The Walkers visit Barcelona!!!

I've been majorly slacking the last few weeks on my postings.  I've been so focused getting ready for our trip home that I didn't do an update with our latest visitors!!  How could I forget to post about the Walkers trip to visit Casa Marcus in early August??  So sorry Walker fam :)

The Walkers have been planning this trip to Barcelona since even before we knew we were moving here.  Yeah, a long time!  They were very lucky to be heading out for a Mediterranean Cruise on the Disney Magic (it was the Magic right???) and had planned a few days in Barcelona before embarking on their adventures!

Yes, I know the trip was planned before we knew we were moving here but once we knew that we were going to be here the planning began for our time together.  For those that know Lisa know that she was packed at least 5 months before their trip... so you know we did our planning for their visit LONG before they arrived.  It's too bad that after all that planning that a wrench got thrown in our plans.  We had planned on taking all the kids up to Tibidabo for a day of fun in the sun at the amusement park on their full day here.  Unfortunately less than 2 weeks before their arrival day there was a tragic accident at Tibidabo and a teenager was killed.  So squash those plans.  Instead we ended up with a much better visit where we played it all by ear.

Julie & Lisa having some cava sangria... yum!!

They boys in the pool - notice Liam over by the stairs where he stayed the entire time...

All of the boys in the hot tub!  Jack, Adam, Liam, Aidan

Getting ready to go to dinner... but first Adam and Jack show Aidan their new DSI's... perhaps Santa will bring one to Aidan (and he can pass his old one to Liam). 

Both Aidan and Liam were ecstatic to see Adam and Jack!  We met up with the Walkers at their hotel which was super fabulous!!!  The kids enjoyed the pool (and Aidan enjoyed showing off his new swimming skills!) as well as the hot tub while Lisa, Bill and I enjoyed some drinks to celebrate their arrival! 

Bill & Josh - Yes the beers were HUGE!!! 

Aidan & Adam do a toast as well!

The kids played and swam and we then we did a nice dinner down at La Fonda where Lisa, Bill and Josh had the paella - some of the best in the city we've been told.  And the kids, when not falling asleep at the table (remember, the Spanish don't eat dinner til after 8:30!) caught up with each other.

Friday was our original Tibidabo day and instead we just decided to do a quick tour of the city starting with a walk along the beach (in hopes of seeing the naked man riding his bike) down to La Rambla and then ending in Placa Catalunya. 

The boys climbing the jungle gym on the beach.  Even Liam made some progress today!

Just outside Placa Catalunya we stopped to watch some street performers.  Adam didn't seem quite as excited as Aidan and Liam (at one point Liam was totally comfy and laying on his belly watching!) but I think he was pretty exhausted from all the walking around!

We hopped in cabs back to our apartment to show them where we lived and so the kids could enjoy a few hours of playing after hours of walking and of course, letting the adults catch up too!  That night we did traditional Spanish/Catalan tapas at our favorite tapas place - Ciudad Condal.  The best!  And we think everyone enjoyed them as much as we did.  The night ended on a great note - we took all the kids back to the hotel where they swam and played some more til it got dark (it doesn't get dark here til well after 9 in early August).  We had hoped to watch a movie out by the pool but for some reason the genuiuses at the hotel couldn't figure out how to set up the screen (interesting since Lisa said they show a movie every night, you'd think they would know how to set it up by now) and so they didn't start playing the movie til we were getting ready to leave. 

In the end it was a quick, but fabulous visit with wonderful friends!  We're so glad you guys got to come visit us here in Barcelona!!!!

Julie

Going home...

After more than 7 months, the time has come for us to visit home.  And after 7 months, I find myself calling this home more and more often.  It's making me realize that while home for us is in Attleboro where our friends and family are... home also is here, where my family is - Josh, the kids, Jake.  That it's ok for home to be in more than one place.  It is truly where your heart is and for me, that's in 2 places - the US and here in Barcelona.  And it's made me realize that while our house in Attleboro is our home, it is also just a house and that we've adjusted just fine here (ok, some faster than others) without it (and at least half our possessions which says something too).

So the question I'm now faced with is, "can we really go back home again?"  I've been gone for 7 months.  Yes, we still own the house in Attleboro (though someone else lives in it right now).  We still have a car there.  We still have friends and family there.  But what I wonder is, "will it feel like home?" or is it going to feel like I'm a visitor just popping in?  While I've stayed in contact with most everyone, and over email the relationships all feel the same, will I be able to just jump right back in where I left off?  Or will I feel like an outsider?  And not just me, but how will the kids feel when we are there?  Will it be like we never left? 

I'm more curious than anything about what it's gonig to be like.  I'm incredibly excited about the visit.  Definitely anxious about the travel (it's just me with the kids - Josh is staying here to work).  And ambivilent about what the next 2 weeks holds for us.  I don't want to set myself up for any disappointment and at the same time I can't wait to see everyone and everything (dreaming of Target!).  I know I've changed in the last 7 months, my hope is for the better.  I think I've become more confident in myself.  I've become more worldly and I don't mean that in a snobbish way - just that I've experienced more than the fishbowl that had been my life (as a reminder, up til we moved here, I had NEVER lived outside Massachusetts) and seen what the world has to offer.  I've become more tolerant (Josh would probably disagree with that) and more patient (the kids might disagree with this) because I've had no choice but to adjust with my surroundings.  And I'm very curious how these changes will impact my life back at home. 

And so I travel home with an open mind tomorrow.  It will probably be a very tired mind considering our flight is at 6:30AM, but it will be open.  I can't wait to see my family when we arrive at the airport (thanks for picking us up).  And I can't wait to see Boston again - the familiarness of my surroundings.  Getting to drive again (so excited about that!!!!).  Seeing all those that I love and hold dear to my heart - I can't wait to see all of you!!  See you soon!!!

Julie


LATER THE SAME DAY:  So my opinion has changed slightly.  This being because I went out to the hallway of our building and found that my stroller had been stolen.  For 7 months it was safely ensconced in the hallway.  It's a building with 3 apartments, 2 of which are vacant more often than not and so we "assumed" wrongly that it was safe.  And so now off I go back to the States with a bad taste in my mouth of one of my last experiences here before I go home.  For those that remember, will recall that the day we left to come here we also had a stroller incident.  If you don't remember, go back to the January entry for the day we left the US (around Jan 4/5).  Now we've come full circle apparently and I will now need that stroller we left behind to bring with me back to Spain... Ahhh Spain...  

Sad Goodbyes... Sailor Moon (Nov 29, 2001 - July 31, 2010)

Our vacation in Costa Brava was amazing, however, sadly we were contacted by a vet on Thursday to say that they had our sweet girl, Sailor, in their clinic (our kennel had brought here there out of concern) and that she wasn't doing very well.  I can't say we were totally surprised by this call since she had been in deteriorating health in the last few months, but saddened none the less.  The vet diagnosed her with chronic megaesophogeal disease complicated with pneumonia (our vet had misdiagnosed her with a trachea infection).  Today, Saturday, July 31st, we said goodbye to our Sailor Moon.

Josh and Sailor - the day we brought her home

Julie & Sailor on the day we brought her home

Hiding from the kids

Her favorite place to lay - on the couch... normally Jake would have gotten annoyed at having his "sister" so close but apparently he was tolerating her here!

Sailor has always been a "unique" personality for those that didn't have the luxury of knowing her.  We don't know if this is from the attack she suffered at the hands of another dog at 7 weeks old or if it's just who she was, regardless she was loved.  She had these idiosyncracies that made Sailor who she was.  Whether it was circling 50 times before going up the stairs in Attleboro or the little prancy bunny hop that she would do when she was excited.  The princessey look she would give you if it was raining out and you wanted her to go outside, like "I'm sorry, you want me to go out there?".  She loved to lick ears, especially Josh's whom she adored.  She loved Jake and if he ever left somewhere without her for more than a few minutes she would rush over to him excited to see him. She was also a lover of the beach and while she wasn't the most fantastic swimmer, the ocean was something that could get her excited any day!  On the flip side, she was also anxious all the time - a little OCD if you must.  She didn't like it if things were in certain places that she was accustomed to.  And while she did surprisingly well adjusting to life in Spain, she also wouldn't leave the living room other than to go outside (which is right next to the living room).  She had personality - spunk if you will.  And we will always hold a special place for her in our hearts. 

With Jake at the Knob in Falmouth (also my background on my computer instead of my kids)

Backyard circa 2002/2003 timeframe

Same day as above - pretty girl!

She was anything but an angel... up til now I suppose

Chilling out in her other favorite spot - her bed!

The beach!!  Often we'd hold Jake back to give her a chance to get the ball...

More of Mashnee beach - her favorite place

Going for her first walk in Spain... a worldly dog!

Sailor Moon, you were the world to us.  In your 8 1/2 years you had been thru so much and survived thru so much - showing just how strong you really were despite the odds.  Attack at 7 weeks, ACL surgery at 2, being lost for a week on the cape at 3, hip surgery at 4 with chronic hip dysplasia diagnosis and finally a move to Spain at 8 - that is a lot for one little dog to go thru.  Our lives are fuller because you were a part of them and our home, no matter where it may be, will never be the same without you here with us.  Your presence is already missed.  I hope you are in a better place and no longer in any pain.  Know that we miss you Sailor, with all our hearts.

Love, Julie, Josh, Aidan, Liam & Jake

Final days in L'Estartit

While we had grandiose plans for taking lots of day trips when we arrived in Costa Brava, it being the first time we've rented a car as a family since we arrived in Spain, we didn't end up going anywhere beyond that one trip to France.  And you know what, it was so relaxing to just sit around and not do much of anything.  I think overall it made the trip even better.  Naps, reading, dvds, walking around town, going to the beach - just total relaxation. 

One of several hang gliders we saw this week - 2 of which flew right over our apartment!

One of the best parts of the trip was that Aidan learned to snorkel.  Four days in a row he dragged (well not really dragging because Josh loves the water) Josh down to the beach to go snorkeling.  They had the absolute best time looking for fish and any other sea creatures they could find!  I love seeing Aidan's love for the water - and I think Josh does too! 

Liam, too, has become more confident in the water and at one point, he actually waded in up to his chest.  Something I haven't seen him do often.  I find it interesting, his ambivilence about the water considering that he has literally grown up on the water.  He was boating at 2 weeks old and has been on or in the water at least once a week when the weather is warm since he was just a baby.  But I'm thrilled to see that he's starting to take some chances and "swim" in the water.  His version of swimming is kicking his feet but pulling himself along the sea's bottom with his hands.  It's a start!

In the end we had a fabulous time in this stunning beach town and we will absolutely go back again!!

Julie

Cruising up the Coast... Nuria Excursion - L'Estartit Day 5

I'll admit, I haven't seen a lot of the countryside of Spain or for that matter, Europe.  I'm a New England girl and with the exception of some road trips in the US, I haven't seen an amazing amount beyond New England.  So when I tell you that some of the most beautiful places I've seen in the world are in Spain, bear that in mind.  But it's true... some of the most beautiful countryside I've seen to date has been here in Spain.  And most recently that includes L'Estartit on the northern coast.  The mountains reaching down to kiss the Mediterranean Sea.  Rock faces that you can see have been impacted by the water and weather over thousands and thousands of years.  Amazing stretches of beach that feel luxurious between your toes.   A seaside town that while busy in the peak tourist season, isn't so crowded that you have to wait in any lines or that you feel claustrophobic in the streets. 

This is the type of place that Josh and I have dreamed about for years.  It's like a piece of Cape Cod was dropped off by the mountains.  It's peaceful and serene but yet has so much to offer for us to do.  And speaking of things to do, one of my favorites thus far was yesterday - when we boarded the Nuria Excursion.

Yes, this was a tourist thing.  But hey, we're tourists, right?  And since we are without our own boat we have to utilize what is available to us.  So we took the Nuria which is much smaller than the typical tourist boats here which are closer to the size of a ferry.  This boat fits about 20 feet and reminds me a bit of a Boston Whaler.  It rode low to the water and took it's time - and for me who doesn't usually like to go fast in the boat, it was almost too slow.  But at the same time, that's part of what made it enjoyable.

After settling on to the boat, we headed north up the coast.  Now we had seen some of the rock cliffs the other day but because of how the road ended, we could not see beyond that one cliff and I think we just assumed it was more beach or homes on the other side.  But no, we were faced with what looks to be miles of rock heading up the coast.  It was stunning!!  And the water was so clear - blue and turquoise.  Just like you expect the Mediterranean to be (in Barcelona it is NO where near this clear). 

The boat truely hugged the coast.  And normally when I say hug the coast I mean that you can see land from wherever you are in the water - for us normally at home this means about a mile or so offshore.  But not here - there were times where you could almost reach out and touch the rock face.  It was an incredibly calm day and the water was like glass. 

L'Estartit Harbor as we were leaving

      

A cave "starting" to form

L'Estartit is known for its diving community and I can see why.  Everywhere we looked there were signs of divers.  Boats, buoys, etc. 

The best part of the trip by far was getting a chance to boat thru some caves that were naturally formed over thousands, if not millions of years.  This is why we chose the Nuria - because it was small enough to fit into the caves unlike the bigger, flashier boats.  At one point it actually took us about 50 meters into a cave (that was a dead end and then had to back up) where actually saw what looked like a few stalactites on the ceiling which was very cool.  It was amazing to think that the water over the years has washed away so much of the rock that we were actually able to boat into the depths of the cliff.  I imagine there is some very cool diving in here as well. 

Coming upon the first cave - this one we could pass right thru

Second group of caves - we'll enter the middle one and go in about 50 meters.

This is the first cave, opposite direction

This was most definitely a worth while trip and I'm so glad we did it.  The views were amazing, the ride relaxing and it gave us an opportunity to see something we would never have otherwise seen. 

This reminded us a bit of Tarpaulin - where you can only get to the beach by boat.  This was the only beach we saw on the entire trip!

Fish in a feeding frenzy by our boat

Family portrait!

Returning to harbor

But the day didn't end there!!  Because today Aidan also went snorkling for the first time and he LOVED it!  He and Josh went off on their own while Liam napped and Aidan couldn't stop talking about the "other" world that he saw down there.  I think we have a future marine biologist on our hands!

Julie