Time to talk about attention again!

I haven't written for a very long time.
I can't remember when, exactly. I just know that attention is alive and well all around the world. I was recently in Madrid at the request of a lovely young architect, whom I met in Los Angeles and who lives there. Andres asked me, when he heard that I was going on a cruise from Venice to Barcelona, to come to his city for two days, so he could show me around. I went.

We walked his city, choosing to see his favorite buildings and spaces. He taught me the rituals of enjoying  Spanish cuisine. He introduced me to the friends he thought I' like to meet - I did. He took me to street gatherings for Fashion Week. People in Madrid take advantage of their city by walking it almost 24/7.  He gave me his apartment to stay in, while he went elsewhere to sleep. We rode the buses and the subways. His hosting was the absolute finest kind of attention I could ever have. He was present with me all the while, even though occasionally he had to answer his cell phone. While he had clients to call and work with, I went to two museums, which are totally fantastic there.

Andres' city, Madrid,  is a true gem. It needs visitors and we need it for its art, culture and way of life.

The ship I chose, also had its special brand of attention. There were staff from all around the world, almost like a small United Nations. They were all working together, attentively. They soon knew our names and if we had any special needs for anything. I met young people from Romania, Peru, The Philippines, Lithuania, Bali, Canada - all of whom were seeing the world for themselves.

My memories of those fourteen days away remain vividly etched in my memory bank to be pulled out at will and enjoyed again.