Spain: La Rambla

Marbella was beautiful and I can't wait to return. Barcelona, however, is a whole different experience. On the personal side, it's been great for getting Porter onto a regular napping and sleep schedule, albeit a Spanish one that involves a 10:30pm bedtime. On the tourist level, it's been absolutely wonderful staying on La Rambla. I haven't had to go beyond a few blocks to find new places, people and experiences. On the other hand, I've been a bad tourist and not gone to see the famous Barcelona spots or taken many photos. Not yet anyway. It's just too easy to be swept up in the current of people and to disappear down the small side streets.

Today we took Porter to the aquarium, which he loved, and then Luke found us the best Chocolate and Churros in Barcelona. And it was! All of Barcelona was there waiting in line. I also went with my dad to set up our booth at the EACTS trade show, which is why we're in Spain to begin with. That trip ended with the purchase of a beautiful new leather bag from the beautiful leather bag shop. Despite Spain's current economic "crisis" I have found the people friendly and the culture vibrant. Come to Spain, it's awesome.

Family portrait at La Xina (China) dinner. Porter is the lovey-est boy I know.

We did hugs and kisses for at least 5 minutes.

Mini honus, the size of a silver dollar, for sale on La Rambla.

I got video of this experience, it's really cute. I'll post it (and more) tomorrow, I promise.

Walking down La Rambla Friday night. It's this busy all the time. Except at  7am.
I really need to do a fashion post, because people here are into it and I've got a really good idea now that I'm an expert people watcher.

The booth, pre game.

Blowing up the mannequin.

Me and my new friend.

Line for chocolate and churros.

Granja Xocolateria only moments from our hotel!!

Pile 'o churros bathing in sugar.

Before

Churro spa treatment in whipped cream

Beneath the huge pile of cream is the pudding like dark chocolate.

Heaven

oh my god, yes

 

It's super thick. My husband loves me, and I know this because he brings me to chocolate and churros.
It was the only thing I wanted to do in Spain. Now I can go home happy. Maybe I'll have more before we leave first.

Being green goes way back.
Respecteu els animals i les plantes.
"Respect the animals and the plants." 

Spain: Videos

I had a request for more videos, so here they are. I'll try to do more in our future trips. Do you want videos of places or Porter? Probably both, right?

Bullring in Ronda

Gibraltar monkeys, one of which attacked me and tried to take my bag. Effing monkey!

Spain: Barcelona Begins

I had all this awesome text written for this post on our trip from Marbella to Barcelona, then after saving it, all was lost. I'm simply too tired to write more, so I'm posting the pictures without text until a time when I'll tell all. For now you can use your imagination and the following keywords: Barcelona, Las Ramblas, Hotel 1898, roof top views, late dinners, awesome Grandparents, so happy.

 

 

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Spain: Granada & Alhambra

Today Luke and I took a trip, with our friendly tour guide Peter of Indigo Travel & Events, to the lovely city of Granada, home of the Alhambra. And no, it's not bottled water. Granada is a lovely city, with marble sidewalks and a vibrant student community of the young and fashionable. It's also home to the Alhambra, which is what I would compare the the Getty Museum in LA, only a thousand years older. Get ready for pictures, cause this is a photo worthy location. There are many photos of all our travels that haven't made it onto blogs, so when we return and I have use of our regular computer I plan on a follow up post with those and accompanying videos.

I finally got my hands on some churros!

Walking through the city.

Shout out to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain! You know, of the Columbus days?  Laid for their eternal rest in this very church.

Spices and dried fruits

Herbs to cure what ails you.

Amazing dried fruit, mmm fresas.

Peter and Luke at the entrance of the park below the Alhambra.

On of 36 look out towers.

The ground.

More ground designs.

The ceiling. Individual pieces of wood held together with tension and no glue, and this was just the first room.

Floor holds up after 1,000 years.

Hand cut tile. Like there was any other way back then, I suppose.

Some of the scripture, in Arabic, was poured into casts and adhered to the walls. 

These photos do NO JUSTICE to the absolutely amazing details on every surface of this place.

Wanna see the emperor? Clean your feet first.

View of old Granada.

The Arabic fountains are so much more elegant, and quiet, than the more modern European fountains.

My  next kitchen back splash perhaps?

Wood puzzle ceiling.

In most museums you can't touch anything, here you can touch EVERYTHING.

My most favorite part is the ceiling in the emperor's seating room that looks like stars (again made of thousands of hand cut pieces of wood). I repeat, this photo does it no justice whatsoever. You'll just have to visit for yourself to truly understand the magnificence.

It's a lion fountain!

This is where they would hang out and look good.

Garden view from the room of one of the emperor's many wives.

Skylights

The ground here is made of smooth pebbles, like all the other photos of the ground design. And it's only for walking on.

Pomegranates, the fruit of Granada. Get it??

The most literal translation they could have come up with.

Welcome to the gardens, where the ground is designed in the shapes of flowers, of course.

Water, from 6 km away in the original Sierra Nevada mountain range, rushing down the hand rail of the steps.

If I had the time and correct camera there could be a thousand photos of the Alhambra. It's an amazing place to visit, and if you're ever in the south of Spain, take the time to go there and see it for yourself. The details and artwork are breathtaking and very very old. It's age makes it that much more beautiful. So incredibly beautiful.