Barcelona

Well, we have ventured out on our own. We have left the safety and comfort of friends to explore a bit on our own. Julie and Tony have taught us well and been marvelous to let us test the water and to see that Europe is not so big and scary!

First trip....Barcelona! or as the Spanish say ....Barthelona!! I love listening to them talk, they go so fast and are very animated! They do a lot of the "th" sound, which I find a bit slow to pick up. I seem to trip over my tongue, course I do that in English! I do love their "Hola". We have been saying it in Mexico..... hola! short and simple, pleased with ourselves that we got a Spanish word out and not wanting to drag it on too long in case it was incorrect.... But they.... they say it in a lingering, musical, welcoming way. Ohhhh laaaa, with a range in notes. You just have to smile.

We have a 1 bedroom apartment in the Eixample district, great location. Right in the heart of downtown. The old buildings are beautiful and one seems to out do the next. From our 3rd floor we over look the street below. It has been a bit noisy (these beautiful old windows I wanted are not exactly "sealed") I had heard the folks here love their late nights, no wonder they have the siesta! Most shops, banks, etc close from 2 pm - 4 pm for a lingering lunch, sleep!......I'd imagine. When we arrived back at our place last night around 9 pm the street was fairly quiet. The day time bakeries, flower shops, vegetable stands, cafes, and a multitude of other shops were closed up. The restaurants are plentiful though, but generally, it seemed quiet. Well...... 2 am was not so quiet! Haha...... the night was just getting started. The streets were very busy with cars and motorcycles, motorcycles..... and yes, more motorcycles!! The party had spilled out on to the street. Not the rowdy, making trouble, kinda party. Just friends getting together and most likely getting a breath of fresh air, everyone smokes! At 5 am I realized the little bar, Topxi, across the street was open...... hadn't seen it open since we arrived. I think it didn't OPEN until midnight! And at 5 am people were still arriving to go in! Oh, they love to have fun......

Unfortunately the sounds outside weren't really what kept us up..... Jim at this moment is laying in bed, sicker than...... well, sick! Looks like the flu caught up with him waaay over here. He spent the night back and forth to the bathroom, while I gave him updates from the window on the goings on below. He has slept the day away and is still running a mild fever and lots of aches and pains. Poor fellow.... nothing worse than being sick away from home!

Here are some of the pictures so far.... sorry no Barcelona as yet.... will put them up soon. I need to figure out how to do the pictures in a speedier way..... uploading seemed reeeeaaly slow. Here's Jim hamming it up at a shop in Mallorca. The best option, I grudgingly admit, is to view Facebook. You know how long I held out!! Anyway see all the pics there

View from the rooftop terrace at Julie and Tony's in Santa Ponsa, Mallorca

Barb