Laurel Academy

I'm not sure how it happened, but all of a sudden we are beyond phase 3--post-phase!--and into what is still being called "la nueva normalidad," which I won't translate into English because of how much I hate the phrase. But here's what it means: we have no more time zones for approved motion around town and we are free to travel within our province, within our region, within the country, and, I believe, within much of Europe. Businesses and restaurants are pretty much open now, but with limited capacity. Masks are required in public places, indoors and out. But things are sort of back to normal. Well, at least I think they are. We didn't have enough time here before things got abnormal to gauge what normal really means, but I'm led to believe that it's sort of like this.  But to me, things are weird. For example, there aren't menus at restaurants. In some cases there are QR codes to scan at your table to access the menu on your cell phone, but som...

First, thanks to everyone for reading these updates and for encouraging me to keep going with them. I  read your comments, but for some reason Google won't let me respond to them (either that, or, more likely, I just haven't figured out how). But I appreciate them and try to write back. Now onto more important things, namely, the cockroach. I am very, very pleased to report that there have been no further cockroach sightings. We sprayed both bathrooms thoroughly and put a couple of traps in the bathroom where the little guy made his appearance. Even with these precautions I was not comfortable in the bathroom for about a week. Minimal showering on my part occurred that week. After a good number of days without a sighting I figured it was safe to start showering again, but I don't think I'll walk barefoot in the apartment ever again. The days here have been sunny and warm but not too warm and we've taken some nice walks, although I have not yet done the Orwell t...