The things I love

In spite of all that I share on this blog and on social media, I believe I'm a very private person. I share to try to inspire others to go out and see the world, set personal goals and live unique adventures. Here are some of the things I love and that I don't usually talk about:

-Jazz.- particularly jazz standards. I look for jazz clubs everywhere I travel. I appreciate the level of the artist's skill and perfection where most people would hear chaos and a cacophony of sounds. 

-Reading.- this one comes from my father. He taught me to read at a very young age and would constantly leave adventure books for children on top of my pillow for me to read before bedtime. On a good year I read about 100 books but my average is closer to 50.

-Vinyl records.- because, no matter what they say, analog sounds better than digital!

-American football.- I played this sport long enough to appreciate how a player has to be, at the same time, be brutally tough, incredibly agile and brilliantly cunning.

-Sunsets and sunrises.- nature's light shows. I make an effort not to miss one. I like watching them in silence.

I also love long motorcycle trips. This one was in Iceland in 2016.

-Bourbon or Rye.- on the rocks or in an Old Fashioned.

-The sea.- I can watch the sea for hours and hours. I can hear it calling me.

-Running.- to me, this is the purest form of exercise. It's meditation in motion.

-Opera.- it's not for everyone, but I try to see at least a couple of performances every year. True story: Plácido Domingo once complimented my mother for her beautiful soprano voice. 

-Airplanes.- flying them and as a passenger. I'm writing this during a transatlantic flight. There's really something magical about boarding in one place and getting off in a different country or continent. I put on my nose cancelling headphones and read or write. No interruptions. 

-Waking up early.- I have a hard time staying up late at night but I love waking up early. I feel I make the most out of my day.

-Playing musical instruments.- piano, guitar, violin, saxophone, drums, ukulele. Put an instrument in my hands and I'll play it (or at least try).

-Coffee.- no better way to start the day than with a strong, rich cup of coffee (no cream or sugar). I don't drink a lot of it but I like good coffee. One of the best purchases I've made in the last year is an Ember cup to keep my coffee at an even 62.5ºC.

-Classical music.- my mother played classical music records every afternoon while my brother and I did our homework. I don't think my homework turned out better because of it but I grew up loving it.

-Red wine.- a glass of Rioja or Ribera del Duero.

-Gray colored clothes.- I have a very limited wardrobe by choice and most of it is gray. I should ask a psychologist about this. 

-Rain.- I love the mood of a cloudy, rainy day. I love walking and running in the rain.

-Chewing ice.- when I order a cold drink, I usually ask for a glass full of ice on the side so I can chew it after I finish my drink. I'm sorry if this is annoying to others.

-Cold weather.- this one may not be surprising, but I have a hard time in hot weather. At the office, in hotel rooms and cars, I always set the AC as low as it goes. I usually have people complaining about how cold it is or, whoever knows me well, simply brings a jacket along.

-Simple food.- I like meals that are easily prepared. I'm perfectly fine with eating the same thing every single day if it's nutritious and simple. I completely avoid fancy and "chic" restaurants.

-Journaling.- I always have Moleskine notebooks with me and I love writing about my experiences, thoughts and plans. I particularly love writing on a new, blank journal. It gives me the feeling that the possibilities are endless. 

-Meditation.- or, more specifically, how calm my mind is after I spend time in silent meditation.

-Family.- I could write a whole book about my love for my wife and my immediate family. They are the ones that make it all possible.