VINO VAGABONDS

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I'm Too Tall to Travel!!

Tight Spaces

On our flight from Paris to Barcelona, it was glaringly obvious how the airline didn't cater to someone of my height. Hunching over as I walked down the aisle I expected, but having my knees crushed by the fully upright seat in front of me reminded of how many times my height has been problematic during this trip.

Eight months in and my forehead has been bashed, my shins have been bruised and my back aches from leaning over too much.

It all started when we lived in Buenos Aires and our kitchen was the size of a tiny closet, just enough room for me to spin around in place with my arms down at my sides. This doesn't work so well when Brittany like to cook with me. Between the two of us, the elbows start flying and we make nothing more than a mess. I was just too tall for Buenos Aires.

Next, the condo we stayed in had a 'standard' bed that looked more like a children's double. While Britt looked perfectly comfortable in it, I would bang my head and bash my feet on the tall bed frame every time I would stretch out...and I am not much of a fetal position sleeper. I was just too tall for Mendoza.

On to the South of France and our excellent flat in a refurbished greenhouse. The natural design of the space was a downward sloping roof, from about 7 feet at the apex and about 5' 10" at the lowest. The lowest part was where much of the movement in the flat was done. Imagine me in the middle of the night in zombie-mode trying to locate the restroom...arms out and head cocked to the side to prevent the many 'goose-eggs' I had received on my forehead. This must have been a structural pattern for this area because many of the old building in our small town had very narrow doorways and stairwells...well, I might as well crawl up these!! I am just too tall for France.

Now onto Spain...already mirrors are positioned below eye level and I have to crouch down to see myself. I'm only 6'2"...what do basketball players do?! Wonder what other elements await me here and in Italy later this year! Either way, when I do return my entire body will thank me profusely for having larger spaces to stretch out into.