, incurring some substantial shipping charges. There’s no way Tom can go without them until we return to the US in May.

Not only can he not hear me talk to him, but he won’t be able to engage in conversation with other passengers on the ship, seriously impacting the quality of our experience. Hopefully, the three-year warranty Costco provided will include the replacement of this part. If not, we’ll have no choice but to purchase another charger for US $199, plus the cost of overnight shipping.

The longer he’s worn the hearing aids, the worse his hearing seems to be without them. This has become an issue when I try to talk to him when he takes them out to go to bed. I have to holler for him to hear anything I am saying.

Fortunately, we have two Bluetooth portable speakers that enable him to hear his favorite podcasts and any shows we may stream in the evening.

The Sant Marti district has a lot of charm.

Otherwise, all is fine. Once we returned to the apartment after the walk, I had less trouble going up the stairs than going down.

Today, we have four small roasted chicken breasts left, with potatoes for Tom and a new batch of coleslaw I made this morning for both of us. We have decided not to drink alcoholic beverages while here, unless we dine out, and neither of us has missed our usual sundowners/happy hour.

There was a lot of graffiti on the walls of this former petrol station.

Once we’re on the ship, with our priority status, we’ll enjoy the few included “five-a-day” free drinks per person. Neither of us would ever drink five drinks in a day, but it’s a good perk.

That’s it for today, folks. We’ll be back with more tomorrow, including an update on Tom’s hearing aid situation.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 20, 2015:

I talked Tom into posing in front of this beautiful palm frond in Fiji. We hadn’t seen this type of frond since we visited Belize in early 2013, when I took a similar photo of myself at that time. For more photos, please click here.

A new and exciting booking!…

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This is the view from the kitchen in the holiday home we booked this morning on New Zealand’s North Island.

When the owner of the New Zealand alpaca farm suggested we contact her in September to inquire about the property’s availability, she explained that she had received two offers for sale, in the past few days. We knew we’d have to scramble to find a property during the holiday season. Over the past two days, as we continued to settle in here in Barcelona, we began our search.

We’d stayed at the alpaca farm for three months in 2016 and had hoped to rent it again. When Trish explained that the property wouldn’t be available, we were on a mission to find a house in New Zealand for our upcoming stay, from December 13, 2025, when we disembark from the 47-night cruise, to February 12, 2026.

The North Island of New Zealand. Many prefer the South Island, but after visiting both, we are content to stay on the North Island, which has its own unique charm.

From there, we’ll head to Tasmania to Tom’s favorite place in the world, to the quaint town of Penguin, located on the Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and Tasmania.

We knew single-family houses in New Zealand were expensive, especially during the holiday season. As a result, we spent hours scouring properties on multiple websites, primarily focusing on VRBO, our preferred source.

After considerable time and effort, knowing we had less than three months until we needed to book something, we stumbled across the above newly renovated house, as shown in the photo. We couldn’t be more thrilled to have firmed up the booking this morning.

When we arrive at the property in the town of Kaiwaka, we’ll share more photos and details about the property. The house is a 90-minute drive from Auckland Airport, which is a convenient and scenic route that we’ll certainly enjoy. It’s 34 minutes to the closest supermarket, but we’ll plan to shop every other week.

We love staying in remote areas and realize that we have to drive further to restaurants and shopping. It’s a small sacrifice for the opportunity to live in quaint and charming locations around the world.

After reviewing the map for Kaiwaka, we found plenty of nearby restaurants and pubs. Of course, no pub in the world is as fun as Jabula. But, while we are away from Marloth Park, we’ll savor every experience and location we visit in the upcoming nine months to come, until we return to the bush.

Of those nine months, we’ll be spending 72 nights on cruises. We’ll be boarding on October 27 for the first 47 nights, and then on April 14, 2026, we’ll board another 25-night cruise. What an exciting thought!

Our travel enthusiasm has been restored after a few days of frustration since we left last Sunday. Now settled in and accepting my limitations, we’re making the best of our time in Sant Marti, Barcelona, for the next 38 days.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 19, 2015:

This is the view of our house in Savusavu, Fiji, from the upper unit of the three-unit house, higher up the hill. For more photos, please click here.

What are we doing for meals in Sant Marti, Spain?

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Tom had to make two trips on the 30 steps to get the groceries since the delivery person didn’t bring them up the stairs.

We’d intended to post photos of the apartment today, but instead, we are doing laundry and more organizing. At some point, we will include pictures, but please bear with us. As it turned out, the laundry soap used for the bedding has caused me an allergic reaction around my neck. As a result, it became necessary to wash the bedding on the hygiene setting on the washer using the hypoallergenic laundry soap we purchased that arrived with yesterday’s grocery order.

When we placed the online grocery order, as shown in today’s photos, we didn’t order any meat other than chicken breast. Beef is costly here. Instead, we ordered basic household supplies, such as toilet paper, paper towels, coffee, and the ingredients to make coleslaw and chicken salad: mayonnaise (without bad oils), celery, onions, cabbage, carrots, and a few seasonings.

Since we will only be here in Spain for another 39 days, it makes no sense to buy a large quantity of ingredients to prepare our usual meals when we’ll have to dispose of them when we leave.

Over the next few days, we’ll prepare the chicken salad and coleslaw, which will be enough to last for two or three days. We will make such a meal once a week and do takeaway for the remaining days of the week. So far, since we arrived, we’ve ordered takeaway each day.

The total bill for these grocery items, with chicken as the only protein, was €120.96, or approximately US $143.18, which is twice the amount we would have paid in South Africa.

With Tom’s picky taste buds, it’s not easy to find foods he’ll like from restaurants nearby. Fortunately, we are in an area with many restaurants, but when we looked up menus, we discovered we couldn’t dine out for anything less than US $100. Additionally, given my dietary preferences and Tom’s limited options, we decided it was easier and less expensive to order takeout four days a week than to dine out. Then again, there are those stairs.

Since we’re both doing OMAD (one meal a day) to lose weight before the cruise, we’ll manage fine with ordering takeaway. I ordered some fantastic healthy “bowls” from a local restaurant. We are using Uber Eats, which offers free delivery with a small service fee. Ultimately, this plan may cost us as much as dining out or buying more groceries. However, this is what we believe works best for us at this time.

When we stayed in Cleveland for four months for my medical appointments, we followed this same plan, and it worked out well. The only difference here is the menus in Spanish, and the options are very different than those offered in the US or other countries. Spanish meals typically consist of a lot of starchy foods, such as bread, pasta, and rice, none of which I can eat.

It only took a few minutes to put these items away.

In any case, we’re settling in and working our way into a comfortable routine. Of course, I’m anxious to get out, but as Tom says, my getting injured would put a quick end to our plans. We’ve already visited Barcelona in the past and participated in some sightseeing activities.

As we’ve often mentioned, we’ve seen enough historic buildings to last a lifetime, and visiting more is not on our radar. As much as we’d like to share lots of great photos of touring the area, we have to consider my limitations and make the best of our time in Barcelona.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 18, 2015:

Fiji’s coral reef is second to none in the world and a favorite location for scuba divers. For more photos, please click here.

Adaptation…Ah, the challenges…

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The view, directly in front of our apartment. We’ll post photos of the interior tomorrow.

Adapting to life in Sant Martí, Spain, while we await our 47-night cruise, sailing from Barcelona on October 27, has been both rewarding and challenging. For seasoned travelers like us, who have spent years navigating unfamiliar cities, cultures, and living arrangements, we’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Still, every destination has its quirks, and here in Sant Martí, the most significant hurdle is not the language barrier, the neighborhood, or even the weather—it’s the 30 steps leading up to our apartment. Thirty steep, uneven, slippery-tiled steps that turn what should be a simple coming-and-going into a cautious ritual.

It’s not that I lose my breath climbing them. I can manage that part well enough. The genuine concern is the danger of falling. Each step seems to demand attention, especially on days when the tiles feel slick from humidity or when fatigue begins to set in. We’ve come to realize that navigating these stairs will require as much strategy as walking through a crowded marketplace in Bangkok or pacing ourselves. They are simply part of our daily life now, something we must accept and adapt to as best we can.

We try to approach it with a sense of humor. Every time we leave or return, we will joke about our “daily workout,” though it feels less like exercise and more like a balancing act on a tightrope. Each step feels slightly different, forcing us to remain mindful of our footing. Perhaps that is part of the charm of older buildings in Europe—they come with character, but also with practical challenges that travelers like us must learn to live with.

View of the street below us.

The location itself is ideal. Sant Martí may not have the postcard allure of Gothic Barcelona or the bustling atmosphere of Las Ramblas, but it has its own unique rhythm and authenticity. We’re surrounded by locals going about their daily lives, shopping at neighborhood markets, sipping espresso at sidewalk cafés, and walking their dogs along shaded boulevards. There is a quiet satisfaction in knowing that, for a time, we are part of this rhythm. Yet, it all comes back to those 30 steps. No matter how pleasant the day will be, whether we’ve walked the seaside promenade, shopped for fresh produce, or wandered the streets, returning home means bracing ourselves for the climb.

There are times when I imagine what would happen if I were to lose my footing. A single misstep could result in an injury that would derail not just these weeks in Spain but the long-awaited cruise we’ve been looking forward to for so long. Forty-seven nights at sea, visiting ports scattered across the world, is not the kind of trip one can embark upon with a cast or a limp. The thought lingers in the back of my mind, making me move even more cautiously, more slowly, than I normally would. Travel has taught us resilience and adaptation, but it has also taught us the value of prudence.

We’ve lived in many places over the years, including holiday homes in the bush of South Africa, high-rise apartments in bustling cities, and even cruise ship cabins that became temporary homes. Each setting comes with adjustments, whether it’s wild animals visiting your garden or the limitations of a ship’s cabin. Here in Sant Martí, the adjustment isn’t cultural or environmental, it’s physical. It’s the daily reminder that mobility, balance, and safety are every bit as important as passports and plane tickets.

The small balcony of our apartment overlooks the street.

And yet, there is a kind of gratitude in this challenge. Each time I safely reach the top of the stairs, I will feel a small sense of accomplishment. It’s not a grand achievement, of course, but a quiet acknowledgment that we are still capable of adapting. Travel isn’t only about the breathtaking sights or the joyful encounters with new people; it’s also about the grit required to handle the less glamorous realities. Slippery steps, noisy neighbors, or an unfamiliar grocery store layout—all these things are part of the fabric of long-term travel.

So, we pace ourselves. We will limit how often we’ll go out, combining plans into one outing to minimize the number of times we need to face the stairs. We take our time, both ascending and descending, and remind ourselves that there is no rush. Living this nomadic life has taught us that slowing down is not a weakness but often a necessity. It allows us to appreciate more, observe more, and avoid mistakes that come with haste.

There’s also the anticipation of what lies ahead that keeps us going. The cruise looms in the distance like a bright light on the horizon. October 27 feels both near and far, and every day we grow more excited. We think about the ease of life aboard the ship, where elevators and smooth decks replace uneven stairs, where our biggest daily “challenge” will be choosing between dining options or deciding whether to attend a lecture, a show, or engage with other passengers. That thought alone makes these weeks in Sant Martí feel like a bridge, a slightly tricky one to cross, but a bridge nonetheless, to something extraordinary.

Down the road from our apartment.

In the meantime, we remind ourselves that this too is part of the story. When we look back on this chapter, it won’t only be about the beauty of Barcelona or the anticipation of the voyage. It will also be about the resilience we found climbing those thirty steps, time after time, without complaint, without letting fear get the better of us. Life as nomads has always been a blend of joys and challenges, and this is simply the latest test of our adaptability.

And so, we carry on, carefully, deliberately, one step at a time. The cruise will come soon enough, and with it, a whole new set of experiences and stories. Until then, Sant Martí is our home, stairs and all.

Regarding the hot water issues, a repairman arrived late yesterday afternoon and successfully got the water heater working. Now, we can do laundry, use the dishwasher, and shower. I have been taking cold showers for the past two weeks, which are supposed to help improve one’s immune system, in preparation for the upcoming cruise.

Be well.

Photo from ten years ago today, September 17, 2015:

Badal, the neighbor’s dog in Savusavu, Fiji, bounded up the steep hill with ease when Sewak took us for a drive to see the view. For more photos, please click here.