Our Walks around Badajoz!

Happy midweek to everyone reading my posts on Wednesday Walk! Lately, my days seem to revolve around housework, the gym, and choir rehearsals. I'm going through a rather monotonous phase, but I'm okay with it. Since my last post in this community, I've enjoyed rainy days, new series on Netflix, and a couple of trips to the mall with my wife. When I feel overwhelmed by this concrete jungle that is the Venezuelan capital, I prefer to look through my photos and take a digital stroll while I write these lines. There have been so many special moments that there's always a chance to revisit them through our memories.

Today's photos were also taken in Spain, and you know that's one of my happiest places in the world. To be more specific, they're memories from our walk through Badajoz before the first concert of that tour, and I wanted to share the excitement of that moment, since we haven't had very good days between yesterday and today. One of our bass players was in a car accident on Monday, and that shook our musical world. Today we had to film a music video for our social media, and amidst smiles and hugs, we tried to hide our sadness about what happened to Daniel. After all, we're all artists, and we can pretend everything's fine, even when our hearts are broken. I get very immersed myself when I write my posts, and monotonous weeks like these, while returning to happy places like the ones I'm sharing in these pictures.

Our bandmate Daniel is now stable. The first 24 hours were crucial, but he's about to be discharged to recover at home. It was a sad day, but we managed to get on with work. Yesterday we recorded the music, today we filmed the video, and we found out that this Saturday we have a concert outside of Caracas, specifically in San Antonio de los Altos. I've never traveled to that area, so I'm really looking forward to Saturday being the most amazing day of the week, and a great way to start May, just like this photo shoot before our first concert of an international tour.

Yes, that's life; each day shows us its best side and, at the same time, its cruelest. But as I've written in many of my posts, what's important is how we assimilate everything that happens and how we grow by learning from it. Sometimes I wonder if I'll ever see these places I photographed in Spain again, since we literally explored so many hidden corners. But if it doesn't happen again, then I'm left with the joy of having lived those moments to the fullest. I haven't lost the habit of going for walks and exploring every new place I discover, especially if it's safe to do so. And photographing everything that catches my eye helps me have clearer memories of these adventures.

Reliving our hike across these vast, green plains outside Badajoz brings back the joy of those moments when I connect with the beauty and power of nature, and doing so midweek while writing for this community is a truly therapeutic activity. Life goes on—good things, bad things, things that directly affect us and things that affect people we love—but nothing is permanent. Every situation is different, and it reminds us that we can never lose our zest for life. It makes me laugh a little to write this because I always seem to be the most optimistic person among my colleagues, although if you read me regularly, you know that I often struggle to help myself 😅

I want to wrap up with some personal plans for the rest of the week. I want to do things right this Wednesday: start my day with a workout, go to my weekly vocal class, rehearse with the choir, and then visit our friend at home in the afternoon if he's been discharged from the hospital. This week I'll also meditate and pray for the many people who need it, both here in my country and for others far away, like a good friend who lives in Spain and is supporting her mother during her recovery. I've been able to take a few walks near my house, but they haven't been particularly photogenic, although I did enjoy everything around me when I went for a stroll. I have high hopes for this weekend, so I'll continue to give it my all and be ready to receive all the beautiful things life has to offer... Until the next post, everyone! 🙏