Kiddy Crowd Control for the Kings

Granollers is madly getting ready for the three wise men to visit la porxada. You can see the cue controller being put into place above.
There will be tons of children lining the streets to see the three Magi being drawn by tractor and waving benevolently. Their helpers will bombard the children with sweets supplied by the local bank.
Happy Three Wise Men Eve! 

Breakfast Conversation

I just had the strangest experience!  There were a couple of women talking in the cafe, and they were obviously talking about clothing and quite seriously too.

I didn't realise I was staring, and then suddenly the lady turned to me and smiled and started talking to me about the same thing. Obviously I didn't catch everything and I stumbled out my ´no entenc' (I don't understand) but she kept talking and gesturing at her top and finally it was discovered that shirts were not comfortable but naturally I assured her it looked nice anyway and the colour was great.

That hasn't happened to me before.  That total strangers engage me in conversation. Well, it's happened in other countries, but not here.  Just yesterday I was saying to Xantal (a friend/student) that I was looking for positive things to love about Catalans. Very funny. And just now, as I'm writing, they said goodbye to me... and though they spoke to each other in Catalan, they spoke to me in Spanish. (Also quite typical from Catalans)

After Lunch Nap

Happy Summer Evenings!

Everything was very good today. Perfect weather, great company, cold drinks and yummy vegetable chips. Yay Granollers! Oh, and the sales started today so what could be better?

Norwegians in the Porxada!

The Granollers Cup has attracted lots of blonde Norwegians to Granollers! The local boys are going crazy. Heia Norge!

Jett Wins a Writing Competition!

Today we're in Barcelona with some of Jett's classmates and his teacher to receive a prize for Jett's composition in a literary contest. It's XII Certamen Literari Escolar En Llengües D'Origin. He wrote about his trip around the world, in Catalan.  Three prizes were given for his age group in Catalonia. 

Zen Ritual As Western Art

The whole Buddha trend has filled a huge need in the Western psyche. Once God was dead and Christians found their images repellent and reminiscent of embarrassing innocence they quickly sought out something else to fill its place.


What better than a smiling peaceful 'other', some shiny stones and empty bowls? Superficial symbols of peace as house fashion. I went to someone's house last year and it was full of Thai buddhas. I asked if they were Buddhist? No. I asked the owners if they were studying Buddhism? No. I asked if they were interested in Buddhism. By this stage they were looking at me with am apologetic look and helpless shoulders.


I didn't mean any disrespect, but I just didn't understand why they had religious artifacts from another culture in their house. I really didn't understand. But then I saw Buddhas in IKEA, and realised it was fashion. Slow me. And here we are, sitting in a hotel with Zen images above our beds and bamboo in the foyer. Om then.

Lovely Visit

Today we (Kate and I) were very lucky to receive a visit from Oreneta. We're all fellow bloggers writing about our experiences here in Catalonia. We treated our fair visitor to the sights of Granollers and we ate at one of our favourite restaurants, the Baalbek. Hope to see you again soon!

Shopping in Andorra

It's a lot like the Swedish border for Norwegians. There are French and Spanish buying tax free goods. Alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate, perfume. The main shops were the cosmetic shops and electrical equipment. We bought a few bottles and some chocolate.

Off to Andorra!

Look at this beautiful tree. I love the sun light through the leaves. We're finally off on our weekend trip. Only 1 hour later than planned. Not bad for Spain.

Preparing Speeches in English

Well, here I am, in between presentations, thinking over each yawn and considering how I contributed to them and how to avoid them in the next class. I've never had to talk about Australia before, as if being Australian makes me an authority on the subject. I was looking online for Australian qualities and I was surprised by how much I identified with their descriptions. The sense of 'fair go', and 'no worries' along with 'have a go' seem to sum up my philosophical outlook pretty neatly. I didn't realise I was such an Aussie at heart.

Yep. I said it was Boring.

This man fell asleep!

We're on a Tourist Bus in Barcelona!

It's fun, though the lady speaking is a bit boring. . .

The Church Square on Market Day in Granollers

We've got clothes, blankets, boots, towels and jewelry. People are calling out 'one euro!' and 'ba!'. Ba translates to something like come on! The sun is shining beautifully today. I'm sitting in the sun, waiting for my coffee. Then off to the Porxada to buy fruit for my new juicer.

Another Aussie on the Blogging Block?

Hey guys,

just found another Aussie writing about her experiences in moving to Barcelona. Take a look.

Trash or Treasure?

Since I've lived here, I've seen some African men going through the bins and taking out scrap metal, old electrical equipment and other interesting bits and pieces. Other people seem to ignore them. There isn't a big second hand mentality here. I think the economical climate maybe changing people's attitude. In Australia there is a big push to sell our old things. One person's trash is another's treasure.

The First Sip of Wine

I'm never sure when to drink! We're at a lunch or dinner with a bunch of locals, they pour the wine and then somebody takes a sip, and others begin eating, and again, there seems no protocol for when to begin! Are we British colonials so rigid, or is it just me? I look at my wine, and I just can't seem to drink! I nudge my partner. 'say cheers!' He laughs and says 'You're the weird one, you say it.' Uff! So I wait until my thirst is greater than my need for order.

Jet Packs

Jett: If you could have anything in the world and a billion dollars, what would you have?
[Silence.]
Jett: I'd have a jet pack.
 Albert: What's a jet pack?
 Jett: [Incredulously] Don't you know what a jet pack is?
 Albert: No.
 Jett: You know, its a back pack you wear that's like a rocket and you can fly.




Photo: Tiffany Jones (Bridge from Granollers to Canovelles, 2010

Kate's Blog

Hello!

Have met (cyberly) a lovely woman doing almost exactly the same as me. Her name is Kate and this is her blog - check it out! :)

Kate's Blog - The Catalan Way 

Mexican Hats Are Following Me!

I'm on the train, on my way to pick up my son from the airport. From Barna Sants, some tourists come on board, with huge brimmed hats rolled up with their luggage. I wonder what they will do with them, once they have them at home? I'm afraid my house wife instinct thinks of this kind of purchase as a 'dust collector'.