It’s almost been 6 months since we have been in Barcelona. Holy shit…time flies. While I could write forever on this topic alone I won’t - I’ll just say it’s been magical, stressful, scary and amazing - overall a wonderful experience. We said 2 years and it may be 3…may be 5…may be 2 maybe 10 (we aren’t discussing it until we have been in a year). I’ve learned so much about so many things (and myself) it’s hard to even fathom (YES, you can learn anything anytime - don’t think otherwise). I’ve lost touch with some friends and met hundreds more. I’ve cried, laughed, and smiled more than I can count (happy to sad ratio 1000:1 doh). While I miss so much, I am so fulfilled here at this moment…and that is what life has to be about. Not happiness with this minute (gelato!), not putting everything off until a future that may never come, but being fulfilled with your present life…and not having regrets knowing life can be and often is cruel. Let’s go….
Quick Hits!
We don’t have an ice maker or sink disposal. Those fine American ‘everyone has one’ luxuries! I’m fine without a car but we may have to find a way to add these to the apartment….
I helped someone with directions!
I hear the mosquitos like those with ‘sweet blood’ - I must not have it as I was always the first person attacked by insects in the US and they apparently hate my smell here. LOVE THIS!
More visitors! Dad and Vickie were here - see below for a quick recap and pics
If you are a GOT (Game of Thrones) fan look to my next post - we hit Girona where they filmed much of season 6 (so I’m told, I watched it once with friends, was “shushed” 3x, called it stupid a f and got up and left). Lo sentio no mi gusts GoT!!
Ashley spent a week in the states - I will write a bit below…(she said ‘no!’ to a request to write….)
My Spanish still sucks - but I am getting better and (maybe more important) more confident. There is an art with being able to just say something with no ego and not care if they think you are a stupid dumbass moron and get it wrong. 1% better every day eh??!!
It’s BEACH SEASON and we are there a few times a month for sure - now until we can’t (I hear mid-October is when it’s too cold). We have never lived in a city with a beach, so if the kids love it and we are close…why not? It’s fun to go with couples and get to know them over wine while the kids play.
A typical ‘beach day’ includes kids playing on beach (sand volleyball, racquet sports, football, digging etc and the adults having a bottle of Cava (Spanish version of bubbles/prosecco, champaign) or some claras (lemonade and beer mix). I take breaks to toss the football with them too! Then a 2.5-3 hour lunch with fresh fish, paella, and salad (and a few bottles of wine) with many friends. It may end in a beach nap afterward and usually means no dinner (recall lunch is 2-4 or 5pm)!
Visitors - again!!
My dad and Vickie joined us for 8 days or so - it was so good to see them even though Ashley was just there last week and I was there 3 weeks ago so we had seen them ‘recently’ (we were on weekly coffees and bi-weekly wine dates at a minimum tho when we lived in KC). They haven’t seen the kids since we left the states in January so they were likely more excited to see them than to see us! Although they are well-traveled and have been to Europe many times, this was their first trip to Spain and of course, Barcelona. We did much with them but had good downtime as well. They were able to hit some of the big to-do’s (La Sagrada Familia, La Boqueria Market and La Rambla, Barcelonetta Beach, and Casa Battio, etc ) but we took plenty of time with them just seeing our neighborhood and on lazy walks in Born and the Bari Gotic per their request. They wanted to see not just Barcelona, but the life we have built here from zero inside 5.5 months. I even took them to Milan for a day to have lunch with a friend of theirs that has been helping them with a few things from my father’s childhood. My father was able to get some good handmade Italian pasta and I was able to get a little traditional Milanese Risotto and a proper Ossobuco steak. John C if you are reading this - THANK YOU for all you have done sir - you have been an amazing friend and blessing to my father and Vickie and we are all forever grateful.
My perception is that I think if you asked Dad and Vickie they would say they were surprised with the freshness and healthiness of the food, the amazing weather every damn day (from sun up to sun down and in-between!) and how affordable it is here for food and transportation (they don’t have to pay rent or tuition!). They would also comment on how easy it was to fly to a ‘foreign’ country - we flew to Italy for lunch and back same day for 80€ roundtrip. There was no passport control, no long cues, and no over-the-top security measures. It’s even the same currency of course! They are even coming back in September to use Barcelona as a home base to hit Croatia and Sardinia. They would also comment on how easy it is to get around a city without a car - I think they were pros with the metro and cabs before they left! I do think they were ready for a day without wine and longer naps than they got here! They would also say it’s loud living in the city (they had a front bedroom so late night scooters, garbage trucks, etc) but would say they loved how easy it is to walk for fresh (fresca) bread (pan), fresh tomatoes (tomato) and vegetables (vegetal), and how easy it is to get fresh cut custom ordered meat (carne) and fish (pescado) at the local market (mercat) - all within 5 minute walk from our place (or any home (casa) really in the city). Dad and Vickie - we love you guys and can’t wait to see you AGAIN in September and then for Thanksgiving (our next trip to the states).
P.S. if you want to visit please check first on dates - we have a ton going on and many others booking trips - we don’t want any overlap or having to put people out or miss you when here! I’ll write on the ‘expense’ (or lack thereof) of this in the next blog…
International Day!
The kid’s school threw an International Day which was amazing. Overall there are 60 or so nationalities at their school so every year they throw an International Day that has booths from every country that wants to display. This year was the first since 2019 - so it was BIG. Usually, each booth has food and a few facts and there is entertainment for the kids so the parents can visit and drink (of course, beer and wine/cava at the school event). We saw booths and tried foods from more countries than I can list - China, France, Norway, Germany, Poland, Brazil, America, South Africa, Greece, Japan, Israel, Ukraine, Mexico, Lebanon, Palestine, Italy, France, Sweeden, Russia, Columbia, and many more (props to Lebanon, Greece, and Mexico for the best food IMO - I can’t count USA in my favs!). But, the United States booth was full-on legit representing - Kraft Mac-n-Cheese, Smores, Hot dogs, Burgers, Chocolate Chip cookies, and more. I may work it next year and help plan! Ideas?
They had a huge bouncy house, water slides, and a GIANT foam party at the end…the kids just loved it! Thank you ASB!
Kids
Ellory did an overnight trip with her class - it looked amazing! (pics below)
Ellory had a playdate at a friend’s house in San Cugat (over the mountain). It’s a traditional suburb so nice yard, big home, pool, etc. She liked being in a big house with a yard but we told her that is not in our cards for a while (I’m in love with the convenience of city living and walking!). Of note, this friend from 1st-grade class speaks 3 languages and her parents 5. We really need to step to the plate and have TWO! I had a great time visiting with them while the kids played and we drank a few bottles of wine and had some snacks.
Hayes scored a new haircut - we let him pick the summer style! Tight and high!
Ells continues to be in love with sports - she is in tryouts for a soccer league that starts in September and finished flag football last week. Her coach said she (the only girl on a team of kids a year older) is destined to be a great QB…I’m playing catch with her early mornings outside before the streets are full of people and cars!
I took the kids to a traditional ‘hot pot’ restaurant with friends - their palets continue to expand!
Hayes is really thriving and going out of his way to try Spanish. He will ask for another glass (vaso) or the bathroom (bano) in a restaurant, tell me good morning (buenos dias) and he needs water (Necesito mas aqua), and can order his gelato or crepe (con pequeño Nutella y azucar por favor!) in Spanish as well. I’m proud of him for trying and throwing it out there. He is a champ!
Of course - the struggle is guaranteed….
My Spanish is still just terrible. As said, 1% better every day is my goal but I wish it was 10%. I was not born/blessed with quick learning ability…but that being said, I have no fear of looking and sounding like an idiot.
I managed my macros daily in the US (fats, proteins, carbs) and it’s just so hard here. Things are fresh so not labeled (animal protein, bread, etc) and the nutrition labels are all ‘per 100g’ - so unless you weigh everything it’s impossible (100g of a sauce and 100g of a cracker and 100g of almonds are vastly different portions)….and it’s beach season. (insert sad face here).
Playdates for the kids are just so different here. Trying to get them set up but it is still hard - no yard, don’t know the parents, not a ton of space, etc…
There is just too much to do! I know this seems like a good thing but it’s overwhelming on what to do this weekend or next, where to go to lunch or dinner, what activities and people to invest in or not, etc. We don’t want to be ‘busy busy busy’ but there is just to much to do - the FOMO is real…
Ashley’s Trip….
Of course, we love Spain, but America is a wonderful place. She loved seeing her friends, family and getting some good workouts back at our old gym. She enjoyed driving (I kept my 4Runner) but missed walking as much as we do here in Spain. She enjoyed hamburgers and a good ‘drip coffee.’ She was definitely ready to come back to us here though after 7 days without life here (or maybe she just missed the kids)!
I owe the blog pics of the house - next time…(we had laundry out when I went to take pics and I assumed Ashley didn’t want that all over the blog). Next time (soon) I’ll write on our day trip to Girona and share pics of our apartment. The kids are done with school on 23 June and then summer travel begins!
PICS HERE!!
Next time - Pics of house (I promise), Girona info, and the ‘cost’ of a Europe trip….