The joy of traveling

I am grateful for so many things in this world; many of which I completely took for granted before:

Being born when and where I was. I may not have loved it all of the time, but I was cared for and had opportunities that I was truly blessed by.

Learning what I have learned and traveling where I've gone. I haven't always realized how amazing it was while I was on the journey, but it brought me here and here is a happening place.

The joy of all of this is that I'm in Madrid visiting my host family from when I was a student here in college. My host mom is a wonderful person, but has her own opinions on food and health. Luckily she respects my views and we meet on a lot of the same issues: the quality of meat and additives, the treatment of animals, the health benefits of a good diet. I felt guilty telling her and explaining my dietary restrictions, especially since she likes to cook for me, but she's been amazing. She made me this great veggie soup and fabulous salad and brought me out to dinner the night before last to a place that had more than just salads for the vegan palate. It was roasted vegetables, but I fully enjoyed it.

The only minor irritation in this otherwise fabulous trip is the need felt by my friends here to "town crier" my dietary habits to everyone they talk to. I don't like being a conversation piece.
That and I miss my green smoothies and my kitchen- though the lentils with paprika I had today were delicious.