Another photo dump to change the mood.

Yeah, I know. America is in trouble. But how much mental anguish can we absorb? I'm hiding in my past right now and had to share more of a life-changing trip.

This is Essay #140

Photography and travel are helping me stay sane right now. I’m so grateful I was able to go and now share this with you. Thank you for being a part of my digital family! ☺️

PS. OPEN THIS IN YOUR EMAIL… there are a lot of photos.

In no way am I diminishing the current state of the country. I’m terrified. But I open up Substack every morning and the menu is always the same.

I’m smacked with essays from the serious, the cynical, the funny, the hopeful, the “we’re fucked and it’s over”, the analytical, and the sarcastic.

There are columns full of swear words for maximum effect (OK, I like those).

Then there are writers who place links of their work into other writers essays, hoping to draw attention to themselves. (I still think that’s bad form.)

There is ENDLESS VIDEO CONTENT that I don’t have time to watch. And podcast after podcast after endless podcast.

Obviously, I need to curate my reading list. 😂

Substack has some excellent news folks who have migrated here, but it’s mainly a smorgasbord of opinion, armchair quarterbacks looking into crystal balls to guess what’s going to happen next. But no one really knows. We think we know, but conjecture doesn’t make it real.

If I’m going to mentally survive the fight for democracy and the hateful stupidity of some of my fellow citizens, I need to turn my attention to other things. Which brings me to new photos I want to share. (You knew I would get to it eventually!)

I’m still reliving my recent adventure to Tenerife, a magical trip in so many ways. Check out this brightly painted little neighborhood that screams JOY!

Imagine walking down a street that looks like this everyday.

This color combination is bright, rich, and tasteful.

I love the little step and the ceramic image in the wall. 😍

I wonder if #49 is for rent? 🥹

Lunch or coffee here? Yes, please! 😊

A dazzling color combination… I love it!I

In America, our houses are predictable in color… my own home in Missouri is industrial gray. But it’s a scientific fact that color can have a positive impact on your mood and behavior. (The link is a really interesting article.) Maybe if more Americans lived in orange, blue, or pink houses, they wouldn’t be such angry shitheads! But I digress…

Check out these little cobblestone streets.

When your village is built on a hill, every square inch becomes sacred. Trust me when I say my heart rate rose walking up this steep, cobblestone street. It’s beautifully done.

In Garachico, it’s like a postcard. It feels kind. And no trash, no litter.

La Orotova… the church is almost at the top of the hill. Those doors!

Art is everywhere in Tenerife! Sculpted into the side of the road, this work is by Mariya Anganova. The culture here celebrates life and art.

Can you see why I have fallen in love with Spain? It was a mind-cleansing experience and I can’t wait to go back in November to learn more. Every day, I take another Spanish lesson… people at stop signs wonder who I’m talking to when I practice alone in the car. 🤣

What will likely be my final piece on Spain (for now) is in the works. My amazing travel guru took me to see an abandoned Leper Colony in Abades on the island. A fascinating story… I took too many photos there!

Nos vemos la próxima vez! (see you next time!) ✌️

Fun Fact: Did you know a banana tree (actually, its really an herb) only produces ONE bunch of bananas? See?

Thanks for joining me!