2026 did not start out the way we wanted nor expected. We were excited to return and experience Granada as Spanish speakers and quasi-locals. Our previous visit was in 2007, as part of our first trip to Spain, and we looked forward to a different type of visit based on the knowledge we have gained.
The night before we left (Jan. 13), we got a call that Jeff’s Dad had fallen and been admitted to the hospital. Everything seemed alright though and we decided to take the trip as we would be celebrating Jeff’s birthday and we could monitor his condition regularly. The only change we made was to take our passports with us. (We can travel within Spain and parts of Europe with our national identification cards, but we generally bring our passports if we are flying. This time we were traveling by train.)
We left early on Wednesday and arrived in Madrid in the early afternoon where we went to the Royal Collections Gallery, a museum that opened in 2023 to showcase the royal family’s extensive compilation of art, artifacts, and cultural history – all of which is now managed as part of the country’s heritage.
The visit was a fabulous way to connect with Spain’s history – royal, colonial, and political – over centuries, starting in the 1400’s. From Carlos V’s armor, rich tapestries, a very ornate table centerpiece, and many classical paintings, we saw how the kings and queens sponsored the arts and used them for influence and power.
We enjoyed dinner with our friends Carlos and Ploy, and their son Alex, and the next morning took the train to Granada. Stopping and spending the night in Madrid was the perfect break.
Granada’s Moorish past is ever present, in the architecture and food, especially. We enjoyed an evening stroll on our way to dinner, marvelling at the various nooks and crannies of the old city center.
The next morning, we savored a long soak at Hammam al Andalus, a traditional Arab bathhouse, which is beautifully decorated. That evening we visited the Nasrid Palaces, one of the highlights of the Alhambra complex. The lighting, shadows, and reflections are a photographer's dream.
While we had been to the Alhambra once before, the night visit gave us a new perspective.
We had tickets to return the next day to visit the rest of the grounds, but we learned when we woke up that Jeff’s Dad had been transferred to the ICU, a surprising and unsettling update. We dropped everything and arranged transportation to Northern California. We left Granada on the morning of the 17th via train to Madrid, caught a flight to Paris, and spent the night, before flying to San Francisco. Although we arrived by midday on the 18th, we were too late as Don died early on the 17th (PT).
When we moved overseas, we knew we would face a family emergency at some point and that we would be at the whims of time zones and airline schedules. Fortunately, we have resources to manage the challenge as well as can be expected. And we made it halfway across the globe in less than 24 hours. But it wasn’t quick enough.
Our time in the Bay Area was spent mourning, reminiscing, organizing Don’s memorial service, and helping Jeff’s Mom begin to adapt to her new life. The outpouring of love and support from family, friends, and the community was tremendous, for which we are grateful.
Grief doesn’t stop when you return home to your “normal” life. And nothing will fill the hole left by this loss. Still, Don had a long and very good life. And we know the memories of so many good times will be a comfort. Here’s a favorite photo from our trip with Don to Normandy, France:
Hugs,
Shana & Jeff
