Life on Miro's World

Catching up: From Spain to Bratislava (Again)

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0200

We always had this dream back in Canada: retire to Europe, “ideally somewhere south”. This post is about how that plan half-worked, twenty years early, and how it landed us in Bratislava instead.

How Valencia actually happened (it was never a plan)
#

In 2012 we did our first ever trip to Spain (Madrid → Valencia → Barcelona), triggered by our daughter’s stay in Madrid. It was part of the student exchange where Silvia spent 3 months with a Spanish family in Madrid and we had a Spanish girl from that family with us in Ottawa. We loved the experience - it was different than Italy we knew, but intriguing. So we started to consider Spain as a possible retirement destination.

November in Valencia

Sun, 24 Nov 2019 11:22:48 +0800

Lovely November day in Valencia

Thought of the day

Thu, 14 Nov 2019 11:22:48 +0800

“The older you get, the more quiet you become.

Life humbles you so deeply as you age. You realize how much nonsense you’ve wasted time on.”
— Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) November 14, 2019

Adding screenshot in case the account disappears

Pyrenees

Sun, 29 Sep 2019 11:22:48 +0800

Finally, we got to visit the mountains in the North - Pyrenees.

Specifically this place: https://benasque.com/en

Short version
#

I liked it. Great hikes, very good food. Excellent hotel

Long version
#

Welcome back present

Tue, 03 Sep 2019 11:22:48 +0800

Cafe Eleven

Thu, 29 Aug 2019 11:22:48 +0800

Cafe and books. ’nough said …

Favorite places

Sun, 25 Aug 2019 11:22:48 +0800

I discovered this place rather late - at the end of my vacations.

Maybe it was better so, otherwise I would my vacation here :-)

https://spectator.sme.sk/c/22160317/bookworms-get-a-sanctuary-in-the-slovak-national-gallery.html

I’ll be back !!!

Je me souviens

Wed, 21 Aug 2019 11:22:48 +0800

On 21 August 1968, the occupation army of Soviet Union with satelites invaded Czechoslovakia.

Family vacation

Sat, 03 Aug 2019 11:22:48 +0800

After long time both we and both our children are in the same place.

Precious family time.

Company picnic

Sat, 06 Jul 2019 11:22:48 +0800

with great paella.

Tim Hortons in Valencia

Sun, 23 Jun 2019 11:22:48 +0800

I have my doubts whether it will survive. It is next to Starbucks (one of several, albeit nothing like Toronto) so there is competition for tourists looking for the familiar logo.

As for locals, Spanish coffee culture is quite different, and if I am allowed to say so - Spanish coffee is both better AND less expensive as

So let’s hope Timbits will save the day. Who could resist deep fried sugary dough, eh ?

Visit in Canada

Sun, 26 May 2019 11:22:48 +0800

I did quick 2 week visit to Canada.

I spent some time with our son and daughter-in-law, visited many dear friends and places in the city and nature, worked for couple of days in the office and met new colleagues and even met current my boss for the first time in 3D. I must say, he is taller than in Zoom :-D

I also visited our ex-cat with her new human servants and as expected, Lucy duly ignored me. Oh, well - cats.

Remembering Karel Kryl

Thu, 12 Apr 2018 11:22:48 +0800

He would be 74 today.

Poet, singer, master of Czech language and symbol of resistance during dark years 1968-1989.

Europanto

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 11:22:48 +0800

This is how my mind often works, triggered by using 4 languages every day and 5-6 every week

Spring is in the air

Mon, 26 Feb 2018 11:22:48 +0800

Hiking trip - El Barranc de L’Infern. (Ruta de los 6000 escalones) - https://es.wikiloc.com/rutas-senderismo/vall-de-laguar-la-catedral-del-senderismo-pr-v-147-el-barranc-de-linfern-ruta-de-los-6000-escalones-11632646

Seeing almods in bloom was added benefit.