Can Xiguera

Okay, I know I've been bad about keeping up with my blogs, but with all the events, how can a busy girl write and explore?? This weekend I had the honors of spending two and a half marvelous days with an extraordinary group of people who know how to eat, dance, laugh, drink and most importantly live. May I introduce you to the Can Xiguera clan: (from left to right, starting with the top row and finishing with the couch) Jaume, Sergi, Toni, Gustavo...Oscar, Alex aka: Tarrega, Alex, Joana (straight from Portugal)..., the one and only Susanna, Carles (who just finished his first novel!!!!!!!), the lovely birthday girl and organizer Iolanda, Marta and I.
I can't begin to describe the time we spent in the amazing house you see above. We got there late Friday evening and quickly settled in, starting the fire, slicing bread, popping bottles of wine open and warming up our toes. The weather outside was crispy cold, but inside, the warmth surrounded us all. Right away I knew the weekend would be filled with all kinds of stories and laughter. Just so you know, in Catalunya, it is common to rent out a fully supplied country house and spend the entire weekend playing outdoors, eating and drinking. This is known as Turisme Rural and that is just what we did. The house was filled with smiling faces, endless amounts of butifarras, bread, cheese and of course an entire gym bag of Xibecas...

It was clear no one would be going hungry or thirsty. The weekend consisted of relaxing, doing what you felt like doing, ping pong, group massages (yes you heard right). As quoted by Tony: la isla de los masajes... giant lollipops, wood collecting, beautifully ordained pineapples and so much more.

It was a magical weekend and I think I could quite easily adapt to this going to the country tradition...On Saturday, Iolanda, the birthday girl, made an incredible dinner for all of us, with a soundtrack to amazing 80's music and we danced the night away, playing games outdoors at 3 in the morning on an icy field with a full moon to light our way and mojitos to keep our blood warm

The next morning we woke up to a fantastically sunny Sunday morning, surrounded by woods with fog and munched on green apples and goat cheese...Susanna and I opted for the smaller house though (see below)...

You know what the best part of the trip was though? Being together with so many different people, who have their own opinions, history, story to tell and seeing them spend an entire weekend together, everyone helping everyone, sitting at the table exchanging stories and falling asleep with the crackle of the firewood. There is something magical about being accepted by a group of strangers on a Friday evening and feeling like your leaving friends from years ago on Sunday night. As time goes by, I think I am understanding more and more who these Catalans are and why I have fallen in love with their culture so easily. There is nothing better than hearing them sing out loud: "Push me and then just touch me...satisfaction..." Thank you Iolanda for planning this, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!! and thanks to the rest of you for being absolutely charming... I am telling EVERYONE about this beautiful country!

The Beauty of Idoia

In the last year, I have gotten to spend a lot of quality time with Idoia and have also gotten the opportunity to learn so much from her. I wanted to dedicate this next blog to one of my very very great friends, since a few weeks ago we celebrated her birthday. The problem is, I'm not quite sure where to begin, since there are so many beautiful things to share, beginning with her constant and caring friendship. Since the first time we met, Idoia didn't hesitate to bring me into her world, to invite me to do things and as we got to know each other more, invite me into her family. There are people who know just what to say, who know just how to influence you and to remind you to fight, no matter what others might think and this is Idoia.

At a sparlking 33, she has created a life on her own:

She is mothering the beautiful Ada, who I am sure will turn out to be just as wonderful, she is running and boss of not one but two English academies in Tarragona, has traveled around the world (as far as Papua New Guinea!), manages to share her life between her friends in Tarragona and Barcelona. She can walk into the most glamorous restaurant and be absolutely fabulous or dance on the streets on the tip of her toes:

But the best part of Idoia is that when she is next to you, she makes you smile, she makes you feel loved and special, even if there are a million things happening in her own life, she always makes the time for you, putting herself aside for a moment. She knows you only live once and so you must live to the fullest and she shows me that constantly. Idoia has been one of those people here who has heard my voice crack on the line from fear, loneliness and has quickly replied that she would drive an hour north in order to make sure I am okay. She is one of a kind and if I have something to be grateful for, it's her consistency and her honesty. She is one of those friends who will tell you the truth, whether you like it or not and am I ever grateful for that. Mature and confident, successful and at ease. A true inspiration.

As I look back to all the wonderful memories we've had, all the trips we've already taken, and the ones we will (New York for New Year's!!!) I count all my blessings and am soooo grateful that this little angel had been placed on my path to guide me, inspire me and remind me to be myself and no one else. She is reason enough to have moved to Barcelona:).

Thank you darling and may you have a splendid year full of magic because you deserve every last drop of it and more. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

"You're the one I want...oohoohooh..."

I love Halloween and although the Catalans aren't big on it, Julia and I decided to reinvent ourselves and go as the one and only Sandra Dee from Grease! Julia was the before and I was the after. All that was missing was our Danny Boy, but we decided to go for the Duquesa de Alba who I must confess is my new favorite person.
He made us laugh so hard that night and we managed to engage into the Halloween spirit as much as we could as we sang Grease songs so people got who we are...leather jacket, pink cardigans and all. It's nice to know I haven't gotten too old to play dress up.

On November 1st, Catalunya celebrates their own holiday, hence the wonderful four day weekend I had, by roasting chestnuts, sweet potatoes and drinking muscat. The streets linger with the smell of burning wood and the cold that has suddenly swept over us makes it feel so much like winter, reminding me that soon, so soon I will be home to visit again.

On the 1st I was invited to my first Spanish style basketball final and I had a blast. The only thing that was missing were the cheerleaders, but that was kindly replaced by an all too fanatic large man banging on a drum whilst wearing a Catalan flag and hat as the band played typical flutes from the region. All in all it was a great experience and I can actually admit that I liked the sport...of course, they were no Lakers, but they still played great and the team spirit was inspiring. And then there was today. Last night I traded staying up all night for waking up at 8:30am on a Sunday to go to the center, have breakfast with my good friends at cafe de l'opera, a beautiful antique cafe on Las Ramblas and to take advantage of free day at the museums. I saw an impacting exhibit of the World Press, which moved, tortured and made me think about our situation on this planet (more on that later), then we walked to El Born, saw the Pre-Colombian archaeological museum, ate delicious Shwarmas, drank mint tea and then went to another old cafe to drink coffee and chat about the day's events and art. On the way home as I rode my bike in the warm autumn sun and felt the now much chillier wind on my face, I thought, what a life. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. I live in an amazing city full of culture, stories, history with friends who are more than happy to jump on the ride with me.
As I told my mom last night, I am so blessed and so fortunate and the exhibit today reminded me of that so clearly. Thanksgiving is coming and although we have so much to be thankful for, there is so much we need to do so others can live more at peace and have the same feeling of gratefulness I felt today at precisely 5:05pm.

Julia's Turn

A few weeks ago we celebrated Julia's birthday and so this is an ode to you darling! As you have seen from past blogs, Julia has become one of my wonderful friends here in Barcelona and I am so glad she crossed my path. Julia is, at a mere quarter of a century old, a bright, mature and most graceful young lady who has already come such a long way and will only go further. From a town called Bremmen, in Germany, she speaks perfect, I mean perfect, English and German of course, has travelled, studied in the States, speaks a good amount of Spanish(although she denies it), runs an entire international office helping non-profits, and is starting to plan on going to do her masters in the States next year. And most importantly, she always gives the best advice and reminds me to relax. Julia and I have shared many a thoughts together, on everything, from love to politics to early swims on Sunday mornings only to finish it off with Cinnamon chocolate gelato and lunch.
She has a wonderful and clear perspective on things and yes Julia,
you are one of a kind and I really do wish you so much of the wonderful this year and all the years to follow. Keep setting your mind to all those
great dreams you have planned and
although you might not realize it
you really do inspire and make such a big difference in all of our lives. The mere fact that you love sitting on Sundays to look at silly fashion magazines and compliment each other is reassuring. So go get them Sandra dee before! and happy you month....this world is a better place.