RESEARCH TRIP

            I was reluctant to call my recent trip to Spain a research trip because in all actuality, it wasn’t. It had the potential to be one, but due to unexpected circumstances, I never got to visit some of the places I used in Spanish Gold.

            This trip was for our 50^th anniversary and best laid plans…

            Could I still get something out of it?

THE ORIGINAL INTENT

            The original intent of our trip was to celebrate our 50^th anniversary where we got married and lived for a decade. Within all that, I wanted to take advantage of the situation and revisit some of the places I used in my latest book, Spanish Gold. There was the trip to the castle ruins at Alcala de Henares, the church in Nuevo Baztan, the road between Eurovillas and Loeches, the leaning tower, Calle San Cosme y San Damien.

            It would’ve been great to revisit these places since the last time I saw them was over 30 years ago.

            Best laid plans.

ACTUALITY

            When reality set in, it all depended on renting and driving a car all over central Spain. I managed to get the car for one day, but the driving experience was so awful, we turned it back in the next day. We barely made it to our old housing area in Eurovillas, through an unfamiliar route, and couldn’t find a single house (out of three) we lived in. In addition, all the street names had changed.

            With the car turned it, we had to rely on cab rides to get anywhere. Therefore, we had to be choosy about where we traveled, if not walked to.

NEVER A BAD THING

            While my original side quest never came to fruition, I didn’t close my eyes and forget where I was. I had a great time and with open eyes, observed people, places and things. All of this bundled into a great, but different, research trip than I originally intended.

            Along with my imagination, what I observed is fruit for further adventures, whether my Gold series or Meleena’s world, or something else.

            Always use what you have.

SUMMARY

            While our recent trip to Spain didn’t go as planned, it was still a great time and as a writer, I didn’t come away empty handed.

            You have to take advantage of every situation and make the best of it.

            I did!

            Happy writing!