This will probably be my last post for a few days, as I'm wrapping up in the archives today and want to see friends and need to pack before I fly home on Sunday. Since I arrived in Madrid, my weekdays have had a pretty regular rhythm. I get up and have breakfast. I go for a run or do a little yoga or write in my travel journal. I get cleaned up. I have a cafe con leche on my way to the archives. I log somewhere between six and nine hours looking at documents. I head home and drop off my computer and either meet up with friends or relax with a glass of wine on a terrace or with a novel or an episode or two of Downton Abbey at home. This month has been full of good finds in the archives, good runs (though short ones) along the Madrid Rio, and good times with dear friends who live here. I've enjoyed being here again, but I feel ready to go home and spend time with my spouse and doggy.
I kept my goals pretty limited for May because I knew I'd be on a different schedule while on this research trip. They were:
1. Run half-marathon number 9. I knew the Capital City Half-Marathon was going to be a bit dicey because I was running it two weeks after having oral surgery, but I finished. I had a good time running it, and it was a fantastic excuse to visit a dear friend.
2. Make the best possible use of my archival time. I think I've done a good job of taking advantage of my time in the archives on this trip. I've spent most of my time in the Biblioteca Nacional, but I have also used three other archives during the 3.5 weeks I've had in Madrid. I'm going home with about 60 pages of notes and transcriptions and a cache of photocopied documents.
3. Take lots of photos. I've done pretty well with this one. I haven't always wanted to take my DSLR around with me and sometimes haven't had either my camera or phone with me when I've wanted to take some shots, but I've managed to get quite a few good ones for my
365 project.
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| Gardens on the Madrid Rio |
4. Stay active. I've done more sitting than I normally do because you can't really do otherwise when you're reading documents in archives, but, because of the increase in public transit prices and the location of my apartment and archives, I've done at least an hour of walking every day since I've been here and sometimes plenty more. I did manage to get in 10 runs while I've been in Madrid, and I went hiking in La Pedriza. I have done some yoga at home, although I didn't make it to my yoga studio. There just aren't enough hours in the day....
5. Spend time with friends and visit favorite spots in Madrid. I have spent quality time with dear friends and visited a number of my favorite places. My favorite cafe-bar in the city was closed when I tried to go to it a couple of weekends ago, but I might try again tomorrow.
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| Lunch with friends P. and JL. |
How has your month been? I'd love to hear what's been going on with you!
Oh my gosh, it's the last day of the month already?!?!? Where does the time fly...
ReplyDeleteWow, your trip is almost over...that flew by! Have a good trip home!
ReplyDeleteAnd now I really, really want to plan a research trip. Sigh.
ReplyDeleteCourtney ~ http://sartorialsidelines.com
Your research trip sounds like it has been downright dreamy! I'm so glad Madrid and the archives treated you well.
ReplyDeleteI feel like my month has been uneventful except for my sister's visit to Texas! It's been business as usual at work, with slow and steady progress on my project And I have been running so that I can have a good 10K race next month and to keep the stress at bay.
I want to write a blog post to review my 2012 resolutions. Your resolution posts are always very inspiring. For me, setting goals/resolutions for this year has helped keep me steady when I feel like I'm wobbling.
I can't believe that you are almost done. That just makes me look back and wonder what the H I did with MY time?! It sounds like you had fun and accomplished all of your goals! I think that it's good sometimes to set realistic and FUN goals, so it's not so difficult to achieve! Your posts have made me want to plan a trip and get traveling!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had a really productive May. A whole month in Madrid sounds lovely.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe your research trip is coming to an end. Dang, that went fast. You have fit a lot in over there, though, and I am glad it's been a productive AND fun trip!
ReplyDeleteThe month of May was a whirlwind for me. It was a foggy blur that I don't care to ever repeat. Although I know I will repeat it next year (hopefully studying for the 3rd & final CFA exam).
You've had a fabulously productive month that sounds as if it's also been enjoyable. Mine was also jam-packed -- tiring, actually, for a holiday, but still fun and I did make progress with a second language as well. Focusing more on that language over the next year is emerging as a new goal, but meanwhile I've got lots of catch-up at work -- I should take a few pages from your book and set out some resolutions.
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