Laowai

I had lots of time to think and reflect on our way back home from our Paris/Barcelona vacation:

– When we were nearly home – on our train in Switzerland I leaned over and wispered to Brian “This train is gleaming”. It’s true, this whole country gleams while the people of Barcelona are scrubbing and sweeping their little streets all the time and not ever getting them really clean. There is a distinct layer of dirt everywhere. It accumulates in corners and crevices and makes it’s way up the walls.

– I got to be the one to tuck the little bar of chocolate from the Swiss flight into my bag and then present it to our happy chocolate loving girls. Fun!

– I can’t wait to pat Claire’s diapered bum right after I groan while I pick her up. I can’t wait to be smothered by Bea – she’ll want to sit next to me or even on me. She’ll demand my attention with important Bea stuff to tell in her deliberate litttle voice. All the details that are so important to a five year old. And I know this feeling will fade soon, but I don’t even mind if Claire hangs around grabbing at my legs and says Mommy, Mommy, Mommy.

– I think I must be just about the luckiest girl in the world to be able to take a vacation like this. To see new sights and spend time wandering – guided only by our own whims. To truly forget about everyday routines for a few days. And then to come home to smiling faces. It was a perfect way to celebrate 10 years of marriage. Thank you Brian! 

I mentioned before that I enjoyed the architecture of Barcelona – so just a few more photos to remind me of the trip when I look back. I’ve never seen anything like Barcelona’s late 19th century brand of Art Nouveau. And do you know Mr. Gaudi? He must have been a happy, sunny character to have created such whimisical, bold and light filled spaces.

Wow – we have really been pounding the pavement on this whole trip. I must be used to little kid pace because I come back to our hotel everyday completely pooped.

Barcelona has been great. I try to pronounce gracias with a th sound in the middle, but I feel silly. Luckily the Spanish people are really nice and they make you feel comfortable even if you are a bumbling idiot from abroad. I love that we’ve seen such a variety of architecture here – from old gothic churches to colorful modern flamboyant buildings that date from the late 19th century and even some cool geometric examples from the 1920s. The other thing I’ve loved is the cool breeze of the sea. It somehow blows right into the city’s busiest streets and cools everything down. It has made hot humid crowded days pleasant. Here are some of our photos.

Last picture – this one is for Claire. I can’t wait to give her a gigantic smooshy hug tomorrow. It’s always good to come home.

Well our time in Paris came to end quickly and now we are in Barcelona. We discovered that it’s not a bad thing to get lost in Paris but it is easy to do. You can’t navigate by a few big imposing churches and monuments because there are big imposing things to see in every direction. The people of Paris really do walk around with long loaves of bread tucked gunder their arms. We had some of that delicous bread and the amount of butter we indulged in makes us blush. After living in super clean Zurich it was eye opening to see a gritty city – but somehow it feels more real and alive than Switzerland. The architecture seemed to be all about piling decoration on top of more decoration and then guilding it a bit. We had a great time just walking and looking around ’till my feet ached. And when we got back to our hotel the resident cat was often waiting in the lobby and I got to scratch him behind the ears.

Here’s where we had our favorite meal. The best meals come out of the tiniest places.

Brian added to his collection of photos with opera houses:

We happened upon a movie being made. All those people are extras and we were asked to stay out of view while traffic was stopped and they filmed the scene. I can’t understand why they didn’t want a couple very attractive tennis shoe wearing, camera toting tourists in the scene???

When in Rome… well, I haven’t been there but, when in Paris you wear a scarf – even if it’s nearly 80 degrees out. Here I am wearing the scarf I bought at the market, admiring the Eiffel tower.

As we walked I sometimes reached in my pocket and fingered a tiny polka dot barrette. My girls are never far from my thoughts.

Talking to Bea in the Jardin des Tuileries:

I was telling one of my friends that Brian and I are going on a 10 day vacation without the girls and she said “well that’s cheeky”. As if we are getting away with something and being wild and impulsive. I told her that if we lived nearby we’d leave the girls for a weekend now and then, but here in expat-land we have to do it all at once. Thankfully Mom is willing and able to watch the munchkins and we are so excited to be taking off tomorrow morning. Mom and Dad arrived a couple days ago and the girls have been eating up all the attention as usual.

Stay tuned for some photos from Paris, Barcelona and whereever else we end up.

I do a lot of complaining about Joann Fabrics, but they have actually been putting out some really nice prints with their in house line. I got this fabric when I was in Michigan at Christmas time. I have it in yellow too so I’ll make a matching dress for Claire E. The pattern is by vogue – an old rummage sale find that I used once before.

The hotel we stayed in last weekend had homemade rhubarb jam. It was so good and I couldn’t get it out of my head. So I found a recipe and I’m crossing my fingers that when it cools I’ll discover it’s just as delicious.

I’m also a bit in love with these canning jars. I do love the good old American Ball jar shape and I can picture them lined up – filled up – in Grandma’s basement. But these are beautiful too. They have the most charming potbelly shape.

This reminds me that I was once obsessed with painting and drawing glass containers. Something about the shapes and colors when you look at them from the side. 

And now I’m done rambling.

and we’re up to no good.

I spent six Swiss Francs on two very small Slush Puppies*. Bea climbed into Claire’s crib and had a good giggle. Now they’re outside playing in the water – Claire’s Kitty went for a swim.

Here’s our garden. When you buy a packet of seeds here they include a little wooden label printed with the exact plant variety. Brilliant. We planted some radishes in the white pot.

Is it Friday yet?

* Yeah – it was really a Slush Puppie brand slush. It’s surprising which brands make it over here and also how comforting the familiarity is.