Spain!!!

Hola!

We have just returned from an amazing adventure in Barcelona, Spain. We took our girls out of school and allowed them to experience their first trip overseas. It was fabulous. The people were great, the food (tapas!) was wonderful, the architecture awesome......it was just great. All of it.

One of the coolest things about the trip was how easily the girls slid into a new culture and language without even batting an eye. They didn't seem to notice any differences.

Thought this was interesting. Christ behind bars.

The Magic Fountains.

There was some crazy awesome shopping down all these alleys.

The trolley driver let Lilly 'drive'.

I just thought this was awesome. I think they sell candy.

I don't know what this dude was, but he was drinking from a fountain.

Awesome candy stop at the markets!

Living statues on La Rambla.

We even went to the beach and upon seeing a few folks wearing a heck of a lot less than I was, I pulled the girls aside and preached about cultural differences.......they are not bad.......just different.

I told them, 'Don't stare, don't point, don't giggle'.

And they, not once, even noticed. They were having so much fun in the Mediterranean sea that I don't think they ever even looked around! But, Kevin and me? Yes.....we giggled and stared. We didn't point, though. Okay.....maybe once.

And I was so concerned the girls would get cranky not being able to communicate well with the locals. But, once when Lilly needed to go to the bathroom, she disappeared for a while. When I found her in a restaurant, I grabbed and yelled, "Where were you??? I was scared to death!" "I went to bathroom.", she replies. "Well, how did you know where it was??" "I just asked the people inside, 'donde Esta El banos?' ".

Um......amazing.

We also saw a lot of architecture by a super famous architect named Antoni Gaudi. Oh dear. Not my favorite but apparently, he is a rock star there. If you've never seen his work, it's where we get the term, 'Gaudy'. Look him up and you'll see why!

Hola, monkey!

Kevin and I also giggled a bit when the natives called Barcelona, 'Barthelona'. With good reason......the folks speak that way because one of the kings way back had a lisp and made everyone speak the way he did. And I thought I was insecure.

We found an awesome playground that the locals went to tucked back in a neighborhood.

Not even my brother-in-law and Molly could pull Kevin far off the ground!

So, I just wanted to share some photos of our wonderful trip. Oh! And we went to the Picasso museum. Wow!!! We got to see his 100 year old sketch book. Absolutely amazing. I can't say that I love Picasso's work.....even up close. But, no one can deny his historical significance to art.....even if it's not my style.

If you ever get a chance to go to this amazing city.....jump on it! Even the cab drivers are super helpful and nice!