Corona Quarantine Chronicles: Granada, Spain

Yesterday I watched (and re-watched) a homemade clip Rick Steves posted to Facebook. A lovely little slice of self-quarantine life, it was inspiring, to say the least. The video featured Rick in his home in Edmonds, Washington, sitting at his piano, sharing with us a three-minute glimpse at his musical side.

“Being locked in can teach us not to be so darn productive and to dust off some old passions.” -Rick Steves

Before ever owning a car, Rick owned a Sauter piano, from Germany’s Black Forest region. “Piano teacher” was Rick’s first and only job before breaking into travel. It’s how he financed those early trips to Europe, by guiding students not through cathedrals or museums, but across a landscape of 88 keys.

Dusting Off Old Passions 

This week, instead of flying to Istanbul, Rick sits at his Sauter yet again, improvising in the key of C, informing us that “the blues scale is freedom!”

Then, cool as a cucumber, he looks us in the eye, ending his three-minute musical interlude by planting a seed:

“I don’t know the name of that song, but we could call it ‘Sunshine on a Coronavirus Afternoon.’ And the message, I’d say is, even if we’re self isolating at home, we can dust off some old passions and enjoy some happy travels.”

Rick’s pianoforte freestyling sure made me smile, but beyond delivering that momentary joy, his message took root. I’ve accepted his invitation to “dust off old passions” as a directive. So here I am, bringing my attention to a passion of my own. I’m embracing the call to action by devoting energy, once again, to rhythmically tapping out strands of words on the keyboard, improvising my own creative piece, then releasing it (this blog post!) out into the universe.

Corona Quarantine Chronicles: Granada, Spain

For those of you who are new here, this is a travel blog. And while no one is traveling these days — what with humankind in the midst of a global pandemic and all (the likes of which we’ve not experienced on this scale in our lifetimes) — even so, we can journey out into the world virtually. We can, and we should, still connect with one another in whatever ways we are able.

To do my part, I’m bringing stories straight to your home as a way to connect across borders, across time, across all the social-distancing barriers currently keeping us physically apart. This first one comes to you from Spain, from Granada. It features fellow Rick Steves tour guide and partner in crime, Margaret Monnier.

1995 Changed Everything

Though Margaret entered this world just outside Chicago, she spent her formative years in The Grand Canyon State, Arizona. Her university career set sail in the high desert town of Flagstaff (still one of her favorite places on earth!), where she studied, until 1995 rolled around. Little did she know then what a pivotal year 1995 would be. That’s the year Margaret left America to continue her studies elsewhere: in Spain. And, basically, she’s never turned back.

These days Margaret lives in the south of Spain, in Granada. Her first apartment there looked straight out onto the Alhambra!

So can you blame the gal for falling deeply in love with — everything? And especially with Spain’s history? Margaret completed degrees in Spanish and in History, later continuing her education, earning a Master’s in History as well.

“I was always a horrible student but I really have a passion for history.”

At one point that other Iberian country came crawling into the picture (Portugal!), with Margaret settling in Lisbon for a short while. But she ended up back where the rain stays mainly in the plain (Spain!), relocating near Madrid after her daughter was born. 

Granada is her home. “I have a gorgeous thirteen-year-old daughter who was born here in Spain. She is multilingual and multicultural. And pretty damn awesome all around.” And with Margaret’s partner being from Lisbon, their house is “a mash of language and culture.”

How did life unfold for you after settling down in Spain?

“I’ve done a million things. I taught English of course (not my best job), made and sold fresh pasta, worked for a study-abroad program, and for the past twenty-some years I have been working as a tour director. I’ve worked all over Europe and Morocco but since my daughter was born I stay mostly in Spain and Portugal.”

Margaret also lectures for Smithsonian Journeys and writes a blog about food in Spain and Portugal, when she has time. Apart from that, you can find her on the mat: the yoga mat, that is. She’s been teaching yoga and meditation for the same amount of time she’s spent living in Spain. And these days, Margaret’s been leading yoga and meditation online to spread the love at a time when the world surely needs it.

What’s life been like for you in Granada, Spain, throughout this novel coronavirus pandemic?

“Spain has been hit pretty hard like most areas by COVID-19. We have been in complete confinement for four weeks now and still have at least three weeks to go. The police and military patrol the streets constantly. If you leave your house you need to have ‘permission’ to go to work if you are an essential worker, and if you’ve gone shopping you need to have a receipt and it can only be from a local shop close to your home address.

“The fines are pretty hefty for anyone who breaks the confinement. The police also patrol all exits and entrances to cities and towns to make sure people aren’t taking off for a second home in beach or mountain towns. Or anywhere for that matter. Every evening at 8:00pm everyone goes out on their balconies to applaud, sing, shout, play music, or honk horns for all of the people working. We also turn off the lights at 9:30pm and hold out a candle or cell phone light for those who have passed on.”

Fitness in the Time of Coronavirus

“I am literally confined to my house because I’m ‘high risk.’ I haven’t left my front door. So, I look out at the mountains from my 7th floor balcony and at the quiet streets. I do a lot of exercise for the most part. Pilates, yoga, ‘Beachbody on Demand,’ you name it. Mostly yoga because it is what I usually did in my past life when I could walk, run, and swim.

“I have been teaching online yoga classes to my students, colleagues, and family and friends around the world. I think it is important to be together and to share some mindful and heartfelt moments together. It has been a new experience for me since I am very ‘hands on’ but it is so fulfilling and rich. Even if I am feeling down or tired I do my classes.”

“My daughter recently came back after fifteen days with her Dad, so that is so nice! She changes all the energy in the house. She does her schoolwork online, exercises with her friends on FaceTime and tries to think of a million ‘projects’ to do for the next months. Our cat is super happy that we are all home all the time.”

“I cook a lot. I love to make food from all over the world. Adjusting to what is sold in my local supermarket is not easy but we travel to India, Thailand, Mexico, Lebanon, Italy, the USA, Indonesia, Syria, and of course all of over Spain just with our daily meals. My partner started baking fresh bread everyday which is really nice.”

“One of my brilliant friends does live DJing either from his kitchen or rooftop terrace in Barcelona online at least three times a week. It brings our apartment to life! We’ve watched concerts, the Cirque du Soleil, and too much Netflix. (My favorite, so far, was my dear Dave Matthews’ hour-long concert.)

“I’m blessed to have friends with great spirits and a sense of humor which keep me alive and rolling. Sharing with loved ones has become so dear. My family in Chicago and I FaceTime a lot as well. My Mom is alone where she lives and can’t have visits. We try to talk to her for as long as possible so she feels our love.”

“We have gone a bit nutty a few times playing baseball with a stick of salami and a juggling ball, doing strange dances (my daughter knows all the Covid dances), taking photos of all exciting vehicles that drive down our street like firefighters, military, police. Sometimes we start laughing and can’t stop. For a really long time. We do send our prayers and meditations everyday to those who are sick or have passed on. We haven’t lost touch with that reality even though it hasn’t hit us or anyone we know closely yet.”

Before wrapping up, I asked Margaret if there was anything she’d like to share with the world. Here’s her reply:

“My message to others it to stay home and practice social distancing if you do need to go out. Or if you are allowed to go out. Regardless of what your president or governor or whoever says. And, take this time to become a better piece of yourself. And for the world. Spread love and peace and kindness and generosity.”

I’d say that’s a lovely note to complete this melody. Thanks for joining us for the “Corona Quarantine Chronicles: Granada, Spain” edition. Please let us know where in the world you are reading this from and how you are coping these days! What are your struggles? What are your silver linings?

I’ll see you (from a safe six-foot distance) in the comments section!

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For more slice-of-life traveler interviews, check out these “Spotlight Traveler” features:

• Georgeanne Brennan’s Provence: On Garlic, Gardening, Cuisine & Creative Living (She had me at garlic!)
• Lena Papadopoulos: Not Your Average Greek-American Girl