Saturday at Parc Guell

April 17th, 2010

houses to covet, apr2010

We wandered through a neighborhood nearby, approaching the park from a direction neither of us knew.

parc guell, apr2010

We brought a picnic lunch, ate it in the sun at a table just above the big crowds. Then we wandered up through the park, climbing higher and higher, looking back at the views and finding our neighborhood in the distance.

us with barcelona behind, apr2010

parc guell, apr2010

parc guell, apr2010

On the way back from the park, we went and got chocolate fondue with fresh fruit (pineapple, strawberries and bananas) at my favorite Xocolateria in the centro, and then walked home. A perfect Saturday afternoon.

Feliz Día del Padre

March 18th, 2010

Santander desde el Hotel Real

En este día especial, y desde un lugar privilegiado de la cuidad de su juventud, quiero felicitarle a mi padre por todo lo que me ha dado en la vida.

Es una lista interminable de cosas las que me ha dado, pero voy a intentar hacer justicia y que no se quede nada importante en el tintero. Seguro que con todo y con eso algo se me olvidará. Seguro.

Lo primero, su cariño. Mi padre es de esos “chapado a la antigua”, que siempre ha sido padre antes que amigo, pero que ha sabido encontrar el equilibrio perfecto entre lo uno y lo otro. Ha sabido al mismo tiempo regañarme y enseñarme como se hacen las cosas (con su ejemplo y con sus consejos), siempre dejando bien aparente su palpable amor y apoyo incondicional para lo que haga falta.

Además de cariño mi padre me ha dado y me sigue dando incluso en la distancia una dedicación absoluta, exclusiva, derrochando su energía en ideas que en su momento pudieron parecer excesivas. Excesivos los cursos en los que yo acababa mezclado con gente de otras edades, excesivas las tardes de cine y deporte que nos regalábamos por doquier, excesivos los regalos y las atenciones para que al niño no le falte de nada.

Mi padre además me ha dado junto a mi madre (que en todas estas cosas que aquí digo ha sido siempre cómplice) una educación privilegiada. Desde lo más simple a la hora de elegir guardería, colegio y actividades extra-curriculares hasta lo más exótico en la formación universitaria y preparación para la vida profesional con sus empujones siempre hacia delante.

Y para colmo de los colmos mi padre me ha dado todo su gran corazón, casi quedándose sin él a veces, para que supiera ver el mundo de una manera amable, honesta y rigurosamente humilde.

Todo eso, y mucho más, me lo ha dado mi padre.

Construction’s done!

March 14th, 2010

avenida de roma construction, dec2010

Earlier this year we talked about how the street in front of our house was a construction site. We knew this when we rented it, but didn’t mind because our actual apartment faces an interior patio and we couldn’t hear the noise. We got used to having to use a different route ever time we drove out of the garage for a while, and hearing drilling and the gears of tractors as we left the house. But a couple weeks ago they finished! And now Avenida de Roma, a wide avenue by Barcelona standards, is filled with spaces for children to play, and park benches, and space to wander. They’re still finishing planting grass and trees, but otherwise it’s done. We’re definitely glad they finished in time for us to enjoy our last couple months here a little more.

avenida de roma post construction, mar2010

avenida de roma post-construction, mar2010

By the way, for our American readers, notice the paving stones Juanjo’s standing on here. They are laid by hand, each one. And wherever there are irregular corners or lightposts or anything else, they are sawed by hand right there at the construction site. There were days in December when every time we left the house we heard the sound of a saw on stone, and saw the workers cutting and laying the street, one stone by one stone. Very different from the asphalt laid on our streets back home!

More Snow Pictures

March 13th, 2010

Parc Joan Miro, mar8-2010

I know…it’s just snow, and it only lasted for a day. But it was amazing, and I only today saw Juanjo’s pictures. He went for a run to Montjuic during the storm, and evidently discovered running was hard in conditions, but got some great photos.

plaza de torros, mar8-2010

walk to montjuic, mar8-2010

view from montjuic, mar8-2010

This weekend we haven’t done much. Just getting organized, getting some work done, resting from a tiring week. Also just got our tickets back for Juanjo’s graduation in May. Looking forward to the Fulbright mid-year conference in Santander this coming week. Will definitely post pictures from there!

And then more snow!

March 8th, 2010

goofy guy, mar82010

bicings in the snow, mar82010 stuck in the snow, mar82010

view from our window, mar82010

No one believed the snow would stick, because it never does here, but it did, for several hours, right during Monday rush hour traffic. The city busses were stopped, the metros packed with lines snaking down the tunnels, and the downtown streets virtually empty of cars. People had hours of traffic out of the city and many train lines were late or canceled for the evening. Snowball fights on every corner, fierce umbrellas against the wind. And everywhere a feeling of amazement, to see so much snow, here, in this city by the sea where simply seeing a few flakes fall is an event.

snowy stairs, mar82010 snowy bench, mar82010

We went for a walk and got dinner out with friends visiting, and by the time we got home it had started to rain and melted most of the snow on the streets near our house. But the breathless expectation was still in the air. I think people will be talking about this for a while!

our street at night, mar82010