The first Visitors!

Well, we had our first visitors this past week!
My sister Julie, her son (Jim) and his girlfriend (Jessica) came out for Spring Break. It was a wonderful visit! We got to spend a few days together and they got to explore Girona, Figueres and Barcelona.
They got into Barcelona about 6pm on Saturday and I met them at the airport. (where I proceeded to cry at the moment I saw them, I think I was just so happy to see a friendly face) The best part is that I was able to dish up an adventure in the first 2 hrs of them being here! We took the regional train instead of the express train and we got to see every city between here and Barcelona.... and I really mean every city. It was about a 2 hr train ride (instead of 1 hr and 10 min)...... Each time the train would stop I would say what city are we in and Julie would say Salida! After about 3 times she figured it out that salida means exit and we really had no idea what city we were in. Oh and I almost forgot the electricity went out on the train like 4 times during the ride which was absolutely hysterical. Finally we arrived in Girona, and even after a 17 hour trip and a 2 hour train ride our tired weary travelers were still able to bounce back and head out to a local tapas bar to have some great Spanish wine and food.

Day 1 in Girona we spent on the old wall in the city. The crew is standing on it in the picture above. Girona was a walled city a long time ago and there is a large part of it still open and available for tourists to walk on in the "Barri Vel" which is the oldest part of the city. We also got to see the Cathedral, and spend some time just walking around the city. We ended the night all huddled in the kitchen (if you haven't seen how small the kitchen is just take a look at the pictures from my last blog entry) cooking risotto, chicken, and salmon. It was great to see how many people we could fit into the kitchen, turns out my thought that we could only fit one comfortable was wrong.... you can fit 2. :)
Monday we took a hike up to the Sant Miguel where we almost got blown off the tower. I will have to ask Julie for the picture because it was really crazy. The wind was blowing probably about 50 miles an hour.

It was quite a rush and really cold. However, it was amazingly clear that day and we were able to see the Pyrennes Mountains clearly along with several other cities that surround Girona. Everyone also got a good scare as I alerted them to the wild boar in the area. We made the trip safe and sound. However Jim did happen to bring a knife on the hike "just in case" anything happened. :) I worked the rest of the day until we went out for dinner (10pm) at one of our favorite restaurants Draps.
Tuesday the crew headed up to Figueres to see the Dali Museum for the day and I headed to school then to work. We were able to spend some more time together that evening before I had to bid them farewell the next day. A big thanks to Julie, Jim and Jessica for coming out. It was wonderful to have you here and so great to see some more friendly faces. So who's next? We will just have to wait and see!

Home at Last!

I don't really think I understood the power of having your own space until this week.
Since arriving in Girona Jonathan and I have been living in a communal apartment owned by the team. The apartment has an amazing history from people living in it probably during World War II to it being home to many professional cyclists over the years, including Lance Armstrong. It was a great place to stay, it had heat, a kitchen, a bedroom for us. and it was wonderful of the team to allow us to stay there until we found a place.... but it just wasn't home.
This past Monday we (rather I, Jonathan is on a 2 race trips currently) got to move in. Luckily we got to move about 80% of all of our stuff last week prior to the "official" move (thank goodness) because without a car I think I probably would have made 1o or so trips across the city to move all of our stuff. :) The apartment has 2 floors (see the last picture on the right) , 2 bedrooms (one double and one single) and 2 baths and a tiny galley kitchen that is designed perfectly.




We are feeling much more at home and both of our stress levels have dropped at least 10 notches cause now we just have space to "hang out'.
It has been a couple of weeks since I started this blog.
We are definitely settled in and enjoying European living and trying out hand at being minimalists. Cooking is definitely an adventure as you can see the kitchen only fits 1 person comfortably.... :) let's hope we don't have any big parties soon cause everyone won't be able to fit into the kitchen.
So now it's time for you all to come visit!
Hope to see you soon!

Get this wine!

GET THIS WINE!
Wow, just had this wine tonight.
AMAZING!
Unfortunately Jonathan was not here to enjoy it with me.....
Winery: Rhodes
Name: Mas Llunes (which translates to many moons)
Type: Crianza
Year: 2003
Where to find it: The Baccus Store
This store is actually here in Girona.
That is where Jonathan bought it.
I can't seem to find it anywhere in the states. Here is another link for purchase. Vinissimus
If you would like I bottle.... I am taking orders.....

Dummmmmmm - barton

I had an experience about 7 months ago, that was absolutely baffling and completely comical. Many of you may have heard it by now, so enjoy it again with me....... I flew into San Francisco for a business meeting. It was late at night and instead of getting a rental car I had decided to take a cab to the hotel since many of my colleagues had a car and we were all in the city for the same meeting. This particular hotel was one I had never been to, it was in the East Bay. I got off the plane and out to the taxi line to catch a ride and what happened next went something like this.


I hopped into the taxi and told the driver, "The "W" hotel."
His response "The W? Where is it?"
My reply: "In Newark." (my only directions at the time :) "Do you know where that is?".......
Long pause.......
Cab Driver: "yes.....................yes I do."

Not the most reassuring response but I was willing to roll with it. I hadn't done my homework on where the hotel was as I thought it would be an easy one to find since my colleagues were all staying there, and heck it is a "W".... those are usually pretty swanky hotels..... taxi drivers usually know their way around the city. The 1 thing I did know about getting to the hotel was that we had to cross the Dumbarton Bridge. So as we leave the airport this is what I tell the cab driver.

Me: "We need to cross the Dumbarton Bridge".
Cab Driver response: "Dummmmmbarton, Dummmmmmbarton, how do you spell that?"
Me: D U M B A R T O N.
Cab Driver: "Dummmmbarton, D U M B A R T O N, Dummmmmbarton"
I start to giggle under my breath.
He continues: "Dummmmmbarton, Dummmmmbarton"
Me: "Yes, the Dumbarton Bridge"
Cab Driver: "Dummmmmbarton, Dummmbarton"

At this point, I start to lose my patience somewhat. I am thinking what the heck is wrong with this guy? Why does he keep saying Dumbarton? I decide to take some action (imagine that, me taking action) I pull out my phone and get on the internet so I can get some better directions, I find some and continue to guide him.

Me: "We need to take the Marsh Road Exit"
Cab Driver: "Marshhhhhhh", "Marshhhhhhhh", how do you spell that?
Me: "M A R S H"
Cab Driver: "Marshhhhhhh, M A R S H, Marshhhhhh, Marshhhhhhh Road"
Me: "Yes, yes that is correct."

We ride in silence for a little while and then I see the sign for Marsh Road.
I tell him the exit number, and we take it.

Me: "Now we need to get to the bridge."
Cab Driver: " Dummmmmbarton, Dummmmmbarton"
Me: "Yes, the Dumbarton Bridge"

We find the bridge and start to cross over, all the while the cab driver repeating Dummmmmbarton. I am about to pull my hair out while I am laughing hysterically inside. I am pretty much thinking at this point that this guy is a whack and that I would really like to get to the hotel. He continues....."Dummmmmmbarton." We did find the hotel and now you are probably asking what the H - E - double hockey sticks does this have to do with Spain?

Well, I have become the cab driver. Today as I am talking to a friend of mine (who is also studying Spanish) and she gives me a vocabulary word that I don't know..... I repeat the word a couple of times..... I ask her to spell it..... and she does and I repeat the word a couple more times outloud and it hits me. I am the Cab Driver. The whole Dumbarton story floods back into my head. The cab driver was learning English. He wasn't a whack, just a student.

Gosh, I know people are always using the phrase walk in my shoes for a day... boy I am living it today. Thank goodness for 20/ 20 hind sight. I don't know if I would learn anything without it.

Superman is alive and well and living in Girona

I know you are going to think that I am crazy but if you are wondering where all the Super Heroes and Disney princesses are .... they are here in Girona. I haven't been able to figure out why they are all here, but I do know their schedule. Saturday's. Saturday's they come out in full force. Showing their razzle dazzle threads and might I say they look fantastic.

Take the picture to the left. Superman. Doesn't he look fantastic? So young! and that Hair! Beautiful. Yet he didn't want to show his face..... so mysterious. His Mom was so sweet in trying to help me get a picture of him from the front. She was coaxing him and just kept saying SuperMan, SuperMan, but he wouldn't have anything to do with it. Personally? I was happy just to get a shot of his back.

I get such a kick out the next statement I am about to make. Costumes on kids is a common thing here in Girona. Isn't that great? They don't get one day a year to dress up... they get like 50! Kids in costumes are everywhere. Not a bad gig if you are a kid. How much did you love dressing up when you were young? Dragging that costume out whenever you could so you could be someone else for the day. I have to admit, I am quite jealous. Imagine, Sleeping Beauty one day, Spiderman the next. If I put this into action for myself it could do quite a bit for my ego.







Here's a fun fact. These pictures were taken on one Saturday afternoon and if the camera hadn't conked out on me I would have had atleast 5 more pictures of other costumes. It was such a kick to watch these kids parading around just like it was any other day. I am going to try to get a real picture with one of them soon, and maybe an autograph or 2. My lesson for the day?
Pretend like you are someone else..... and have a lot of fun doing it!

What you can find from a mistake

While Jonathan was out of town last week I did a lot of exploring and learning the city. I kinda think of it like a playing a little game with myself and the map.... I try to figure out where I am, (street signs and addresses are not Europe's strong point) where I want to go and see what I find along the way. There are always lots of surprises and today was not any different.

This particular outing had a purpose attached to it, I was scouting a gym that I was going to meet a friend at the following day to swim. The gym is quite a ways from where were are staying so I thought I would go and find it the day before and figure out 2 things.... how long will it take me to get there and where is it? So the game began....

On the way I found a lot of great things to amuse myself with..... shopping, a candy store that actually had my favorite jelly bellys (cherry, watermelon and green apple) and a store that rivals Target called the Corte de Ingles. They have everything from Leather jackets to groceries.
Except that it isn't as inexpensive.

About an hour or so in I think I find the gym. I am outside a building that has in big black letters GEIG (the gyms name) so I walk in to check it out. Instead of finding weights and a swimming pool and I find a dancing roller skating team. Yes, I said roller skating not roller blading team. It's like I turned back the clock like 3o years! I stopped dead in my tracks and just stood there.

Here is a group of about 25 women and 1 man (he was the most dramatic of the bunch) skating around a wooden roller rink, DANCING! They had the old 4 wheel side by side roller skates on and you would have never been able to tell cause by the way they were dancing you would have thought they were on ice skates. They all had these cute short skirts on, with leg warmers and the skates all had a 2 inch heel on them with nude spandex covers on them so they wouldn't stand out.

The group was like a cross between ballerinas and a marching band. They had grace and elegance while crossing paths, skating backwards, creating these complex formations and changing direction at the drop of a hat. I was so astounded I sat down in the theatre style seating just to take it all in. I got to see the entire routine. There was drama, clapping and grunting they were giving it their all for their coach sitting in the stands. The routine lasted about 10 minutes. It was amazing. I have never seen anything like it in my life.

By now I am thinking that I made a mistake and was possibly in the wrong building. :) It was true, the gym was one building over. But somehow when I look at these pictures again...I just don't think it was a mistake.

La Sagrada Familia

We went to Barcelona this weekend as a day trip

Amazement!
Originally uploaded by jmtayl.

We spent most of the day like this... heads tilted back, mouths open, and we just kept saying to each other... oh my gosh... look at that... isn't it amazing?









La Sagrada Familia (The Holy Family) is a church currently under construction, and has been under construction for the past 110 years!
Antoni Gaudi is the architect who designed the church. Check out the website: LaSagrada Familia. They expect it to be finished sometime in 2025...... To check out all the photo's Jonathan took, click on the Barcelona Pictures link under: Links to Pictures and Stuff.