Saturday, July 28, 2012

Barcelona--This Time with the Kids

{Sagrada Familia from Parc Guell}
Hi everybody. Remember me? Did you think I'd gotten stuck in a permanent siesta down in Barcelona?

I almost did. We got right into the Spanish routine of staying up and sleeping in late. It is summer, after all.









Even the kids didn't go to sleep before 11pm.With the Littlest in our bed, all knees and elbows and falling through the space between two pushed together twin beds, it wasn't the most restful sleep we've had, but that didn't matter because we had just so much fun during the day.

{me and Bestie A atop the castille}
I've been to Barcelona four times now and each time the city shows a different side of herself. Right up there with Vicky and Cristina, Barcelona is a girl; a varied, dynamic, dangerous,exciting and just sophisticated enough girl you like hanging out with and would like to get to know better.

{second generation of besties}
The first time, I spent the majority of the trip in the police station, laughing until I cried as Bestie K spoke Spanish and filed a formal theft report for the contents of her purse, down to and including a brand new lip gloss. By chance, we ran into the pregnant Serbian refugee who'd pinched it in the capuccino bar later that night and spent the next hours surrounded by shocking amounts of Spanish hotness that made me break out in a sweat (seriously the most attractive police I've ever seen) and get all tongue-tied and googly. A few months later K received a nice apology and a check for 300 US dollars from the lovely girl, Barcelona herself. She's sad and embarrassed about all the stealing, really she is.

{shady, breezy perch at Parc Guell}
The second time I went with P-Daddy and we basked in the peaceful glow of a quick getaway without any kids. Late nights dinners, museums, some shopping. Not a thieving pregnant lady in sight.

Then there was the trip with my Irish friends dancing until (almost) dawn, napping on the beach and not seeing one thing that you'd call 'cultural'.

This last time, we went up high to Montjuic, took the cable cars all the way to the Castillo and looked down on the Mediterranean and the ships coming and going in the harbor.

{cannons at castillo de montjuic}
We hiked up the hill to the Parc Guell, almost lost the Littlest while distracted by the view of Sagrada Familia (P-Daddy now calls it 'Sangria Familia') and couldn't budge from a shady, breezy perch at the top, while a three piece band played tinkling Spanish guitar music below.

{oh, the things i could do!}
 It was all about playgrounds, zip-lines and parks this time around and I think it was my favorite view of the city. We tried the idea of the Miro Foundation but backed out gracefully as the Littlest started licking the glass doors, our cue to cut our losses and sit in the park with crockery pitchers of sangria instead.

{parks and ice cream}
We said our tearful goodbyes, braved the smoke, fire and helicopters blazing and buzzing at the French-Spanish border and came home to a houseful of Canadians in limbo and all their bags, boxes, kids and booze.

We're off to Aix and the clever Kirsty's for the weekend. I'll let you know how much fun we get up to there. I love summer, don't you?

Bon weekend!

10 comments:

  1. What a lovely time away! Sounds like soul-filling bliss. I am sick with nostalgia for my besties back home. I can only hope for a trip like this in the future.
    ~K~

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    1. I know you are. It's hard sometimes. I hope they can plan a yearly trip to see you like mine do and you can discover all these wonderful European cities too. It makes it so much more fun to know I've seen them all with my besties.
      I hope you're having a great summer.
      aidan ox

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  2. Sounds like you had a wonderful time and beautiful experience. The first time I went I was pregnant and remember having a stinking headache for most of the time. Next time will be without our daughter and then a family holiday to see the other side of what Barcelona has to offer.

    Just to let you know that I have nominated you as 1 of my 11 for the Liebster Award. Ax

    http://all-in-onemum.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/nominated-for-liebster-award-little-ol.html

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    1. Thanks Alison!
      There's so much in Barcelona to do. It really is a city that you can enjoy in a million different ways.
      I'll pop over for my award. Thanks for thinking of me. I'm a bit slow this summer but I'll try to keep sitting in this chair!
      aidan xo

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  3. We have never been to Spain and we keep saying we are going to take a weekend when we are in Provence and drive to Barcelona. It looks like you had a great time. I read an article in this past Wednesday's New York Times about how restaurant prices are falling in Spain because of the economic crisis and how it is very affordable to find great food. I hope they are right. Have a great time with your friends in Aix.

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    1. Michel,
      oh, you guys should definitely plan a trip down there. but I'd wait until the fall to save yourself some traffic frustrations. October was beautiful there and much quieter. If you do go, I'd be happy to give you some hotel or apartment tips and of course, I have a favorite restaurant or two to share with you.
      aidan

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  4. Bonjour Aidan-- Still cruising the Pacific Northwest with my boys. We are currently in the Canadian Gulf Islands and I got a WiFi connection today-- what a treat :-) Catching up on my blog reading and found this delightful story of yours. Love, love, love Barcelona. I have been visiting that city for years (my family always vacationed in Spain as we were growing up and own a small place on La Costa Brava, 1.5 hours North of B.) I always tell people Barcelona is "like Paris, but with the beach!" -- but it does not really cut it, does it? A fabulous city. Always something new to discover during each visit. have you ever seen the cute movie "l'Auberge Espagnole," with Romain Duris and Audrey Tautou? If not, find it, you will love it :-) Best, your "floating" French friend, Veronique (French Girl in Seattle)

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    1. Bonjour Veronique,
      Your summer sounds wonderful. Cruising along in your sailboat with the family and dogs. I love how we've done all the same things down here. I should ask for a list of yours and see what I'm missing.
      We love Audrey Tatou so I'll have a look for the movie. Have a great time.
      aidan xo

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  5. Sangria - what a treat in Barcelona - hope you indulged in tapas too!

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    1. sharon,
      yes. plenty of tapas too. i love the peppers. we stopped off at a grocery store on the way home so i could stock up.
      aidan

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