- After 5 dates with a guy, I was excited to go on a short romantic trip together.
- There were some awkward moments during the trip, and I felt a distance between them.
- I realized he wasn't interested in me and we broke up when I got home.
After about 5 dates, I thought I had finally found someone I really liked. He is intelligent and smart and loves architecture and art, which I found very appealing. He approached things with a confident humility that I enjoyed being around.
He was the first guy I fell in love with since I moved to Barcelona. Every time we met, I felt butterflies in my stomach and panicked every time his arm brushed against mine. I was still traumatized and taking things slowly, but he sensed that and felt like he had no problem with the pace.
On our last date, I brought up the idea of traveling together. I love traveling, especially since Europe is my new backyard. He agreed and I suggested we explore the vineyards near Valladolid.
We were going to go there by train, but the tickets were too expensive. We agreed that flying would be bad for the environment (which made me love him even more), so we decided to rent a car. It was a 6 hour drive one way.
The vacation started with a long road trip, but something was different
When it felt like dawn, I woke up and hurriedly prepared for the journey. When I came out of the apartment and saw him waiting for me on the corner of the street, I couldn't help but smile. He waited outside and took my luggage. I wanted to kiss him right then and there, but I thought it was too early to make a move.
After departure, we had a quick coffee break at a stop along the way, about an hour from Barcelona. While he was drinking coffee, he noticed that his appearance was a little different, but he attributed it to the long road trip and time. Either way, we talked throughout the trip and felt like I got to know him better.
We arrived at Abadia Retuelta and were struck by the beauty of the property. Although the vineyards were already dry, the grounds oozed luxury and romance. Quickly checking into our room, we once again gasped at the luxury of our accommodation.
The most exciting part was the terrace with views across the vineyards. I walked over to check it out and I felt him doing the same too and at one point I felt nervous while looking out from the terrace. A billion thoughts ran through my head, but I wasn't sure if this was the right moment to make a deal. I didn't kiss him.
The tension was evident throughout the rest of the trip.
For lunch, we headed to one of the on-site restaurants. It was recently renovated so everything felt new. As we talked over wine, I could feel the tension between us, but I couldn't figure out where it was coming from. I wasn't feeling romantic and wondered if it had something to do with me missing the mark on the terrace.
After lunch we walked around the grounds and explored the ancient cloisters and churches. When we arrived at the vineyard, I felt a distance between him and me. He would sometimes walk in front of me and then come back to me after he noticed. He felt like he was in his own world. I tried a long drive again.
The next night, the hotel booked us two seats at the Refectorio restaurant. This place, part of an ancient church, was beautiful. It felt as if we were part of a Baroque-era William Shakespeare play. He also has two Michelin stars and one green star.
I still didn't feel any connection and felt that asking him out was a huge mistake. He could barely see me and I felt like the only energy I got from him was when we were discussing dinner that night. He was more interested in the restaurant than I was. Either way, I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I realized he wasn't interested in me
By that time, it was clear that our connections had reached their limits, but I decided to take advantage of where I was, even if it was with bad company. The Kaiseki meal was exactly what I needed, as it turned out that the man I admired had come here just for the experience, not for me. I was interested, but didn't participate.
The ride back to Barcelona was quiet. I decided to go to sleep to avoid talking and when we arrived home I thanked him for the ride and wished him well in life. I did. He answered in Catalan, but I didn't care enough to translate.
I found someone I liked, but they were too polite and told me they didn't want to go back.
