Nun's farts.

We're here, in rupit. These little cookies are, as the title suggests, the gas of nuns. Very pretty village!

Fastest man in europe!

Lemaitre!

The european athletic championships!

Here we are in time for the pole vault! :)

My last class for the summer!

I don't have another class scheduled until september! Well, yoga on the beach doesn't count as work. Happy holidays!

Moving from an apartment.

I've only ever seen this in the movies. Hiring a lift to move people out of their buildings. Then they put everything out the window.

Ochoa Moscatel 2007

Delicious! Nothing else to say! Pure honey.

Quindals 2003

From the costa brava. This was quite musty, with a strong port smell, a little dry, running up the back of the tongue, a bit of spice.

Protocol for Casual Meetings in Catalan

There isn't any.

What typically happens in my experience, is that we will be approached in the street by someone I don't know, and that someone will barely look at me, and will talk to my Catalan partner. Then, after 2 -10 minutes of pretending I don't exist, the person leaves, and may or may not throw a glance my way as a 'goodbye'.

The first time this happened, I took it personally. Now I see its just a cultural atrocity, I mean, difference.

In English speaking countries, and I'm going to generalize (forgive me), if I was the person greeted, then it would be my duty to introduce my friend/parter to the other person. Especially after the 2/3 minute mark of conversation. I would feel uncomfortable for my friend, standing silently beside me, not knowing who the other person was.

In Norway, you throw your hand out and say your name. Its that simple. And they are not even that friendly.

I am going to study the situation in more detail and discover a way that is a positive solution to both parties. That is, one that will not offend the reticent Catalan, and will not provoke rudeness in myself.

Photo: Montserrat, the meeting of the elephant and the sphinx, Tiffany Jones

In Barcelona!

After many little deviations, from human error, road works, and sitting on benches, i made it. :)

Walk to Barcelona from Granollers

I'm just starting off now, 8.33. It's overcast, not too hot, and i'm hopeful. Its about 33 kilometers, or 6-7 hours.

Cubano

Well, i meant to take a picture of it, but i was so thirsty, that i ate/drank it before i thought of a photo. It's a Yummy ice cream drink with orchata milk, this nut I've never heard of. It's super Yummy, and perfect for the afternoon. You can have any ice cream you want.

Coffee with milk with ice!

Here they serve coffee with ice cubes. It's called caffe amb gel. Gel being ice. While travelling with a catalan in the past few years, i have experienced a wide variety of iced coffee! Once, it even came as it does here in catalonia.

Granollers train station

I'm sitting waiting for the train to Barcelona. There are all golden fields just behind the metal and concrete.

Dinarells Rosat 2009

Albert bought some new wines at a wine market just out side of Lloret, last weekend. This is one of them. Light bouquet, little dry with some unexpected spice.

Typical Pre-Dinner Snacks (Appetisers)

Today is the last evening of my beach paradise holiday. The weather has been perfect. Here, Albert and I are snacking on sea salt potato chips, olives and sipping martini. Cheers from canyelles cove.

Xiringuito lifestyle

The xiringuito is not really something we have in australia. Its a little hut type place, often right on the beach. They have them in beach paradise settings in asia too. They sell slightly expensive snacks, drinks, and sometimes easy meals. They play lounge music. The one here, in canyelles, is pretty. Its in a beautiful spot. I like xiringuitos.

Just tuesday morning.

Today one of my dreams came true. I taught yoga on the beach. The sound of the waves filled the space between the poses, the sand moved to the contours of the feet, back, legs. The air was cool and the morning sun gentle. And, i was paid. Next class is thursday- on canyelles beach, 8 am.

Dispelling the Myth of Passionate Mediterraneans

I've experienced lots of these kinds of comments, but I'd like to share this one.
'Oh, you've got lots of little hairs on your nose. Does everyone have them, or just you?'

Congratulations!

Goal! Iniesta is a genius.

Ready for the world cup.

In true costa brava style, we're sitting in the xiringuito, ready to watch the world cup. There are many people from both sides, and good spirits all around. Time will tell. . .good luck!

Summer

What a day. Summer in catalonia. We're at the beach, and the water is perfect emerald. In australia, we have a saying for the gold coast. Beautiful one day, perfect the next. And it could easily be replicated here. Again, have a great summer everyone. Lots of love-

Studying catalan is a lot of fun.

I've discovered that if i leave the apartment, and study catalan in a coffee shop, i'm much happier. And, i study better. I've also taken some good advice. Every now and then, i flood the body with awareness, then study again. So far, so good.


Oh, and the coffee and chocolate thing sure help the mood. 

La Mama

We're sitting outside, at 22.33, ordering our pizza at la mama. Its a lovely homestead renovated into a pizza place.
Albert ordered the vegetal - consisting of spinach, cheese, slices of egg and onion. It didn't sound especially nice to me, but on my first bite, I was happily surprised. The onion was delicious.
The roasted vegetables came with goat's cheese too. We were too full to have dessert.