Editor’s Note: This was technically written a few days ago, while we were still in Rioja, but due to limited computer access, we were unable to post it. Enjoy!

It’s always incredible to have that rare moment when you wake up at 6:45am and feel fantastic.The last few days, I’ve wanted a full body massage from walking miles upon miles through long, humid cellar tunnels lined with cold, hard stone floors. And if you’ve ever worked in a job that’s required you to stand for long hours on these unforgiving surfaces, I trust you’re familiar with that overall achy sensation, making you wonder if you’re either getting older or merely more vapid in your decision to continually make the same decision over and over again expecting different results. Eating my sweet jam and manchego cheese covered toast with piping hot coffee this morning, I considered the other choices I could have made in life rather than visiting bodega after bodega for a week straight, and I quickly realized that this life sure as hell beats that of paranormal psychologist - my childhood dream career. Obviously my aches might diminish in frequency, but I’d never get to taste the fruit of my research. Hence, no comparison. Bring on the wine!

Heading out of the hotel and into the cold, damp drizzle in order to meet Ryan, I felt relieved that I no longer allowed myself to watch him pull out the car from the garage. On day two of our trip, after hearing me quickly inhale and hold my breath every two seconds, terrified that our rental would become close friends with the underground cement pillars, we agreed that I was forbidden to enter the garage. So when …