Farther Afield

Hello from the Barri Gotic, that's the name of our neighborhood. Today it's Kitty writing. Carolyn and I started our morning with cafe con leche and croissants in the cafe connected with a gorgeous building designed in the early twentieth century to house a famous Barcelona choral society. The Palau de la Musica Catalana is full of light and flowery decoration and wonderful mosaic pillars and rose colored glass; we took a tour after breakfast and we will be attending a concert there Wednesday evening.



We continued our tradition of getting caught up in a demonstration on vacation: in Paris it was striking nurses and in Barcelona we stumbled on a grand street march, complete with police, red balloons, music, banners and shouted slogans - but of course, it's May Day! We were puzzled though, the marchers all waved flags imprinted with scissors with a red line through them. What could they possibly have against scissors? Finally Carolyn asked in her best Spanish and we were enlightened: they were protesting the cuts to wages and social services






Our big adventure was braving the metro - and we were successful! We used our passes and followed the signs and shoved ourselves into crowded trains and hung on straps like natives. That's how we found our way to the architecturally famous Gaudi cathedral. After nearly a century, Gaudi's building is still a construction site! We were reminded of Our Lady of the Angels when we entered Sagrada Familia, the amazing Modernist cathedral - lots of natural light and space. Carolyn asked a young guide where the baptismal font was and he seemed not to recognize the word. He finally answered that they hadn't had baptisms at the cathedral; hmm, this may explain the sorry state of religion in Europe.





Tonight we're eating at home, we've shopped in the neighborhood - whole grain baguettes, wonderful "partially aged "cheese (we chose it for the description) mystery chicken and empanadas. Tomorrow, the museums!

Kitty and Carolyn


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Location:Carrer de les Beates,Barcelona,Spain

No Longer Homeless in Barcelona!

Having successfully moved into our little apartment, we explore the neighborhood shops for supper! Kitty displays our find: some wonderful cheese, fresh tomatoes, the Spanish version of pain au cereal, and, of course, some Castillian wine...


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Location:Barcelona

Crises and Moments of Redemption!

"I'm sorry. We seem to have cancelled your outgoing reservation... We do still have your return flight booked, however..."
Gasp.
Much consulting with supervisor, tapping of computer keyboard... Finally a request to be seated "over there" while they try to reclaim our seats.
We sit, conspicuously, nervously.
Soon... Bad news and good: "We were unable to reclaim your seats, but we have upgraded you on the same flight!"
We were like kids with a new toy: legroom on a flight? Sound-reducing earphones, masks, pillows and blankets - plus a real. Meal?! With wine? We quite enjoyed ourselves - and even managed to sleeps better-than-usual...
Our plane was delayed landing at Heathrow. We have 20 minutes to make our connection - and a two hour queue to stand in.
Someone with a megaphone calls for people going to Barcelona. We hurry over and to the head of the line, but the numbers don't look good - we still don't have time to make the gate.
But the flight is delayed. We make it.
We arrive I. Barcelona and our very nice cab driver takes us to where we are supposed to pick up the key to our apartment. It is closed.
No worries - if it is closed, my e- mail says, the key will be at the market next door.
No one in the market knows anything about a key.
Our very nice cab driver refers us to a small hotel where we spend the night, first e-mailing and calling our absent host...
It rains all night. Will that dampen our overview of the city in the morning?
Still no response from our host.
The sun is shining: the rain has obligingly departed. We wander the city, taking an on- off bus, trying to get an idea of where we want to return for a closer look.
We see the cathedral, and go to the Palais de Musica to purchase tickets for a tour (Tuesday) and a concert (Wednesday evening).
After a refreshing lunch of paella and wine, we pick up our luggage from its storage place at the hotel and trustingly try once more to pick up the key to our apartment.
Eureka! Key AND apologies And reimbursement of hotel and cab expense!
Then we climb lots and lots and LOTS of narrow dark stairs to our apartment. Home at last! Hoorah!ok















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Location:Barcelona

Easter in the backyard!

Alex and Jack had a great time hunting Easter eggs,. Charlie just liked sitting in the grass and watching the excitement!













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Location:Bluewater Ln,Huntington Beach,United States

Easter Preparations!

Erin's kids have a great time baking cupcakes and dying Easter eggs! Charlie just likes the eating!








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Charlie comes home!

Charlie came home from the hospital this afternoon, to the great excitement of his brother and sister (both of whom are busily trying to "protect" him from the ministrations of the other sibling!)...

Charlie Is Born!

FINALLY today Charlie decides he wants to meet us! How exciting! I was at the beach when Erin called - having procured a fire ring for Messiah's Family Beach Party - but fortunately there was someone else there to hold the ring, and I zipped home and onto the freeway... In spite of her doctor's (and the specialist's) predicitons that the baby would be "about 7 1/2 lbs." he weighed in at 9 lbs. 1 oz (20 1/2 inches long) - and was born with only five pushes! We were all surprised at how chubby he is for a newborn! (When I stopped by to see the kids Alex told me, "Mommy has gone to get Charlie, and she's never coming back here again!" I think she'll have some adjustment!