Our Last Visitors in Barcelona - Kyle and Kelly Visit!

Over the last 4 1/2 years we've been blessed to have many visitors.  Friends and family alike have come to Barcelona to share in this experience with us.  Some have come once, some several times.  And each and every one of them we have cherished.  We know it's a long way to come, a lot of money for flights and precious vacation time used.  And it means the world to us that you have chosen to spend that time and money with us.

And so while we are opening a new chapter to our lives, and hope to have many more visitors come to see us in Amsterdam (a side note here, it's a DIRECT flight from Boston unlike coming to Barcelona... you know, if that entices you at all), we still had one more set of visitors to join us here for one last hurrah as we get ready to leave our home away from home.  Kyle and Kelly.

And their timing, in my mind, was just perfect.  With all the stress in our lives these days, what we needed, was a reminder of how precious our friendships back home are and how great it is to just sit back, relax and enjoy simple conversation with great friends.  Conversation about all walks of life, nothing is taboo with these friends.  To let the stress of our lives melt away for just few days so that we may enjoy and cherish this time.

The beauty of Kyle and Kelly is things are just so easy.  You don't feel like you are entertaining people, it's like being family.  We just hung out and enjoyed each other's company.  Josh, unfortunately only got to see them for 2 days and then had to head back to Amsterdam for an offsite leadership meeting. But the time we got was quality.  After they arrived on Saturday morning, we just relaxing in the sunshine on the roof, catching up over a lunch of freshly roasted chicken.  That night we headed out to Boca Grande for dinner, adults only, where the catching up continued.

Kelly and Kyle at Boca Grande

On Sunday we went to Sitges for the day.  On their last visit, we took them to Collioure but we missed Sitges, one of our favorite places outside of Barcelona, an easy 40 minute train ride away.  And while lunch was of an American faire (as Aidan begged and pleaded when he saw the restaurant had ribs) and the service was lacking, even for Spain, the view could not be better, nor the company.  The kids rode bikes and their heelies and we just wandered around town for the afternoon until it was time to take Josh to the airport.

Kyle, Liam, Aidan and Kelly

The true home of Bacardi

Monday was our last full day as this was a quick trip.  Since we didn't get to go to Sagrada Familia or Casa Battlo on the last trip, that's where we went while the kids were in school.  As it was a rainy day, it was perfect for doing indoor touristy things.  I can't believe we didn't bring them to these places on their last trip 3 years ago - so I'm especially glad they made the repeat visit as those are essential when visiting Barcelona.

Tuesday it was time to say hasta luego - see you soon.  Because in a matter of weeks we'll be home and seeing them again.  And we can't wait!

Besos,
Julie

Sitges in the summertime!

Josh's parents arrived on Friday and while we didn't get to spend much time with them that day, we looked forward to a fun filled day with them on Saturday with a much anticipated trip to Sitges.  If you recall, Josh and I went to Sitges, a small town about 1/2 hr by train outside Barcelona, back in March for his birthday.  If you follow the news, you'll also know that this is where the Bilderberg Group had their recent "top secret" meeting to discuss the world's financial crisis.  The last time we were here, it was cold and gray, typical of March weather I would expect.  So it was so wonderful to arrive here, amongst many other people who had the same idea as us to get out of the city, and see how bright and alive this town is!

The beaches, while beaches were nicer than barcelona and castelledefels, but much smaller.  They weren't as wavy either which was nice with the kids.  We all enjoyed lunch, Italian style :)  Poor Paul & Roisin came all this way and we feed them Italian! 

After lunch it was off to the beach!  I've noticed Aidan becoming more courageous about the water these days.  Surprising that it took so long given he's been on the water his whole life.  Same with Liam - he normally barely goes in beyond his shins and he was going in almost up to his neck (with someone of course!).  They loved riding the waves and spending time with their Granny & Papa!!  I wish I had more pictures but it was a new camera and I did something wrong with the SD card and so it wouldn't take many pics - thankfully I've fixed that!!   This is definitely a place we'll go back to over and over again in the future!!

Aidan & Auntie Michelle at the beach in Sitges

The boys and Papa make a dribble castle!

Liam hitches a ride on Papa's back to the shore!

That night Michelle and I headed out on the town. with plans to spend a chunk of it down by the water.  The best laid plans never happen but we had a great time.  We started off with some martinis down at Hard Rock (there aren't many places that do a good martini here that I have found) however ended up getting sidetracked there.  We did eventually make it to the beach and I took Michelle to the Ice Bar which she loved ... I have a feeling we'll be going there again before her 3 weeks here are up!

Julie

Happy Birthday Josh!! Our Visit to Sitges, Spain!

Saturday was Josh's 35th birthday.  Not having been in Spain long to really get a feel for the shops and not having much room in our apartment for more "stuff", I decided that I would take Josh on our first trip outside the city to the seaside town of Sitges.  And we would go sin niños.  So after securing a babysitter for the day/evening, Josh and I headed down to the train station to take the Renfe about 1/2 hour south to the town of Sitges. 

And it felt sooooo good to get out of the city.  I don't think we realized how contained we felt being in the same "town" for almost 3 months now.  There is still so much for us to explore here but can you imagine never leaving the town you live in?  Yeah, me either.  So we enjoyed the scenery on our way out of the city - it was slightly foggy but we definitely got the idea of what beautiful vistas there are to be had here just outside the city.  Gorgeous mountains that overlook the Mediterranean sea with quaint houses with red tile roofs, just the way I pictured it in my head, but better. 

We arrived just after 1 in Sitges and it was a sight to behold.  As Cristy had put it, if you combine Provincetown with Newport, you'll get Sitges.  And she was right. From what we understand, it's a very artistic town and also tends to draw many gay people.  I really didn't see a lot of evidence of that though we wouldn't have cared either way since we were there for the food and the views - we actually saw tons of people, mostly families.  Cute restaurants dotted the coast where there was a boardwalk for us to walk along.  People playing volleyball on the beach.  Tons of adorable stores to shop in (I held back, you'll be proud to know!).  And this breathtakingly beautiful church that abutted the sea and honestly I can't even describe how amazing it was - and I only wish my pictures would do it justice but they don't. 

We strolled along for a while and then went in search of a restaurant that was recommended to us for the best paella around - El Vivero.  It was on the other side of the church where we found even more restaurants and shops.  And this restaurant had an amazing view of the church from it's terrace, again I only wish it had been a little less foggy for the pictures but you'll get the idea.  I can't say it was the best lunch I had ever had given there was one thing on the entire menu that I liked, mussels, and they came out cold.  But we were here for Josh's birthday and so I continued to drink my vino tinto (red wine) and my sangria (I've become a big fan) and suck up the fact that I was starving.  I did, however tell him, that it had better be the best paella ever given how hungry I was.  He told me it was up there... it better be!!

We walked around some more and hit up a few more bars after lunch.  The perfect day!  We headed back to Barcelona around 6:30ish and were in town by a little after 7.  I was still hungry but nothing here really opens before 8 and I was not in a tapas mood which meant that we had to wait.  So we ended up at yet another bar (this one an English pub that served tapas) for more drinks and then we headed out to a cute little Italian place for dinner before coming home around 9.  All in all, I hope it was a great day for Josh and a welcome to his official mid 30s.  I know it's a place we will definitely go back to in the future - Josh has already said he wants a summer home there - I say let's try to visit at least one other town before making that decision!! 

The next two weeks are bound to be busy which is great.  We've been bit by the travel bug which we had hoped would happen once we got settled here.  This coming weekend we will be taking the kids on our trip to Valencia to the City of Arts and Sciences / the largest aquarium in Europe.  And then today we booked a semi-spontaneous trip to Paris for the following weekend and to Disney Paris.  We knew we wanted to go somewhere for the long Easter weekend and had been trying to come up with a location for the last few weeks but couldn't settle on something.  Then one of Aidan's school mate's mom suggested that to me today and we just jumped on it.  As you can imagine, we are all very excited for the next few weeks!!

Walking along the streets of Sitges.  The signs for each street appear to be handmade and are stunning!

View of the church from the right side of the town.  Street view near the water.

Old old cannon up by the stairs to the church overlooking the sea.  Ward off intruders perhaps?  And a side door to the church - the stairs have red rose petals all over them - there was a wedding here today!

View from the church to the other side of Sitges.  And on the right is the restaurant we went to - El Vivero.  Notice it is literally built on the edge of a cliff!!  You have to walk around the front (the sea side) to get into the restaurant - it drops down pretty steep!

Me taking a picture of Josh taking a picture of his "famous" paella.  The right is the room we sat in for our lunch, again you can see the side of the cliff that the restaurant was built into - above the rock wall are plants and trees.

View of the church from the restaurant and then walking towards the church.

The area behind the church as we walked from the restaurant.  There were a few little kiosks with local merchants.  I bought a scarf for 5€ trying to support local crafts - when we went to dinner that night I happened to notice a Made in Thailand tag on it.  Oh well, I tried!

Josh outside the church.  Me on a bench outside the church overlooking the sea and wearing my new 5€ scarf ;)

The only sign of any gay life here that we saw... sorry you can't help but laugh at this poster, gay or not... 2 men carrying a bear???

On that note, I'll sign off for the night!

Julie