We're Here

After months of preparation, and almost one whirlwind month of sorting through all of our stuff and closing down the shop in NYC, we're finally here Barcelona! We still haven't closed on the apartment in New York (finally happens on Wednesday!), the apartment we ended up renting is still not ready, we're living out of our suitcases, shuffling between friends, but we're here! It's like an extended vacation. Even thought I've been working a lot on my olive oil project, I fit it in between eating, visiting friends, meeting new people, and going to festivals. So far we've stayed in Barcelona in the Eixemple (one of the most beautiful neighborhoods in Barcelona), and small towns in the Penedes region. We've even had a chance to do something touristy as visiting the Cordorniu establishment where they make cava and brut and wines. It's miles and miles -- or rather kilometers and kilometers -- of bottles.

We're adjusting to kilos and euros and dinners at 10 pm and finding stores that are still open on a Sunday afternoon for milk. Isabel is doing great. She is also meeting lots of new people, and having a blast with the festivals, parks, and all the new things. Her latest thing these days is horses. Let's see how long that lasts before her next new obsession. She is still speaking in English, and her vocabulary increases every day. She can even hip hop a Blue's Clues tune (okay, just pretty much the last words of the sentences I sing). She hasn't picked up the Spanish or Catalan yet, although we're sure she's absorbing it all.

Can't beat the weather. It's been beautiful spring like days and cool evenings. Some rain, especially during inopportune moments such as moving 15 pieces of luggage around.

As there are no shortage of festivals in Catalunya, we had one at our doorstep our first Sunday in Banyeres del Penedes, where we were staying with our friend Jordi. Unfortunately, Isabel was feverish, so we missed some of it, such as the wine ritual, but we were able to catch some traditional elements -- the giants, the devils with fireworks, and the cabezons (large-headed puppets worn by children) we have come to know. The maypole dance was a new element.

Here are some photos of that day.

The Devil Dance


The Gegants. Here are Banyeres' giants. The man on the right helping them is our friend Jordi's father.


Maypole Dancer


Isabel checking out the festival.


In the plaza after the festival.


After the festival, some folks go to the community center for paella. Here is where it's cooked. A truck comes by, sets up a pan over a fire on the street, and voilá, lots of paella!