The day the Tulsa World reporter called to tell me the story about climbing my first mountain would appear on the COVER of the Scene section in Sunday’s paper, we made the decision to cancel the upcoming trip to Spain/Morocco. My Mom’s “there’s always a silver lining” rings true.

My 15 minutes of fame (or is it 15 seconds?)

Did you say you want to read the Tulsa World story?! It’s here.

October 8th - the day we were to fly American Airlines to Madrid for the celebration of my husband’s 50th birthday. From Madrid, the AVE train was to whisk us to Cordoba in an hour and a half of high speed panoptic viewing.

A rental car would’ve been waiting at the Cordoba train station to carry us to the Casa la Celada B&B south of Cordoba in the Andalusian countryside. The next five days would be spent puttering around Andalusia -  an Anis Distillery and a Chocolate Belen, the Rock of Gibraltar, Granada’s Alhambra, Seville, sunshine, flamenco, sherry, gazpacho - the start of 15 days of much needed R&R (an insane and slightly vulgar amount of vacation time for us LOL).

About the time the transformation into completely useless tourists doing nothing but eating, sleeping, drinking, butchering the lyrical Spanish language and obnoxiously snapping off point and shoot photographs with a professional DSLR was complete, a return trip to Madrid was slated. A flight to Marrakesh, Morocco where a car from the Kasbah du Toubkal would wind its way into the Atlas Mountains with its human vegetative cargo, was next. Three days there were to be followed by more in a Marrakesh riad at the Maison MK, back to Madrid, then home.

Andalusia is the Southermost Province

Andalusia is shown in yellow

So much planning, so much anticipation, so many deposits. In the end, unexpected (and recent) economic/job uncertainty won and in its wake, pragmatism.

With no fanfare, and really no sadness, reservations were canceled. Disappointed? Yes, of course.  But we’re positive people and things like this, while undeniably a set-back, won’t squelch our joy and thankfulness for the many blessings bestowed upon us. Besides, we WILL take this trip - likely sooner rather than later.

I’ve never canceled a trip. As a result, much was learned about the small print. I now know things about travel policies and industry-wide cancellation standards I would have never discovered otherwise. Some nefarious things, really. And I only say that as the cancellation was made within restrictions. Policies that take advantage of misfortunes (a canceled trip usually means some sort/level of misfortune) and neglect to consider that most people will be taking their canceled trip at another time, are prevalent. It seems bad business; then again, the hotels and booking agents have to make a living too.

Can I do anything about these policies when I rebook the trip, or another like it? No. But awareness is so empowering.  I plan to write about the lessons learned, so check back!

In the interim, join me. Let’s dream about this FUTURE trip together.

Our hotel in Madrid, ME Madrid. Our stay here would have been for 3 nights, on dates interspersed throughout the 15 days.

The hotel in Madrid, ME Madrid. Our stay here would have been for 3 nights, on dates interspersed throughout the 15 days.

The B&B, south of Cordoba in the Andalusian countryside is near Lake Iznajar.

The B&B, south of Cordoba in the Andalusian countryside is near Lake Iznajar.

The Kasbah du Toubkal. I was looking most forward to the stay here. Atlas Mountains, Morocco.

I was looking most forward to the stay here. Atlas Mountains, Morocco. Next time, we've already decided to book this for an additional night - one less night in Marrakesh.

Maison MK, Marrakesh. I was drawn to this Moroccan riad because of it's romantic, escapist environment.

Maison MK, Marrakesh. I was drawn to this Moroccan riad because of it's romantic, escapist environment.

Enough of the accommodations!  Here are a few of the sights that still await us.

Granada's Alhambra

Granada's Alhambra

In myth, Hercules straddled the strait, one foot on the European continent, one foot on Africa.

The Rock of Gibraltar. In myth, Hercules straddled the strait, one foot on the European continent, one foot in Africa.

Seville Spain

Seville Spain

ALL photos, COURTESY

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