ShannoninSpain

If you know me at all, you know I love pickleball and finding secret passageways-the road less taken. One minute you are on a street filled with tourists and another you are alone, walking the cobblestones that Miguel de Unamuno once did.

Visiting Salamanca for the first time was mostly because the Spanish Open Pickleball Tournament was being held here. Feeling a little like Ronnie in Moonstruck (“there are 2 things I love in life-you and the opera” )for me….Spain and Pickleball (and of course my children, granddaughter, friends and work!)

I was able to practice for the tournament the night before in Madrid after friends I had met last year introduced me to another player who had a group that plays regularly-they instantly became friends as well.

Great pickleball, sunset, bats flying at dusk and little rabbits in the adjacent field. Even better this whole new group of friends played this weekend in Salamanca.

I promise not to go on and on about pickleball, but it is such a small world. Six degrees of separation? I think in pickleball its far less and global!

Leaving my hotel on a beautiful walk to the venue across the Rio Tormes..past a shop that sells, well everything if you look closely (including sex?) and river cats; to the pistas or courts.

So fortunate to have new & old friends, two Americans Emily & Kevin-who I met last year and hail from South Carolina. They are not only great pickleball players, but amazing human beings!

Blessed to not only meet these and other Madrid pickleball friends again, but to play with Derek Hale, ex-pat, living in Portugal. We had a great tournament-a blind date as they say; undefeated in our bracket and then to the semis, where we played a team that I knew from Madrid, who went on to win gold.

Where else are kisses and blessing exchanged before and after such a competitive event?

Please share a work, life or sporting event that was so competitive, yet your opponents were so kind and gracious before and after?

#workhardplayhard #lovewhereyoulive