Barcelona PART 1

Before leaving La Paz last weekend we had great fun at Marco’s birthday party - yes, another party and this time a St Patricks Day green theme!

We had a full day in LA last Monday - rented bikes and rode along “The Strand” and enjoyed the sunshine and beach before catching our flight that evening.

LA to Barcelona (via Zurich) was very comfortable - our first time on Swiss Air - excellent! 

Our rental apartment here in Barcelona is in a great neighbourhood - amazing local market just across the street, and the Metro station within a few metres. The weather has been a little cool (certainly compared to Mexico!), but has warmed up a lot today. We bought thermals at Decathalon on our first day here!

We have done a lot so far - explored the Gothic area, Barcalonetta, and hiked up Mount Tibidabo. Even found some great breweries - some off the 'beaten track'!

We are looking forward to the celebrations and parades this coming Easter weekend -  Santa Semana is a major holiday here in Spain, as it is in Mexico.

As usual the pictures speak for themselves... 

A random mariachi band sends us off on our last night in La Paz! 

A great St Patrick's day with good friends - thanks Marco & Eva

Leaving La Paz, over our neighbourhood.

Riding along 'The Strand" - getting to nosy in on all the houses.

In Zurich, the bunnies are big!

Leanne was happy to discover a guy who would give her a litre of wine for $3!

2 guys making soccer ping pong look easy!

First tapas on the street in Barcelona centro 

Garage Brewing - great beer. We met Anderson, who is a 'safari planner'

Lots of graffiti in Barcelona.

"El Vaso D'Oro" in Barcelonetta, the bar with no tables! 

Across the road from our place is a great traditional market

Don't know why this place has mannequins on every floor ?

Visiting 'Camp Nou"- the mecca for soccer fans.

We went to a Team B game - which for us non-soccer people, was great!

This bakery is literally outside our front door. There is a line up every day. 

The view from Mount Tibidabo

Never feed wild boars!

Lots of chocolate sculptures for Easter...

Google said this was... Tibidabo Brewing!

And it was! The owner opened up specially for us. Really good beer too!

I made 'bouillabaisse' with ingredients from across the road.

We have to finish with a Rylie pic - this time 'off the shoulder' to celebrate 6 months!

Circus Theme Birthday Party, “No Mas Basura” Fundraiser and Barcelona bound!

Helga was down for just over a week and we had a blast (again!) Riding the collectivo (bus), shopping for upcoming wedding outfits (you know who you are!), walking, eating and the occasional Margarita! Not to mention her amazing desserts….

We went to El Sargento overnight last Wednesday for a private party/fundraiser at Willie Ornelas’ house on the beach (he is the retired LA session drummer who plays in the jazz quartet with Terry). What a spectacular setting. He invited some musicians from LA to perform (including Bonnie Raitt's drummer) and they were amazing. Paul got to play a couple of numbers with them and he was thrilled! 

Our friend Raul’s birthday was last Saturday and we were invited to his surprise Circus themed birthday party. Yes…. a costume opportunity - the photos speak for themselves. Leanne had her costume made by a local designer.

This week the weather has heated up a notch and we have been enjoying swimming in the pool every day.

We are leaving La Paz on Sunday morning to fly to Tijuana, walking across the border, and then driving from San Diego to LA. We fly Monday to Barcelona for a 3 week stay in a rented apartment. Looking forward to it - tapas and wine, tapas and wine... but the temperature will be half what we are used to, so we are packing all our 'woolies'...

By coincidence, both wearing YellowDog shirts

Willie's place in El Sargento

We stayed at Georgina & Raul's place. What a view in the morning

Jorge's new venture, serving great tacos with his Mama's recipes

This is where the birds nested in the palapa , hope they come back again

Selling popcorn - 5 pesos a time. With Raul's brother Renee, a natural !

The 'local designer' forgot to allow for sitting down!

Authentic circus food

very nutritious!

At local restaurant El Zarape with Ed and daughter Judy

the authentic mexican buffet - all you can eat for 150 pesos

want to buy a roadside dog house?

an interesting visitor

and why not finish with a Rylie moment!

It's the Rylie Show

We apologize for the extraordinary amount of baby photos in this blog, but really who can resist. Rylie (and her two assistants) stayed with us for 10 days and went home last Thursday leaving a huge gap in our life here. We had a lovely time and noticed so much change in her - even in one week. Please try and check out the videos at the end of our blog - who knew plastic bags could be so much fun! 

On the roof

On the Malecon

Phil had his DSLR camera and took some beautiful photos

Rylie shows an early interest in IPA

Her first dip in the Sea of Cortez

She liked the first dip so much, she went back for another

Umbrella trouble!

Phil takes some nice photos!

A serenade by one of the local singers

Rylie tries to eat the book "Every one eats"

Pre-tournament tennis group shot

After losing 5 consecutive matches, Paul found consolation in some tasty 'kekas'

In our garden

Pepperoni - the pub cat.

Spooky dolls in a local segunda (second hand store)

A choir filmed their song about the beauty of La Paz next to our house, complete with a drone!

The community big band doing their set at the jazz festival

Here's a video taken at the Jazz Festival

Here's a video of Rylie learning to anticipate!