Say No to Crack and Yes to Rioja!

And this is when you come in my little reader and say, "Say what??"
Let me explain.
After Josh and Natalie left, Gisela brought out the Riojas and Pates she had bought on her little wine tasting escapade and treated us to a little wine tasting. Albert was our very own sommelier with stunning twists of wrists and delicate pours of red sultry wine. We indulged in pates, cheeses and breads. Need I say more? So this is when you lick your lips and say, "Yes yes yes! Give me more Heidi!" And I throw my head back and laugh and say, "Do you really think I would be kind to you, really darling..." I'll give you the pictures of this exquisite moment.


And then I will give you something to try to wrap your mind around and the reason why all of you should really say no to crack...before I show you what I'm talking about, I want to remind you citizens of the world that when you feel a "draft" you are actually feeling a draft and making other countless and innocent people have to feel that draft with you.

and it really isn't a pretty sight, especially on a Saturday night when the girls and I decided to get dressed up and hit up the town since my good friend Antonella was visiting from London. Yes, I know, another guest, but I LOVE IT! Idoia and I wore silk in hopes that it would attract the summer.





It didn't but we had a good time anyways...

Antonella is another great friend of mine from San Francisco who I met years ago and somehow always manage to keep in touch with just one phone call a year, but always aware of the importance of knowing the other one exists.

The following day we went walking around Barcelona (I have become a natural at this) and I took her to my FAVORITE plaza, Plaza Felip Neri, and were surprised to find a Jewish film festival going on...nothing better than a movie outdoors with a glass of cava in hand.



Later that night we met up with a good friend of ours brother and sister, David and Sonia, and had a fantastic Catalan tapa dinner with cold cuts, cheeses and more. In fact we enjoyed it so much that we took a picture with the crew at the restaurant and thanked them for a lovely night.




A fabulous way to spend a Saturday night...
The following days Antonella and I hung out, caught up and treasured the fact that although many years have gone by and we have molded to our surroundings and taken the narrower roads of life, we continue to be us. A crazy Californian and a vibrant Italian moving straight forward arm in arm and conscious of "the draft".

And Then Came Josh

One of the greatest things about moving abroad is being able to take those that you left behind in and make them feel at home in your home. Along with their smiles, they also bring memories, a breath of fresh air and a 'new' way of looking at where you now live. They remind you to keep living and following your path and at the same time you silently urge them to keep trekking as well. It is always a beautiful exchange. There is nothing better than stretching your toes out after a long day of sightseeing, drinking a glass of wine and talking to the wee hours of the night. And for some reason there is something so much more magical about it when it's someone from back home. The weekend after my parents left I got to host another lovely couple, Josh and Natalie. Before we begin the route, let me tell you a little about Josh.

He is one of the very few friends I still keep in touch with from High School and for some wonderful reason, keeping in touch has always been so easy with him. He is an amazing writer, an adventurer and one of those people that you somehow know will always be there and always make it easy to meet. I have no doubt that no matter where I live, he will always find a way to come and see me. And then he met Natalie who was another little jewel that I got to know better while she was here. A professor of Pilates and a dancer as well, she gracefully and almost silently makes her way around, admiring everything around her and almost whispering her words as she smiles. I like people who smile when they talk, the world needs more of them. And so two years ago, they decided to start saving up their money and fly around the world for four months. The journey is as follows: LAX to NYC, NYC to an intense month all over Spain (pit stop in BCN of course), Portugal, possibly Morroco then over to Asia- Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand to finally arrive back in LA with the idea of starting over again and dedicating themselves to their passions, dance and writing. It is virtually impossible to not love these two.

And so we took the city by storm, walking down one of my favorite streets, Lluis Pellicer with the greatest dive bar in town, ok one of the greatest...We walked like Egyptians thru Gracia



Mary Katherine played a stunning show with a set of hand drums and we sang along to oldies but goodies at Musical Maria, a bar with the most awesome collection of vinyls from the 60's and 70's




The following day we spent literally all day walking around as I showed them my favorite hidden spots and later went to a Catalan version graffiti expo...ya, they haven't seen the hoods in LA yet...We left and Josh decided it was time to cut his beard. As we walked thru el Born, he stopped in front of a Muslim barber shop and claimed this would be the place. Both Natalie and I looked at him with concern in our eyes and he shook his head and explained, "If there is anyone who knows how to cut a beard, it is that man in there." The boy had a point. And so we sat and watched him get prettied up with "The Muslim Shave".


After the once in a lifetime experience, we headed over to a few authentic bars and laughed our tired heads off and enjoyed the last few hours of great company we had. As you can see, the clean shaven Josh was an Ace of Hearts and us girls were true dolls.


The last night we had together, we sat around and listened to great music and told each other stories, realizing that we had so much to write about and I made a promise to myself and to Josh that I would get on it. The stories are brewing folks and Josh came along to remind me of it. Josh always comes along at the right time...it's refreshing.

Today as I had a fresh filet of salmon and green salad with mint leaves, Jordi handed me the mail and within the junk was a postcard from the two straight from Granada, a faded picture of Lorca and black ink reminding me to keep my promise and to keep moving. The world turns much too fast to sit around and do nothing but get dizzy.
thanks josh...happy travels!

Once a Lifetime You Just Have To

Just a few weeks ago I had the honor of hosting my parents and their very good friend Betty. All I can say is that it was what I had been dreaming of since I got here. The difference is that they came just when they had to, just when I was ripe, stable and ready to show them a city that I have fallen head over heels for. We walked around the city endlessly, saw just about everything, somehow and miraculously avoided the rain that seemed to threaten our every step but never quite did it.

The visit started on a raining Saturday morning, over a table laden with breakfast goods: cafe con leche, fruit, breads, cheeses and all the essentials for the energy we needed for our walks. The rain didn't quite let us be that day so we took advantage of staying home, catching up and resting. I was nervous, I admit, that the week would be ruined by weather, especially when I realized that Barcelona is an outdoor city and there is absolutely NOTHING to do if you don't like visiting museums.





But luckily the next day was sunny and it gave us enough reason to celebrate the American Mother's day by walking to the center, meeting with Julia halfway, looking at the Pedrera, Caso Batllo, having vermouth for the first time in one of my favorite places to have vermouth on Sundays, and of course making a stop at Plaza Felip Neri, my absolute favorite plaza and introduce my parents to Idoia, Carles and Ada...3 beings who have made my life be the incredible life it is here...



From the Plaza we walked through el Gotic and went to have an AMAZing lunch and watched the VIPS from Cali shake off their Jetlag...precious, to see my parents in Europe, sitting across from me for the first time in their lives.

The following day, we made our way to El Born, where we met up with Alex and had not so good Shwarrmas (it was a holiday and everything was closed) but balanced it out by buying gelato and sharing! My daddy and I had a moment when we lit two candles silently in Santa Maria del Mar and said a little wish for each other. Afterwards,we walked to Arc de Triomph and headed home to rest and prepare a feast for my roommates to finally meet these much talked about Americans...





Then there was La Boqueria...oh the day we ate like Kings and Queens of touristlandia. We went to the color market and bought only the freshest ingredients like sausages, cheeses, fresh watermelon and basil to make my little version of Gazpacho with a twist, and so much more. We went home after drinking from Caneelleytes fountain that promises to bring you back if you take a sip from the sweet water. After a filling lunch and the siesta, essential, we made our way up Tibidabo and sat at Mira Blau to admire the amazing view of the city. I could've cried looking at my parents' faces and hearing their stories and they reminisced among the three of them.



The following day, although clouds threatened our plans, we decided to make our way south to Sitges to show my parents and Betty a little of the Mediterranean. My plan was really to take them to Sant Pol del Mar but the skies are always riskier up North and so instead we opted for something closer and almost just as nice. We walked around the small and quite town, ate rotisserie chicken, window shopped and admired the small streets and all the beautiful babies that passed by the main street as we drank cafes con leche and chatted.




On the last day, after bidding Betty goodbye, my parents and I had their very first paella with Susanna and Sergi in no other than Barceloneta. Before that though, I surprised a very pregnant Susanna and my mom with massages at one of my favorite places in the center. They were enchanted and meanwhile, my dad, Sergi and I sat around and sipped tea and relaxed...Although the sky finally bursted out with rain, we decided to continue making our way to the beach and sit somewhere indoors and eat an authentic meal.


That very night as my parents packed their bags and prepared for the long flight back home, I prepared a little pica pica dinner for them and invited my favorite people for one last gathering before saying adeu. We garnished the table with only the best and sat around chatting and meeting my parents.
The night came to a successful close and although it saddened me to bid them goodbye, I also delighted in the fact that I had had everything I imagined and that long awaited moment of seeing them surrounded by the people I've met here only added to my emotions and happiness.





Once in a lifetime you just have to...