Back from Barcelona!
Just returned last night, New Years Eve. What a great trip. A few major, potential nightmares. Saw lots of Gaudi, specifically the Guell Park, Sagrada Familia (a church) and Le Pedrera (an apt. building). How incredible he is as a builder and creator. He is an architect that designed lots of structures in Barcelona. We went to the zoo and a Children's Festival for Saniya and Rowan. We'll just say, they we into it, in a nutshell. What else.. we went to the Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya and it was impressive. The building itself is incredible and their collection of Spanish and Catalunyan art is impressive. There was lots of festivity for Christmas. Tons of people roaming around. Christmas day we went to the old Barcelona Cathedral in the Gothic Quarter. The church is medieval and had impressive acoustics for the organ and singing. It was a great place to experience Christmas in a this festively religious Catholic country. Ahhhh Spain!
The mishaps were potentially serious but turned out ok. Rob was pickpocketed coming out of the subway when we first arrived. They did not take anything, but we realized our moneybelt with all passports and credits cards was in there in the bottom and if it had been in a different part of the pack would have been taken. Arghh! Lucky, lucky and we learned our lesson and wore the money belt the rest of the trip. Sometimes we need these reminders to realize we left the comfort zone of honest and wholesome Sweden. Also, we lost both children's coats on two different occasions. No big deal. The worst though was being on Las Ramblas, the busiest kind of Moroccan bazaar type of street, and Saniya left the store we were in buying batteries. We realized, had 5 minutes of shear terror and a woman on the street said there is a little girl this way. We found her crying a block away. A horrible experience. It could have been the worst nightmare of our life. So, hold your kids tight. The thing is they keep changing. This is new that she left the store. We always hold her hand and know where she is. She was right there with us buying batteries. I realize now she is getting older and don't know why she left the store, but is more distracted and tangential than before. I don't know. Also, the independence streak of thinking she can "do it on her own". Anyways we feel very lucky and are very cautious now with lots of talks about "staying with the group" and what to do if lost.
We will put up some pixs of the trip in the next week or so. Also, it's the first day of the Year 2007! Very exciting!
Yaz
Pickpockets! I swear they are over me like flies. I must reek of money or something. Yaz forgot to mention the other attempt, the night before we left, performed by amateurs. At least I got my ass grabbed. Too bad my wallet was tucked away from their groping claws. To think they could have scored 20 euros. Times like these I'm reminded of successful attempts in Mexico, Guatemala, and Malawi. They scored even less cash in those cases. So if you're travelling with me don't give me your cash as I produce copious amounts of "lots of cash, easy to take" pheromone.
As Yaz mentions above the trip was quite exciting and nerve wracking. Not seeing Saniya in the store caused complete panic. She had walked quite a ways from the store as well on one of the busiest streets in Barcelona. I was so happy to see her crying face. We had to call it an early night and just hang out in the hotel room.
Our location could not have been better as we were in the middle of the Gothic quarter with old buildings and narrow streets. Barcelona is truely a city that never sleeps. I think things really start rolling around 2am. Of course, we were solidly asleep by this time.
Saniya also would like to comment so her friends can read what she thought.
"I had a nice trip."
Our return was relatively uneventful except for passing to security and finding that you can't carry on bottles of wine. So I had to check the bag by going back downstairs, waiting in line, checking the bag, getting in another line to pay a checked bag fee (fees are Ryan air's specialty), get back in the security line which had grown to enormous size, which was quite annoying. At least I got to see the bottle of water I had to leave behind a second time. Flying is becoming more and more tedious.
New Year was interesting as we were at home and the Swedes apparently are pyromaniacs. Just before midnight the air was crackling with fireworks and big booms. I don't think they were professionally done, just some families lighting serious explosives you can buy on the street. I didn't get to shop for such goodies because we were in Barcelona which didn't seem to have any firework stands at all. Yaz and I watched the fireworks from our balcony. In the morning I flipped on the TV and saw Chicago was about to celebrate the New Year. So I was up for the most of the US New Year, drinking coffee and eating pancakes. How many of you were awake?
Thanks for all the gifts and emails for Christmas. It is very good to hear somebody is keeping up on what we're up to. Some pictures should be up soon showing Christmas and Barcelona. The New Year will also bring a few new souls to people we know so may they be welcomed and bathed in love.
Rob
The mishaps were potentially serious but turned out ok. Rob was pickpocketed coming out of the subway when we first arrived. They did not take anything, but we realized our moneybelt with all passports and credits cards was in there in the bottom and if it had been in a different part of the pack would have been taken. Arghh! Lucky, lucky and we learned our lesson and wore the money belt the rest of the trip. Sometimes we need these reminders to realize we left the comfort zone of honest and wholesome Sweden. Also, we lost both children's coats on two different occasions. No big deal. The worst though was being on Las Ramblas, the busiest kind of Moroccan bazaar type of street, and Saniya left the store we were in buying batteries. We realized, had 5 minutes of shear terror and a woman on the street said there is a little girl this way. We found her crying a block away. A horrible experience. It could have been the worst nightmare of our life. So, hold your kids tight. The thing is they keep changing. This is new that she left the store. We always hold her hand and know where she is. She was right there with us buying batteries. I realize now she is getting older and don't know why she left the store, but is more distracted and tangential than before. I don't know. Also, the independence streak of thinking she can "do it on her own". Anyways we feel very lucky and are very cautious now with lots of talks about "staying with the group" and what to do if lost.
We will put up some pixs of the trip in the next week or so. Also, it's the first day of the Year 2007! Very exciting!
Yaz
Pickpockets! I swear they are over me like flies. I must reek of money or something. Yaz forgot to mention the other attempt, the night before we left, performed by amateurs. At least I got my ass grabbed. Too bad my wallet was tucked away from their groping claws. To think they could have scored 20 euros. Times like these I'm reminded of successful attempts in Mexico, Guatemala, and Malawi. They scored even less cash in those cases. So if you're travelling with me don't give me your cash as I produce copious amounts of "lots of cash, easy to take" pheromone.
As Yaz mentions above the trip was quite exciting and nerve wracking. Not seeing Saniya in the store caused complete panic. She had walked quite a ways from the store as well on one of the busiest streets in Barcelona. I was so happy to see her crying face. We had to call it an early night and just hang out in the hotel room.
Our location could not have been better as we were in the middle of the Gothic quarter with old buildings and narrow streets. Barcelona is truely a city that never sleeps. I think things really start rolling around 2am. Of course, we were solidly asleep by this time.
Saniya also would like to comment so her friends can read what she thought.
"I had a nice trip."
Our return was relatively uneventful except for passing to security and finding that you can't carry on bottles of wine. So I had to check the bag by going back downstairs, waiting in line, checking the bag, getting in another line to pay a checked bag fee (fees are Ryan air's specialty), get back in the security line which had grown to enormous size, which was quite annoying. At least I got to see the bottle of water I had to leave behind a second time. Flying is becoming more and more tedious.
New Year was interesting as we were at home and the Swedes apparently are pyromaniacs. Just before midnight the air was crackling with fireworks and big booms. I don't think they were professionally done, just some families lighting serious explosives you can buy on the street. I didn't get to shop for such goodies because we were in Barcelona which didn't seem to have any firework stands at all. Yaz and I watched the fireworks from our balcony. In the morning I flipped on the TV and saw Chicago was about to celebrate the New Year. So I was up for the most of the US New Year, drinking coffee and eating pancakes. How many of you were awake?
Thanks for all the gifts and emails for Christmas. It is very good to hear somebody is keeping up on what we're up to. Some pictures should be up soon showing Christmas and Barcelona. The New Year will also bring a few new souls to people we know so may they be welcomed and bathed in love.
Rob
posted by Yaz and Rob at 4:40 PM
1 Comments:
Maybe this will show up twice....love the computer.
glad you are back and all well. Happy New Year! I can't wait to see pictures and talk. I have missed my friend....the dark days of winter are upon us!
I can't believe the kids are almost 4!
Talk soon!
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