Last day in Valencia

We have been having a good time learning about the city and all the goings on of the 32nd America´s cup. We visited the harbour and met Ross Halcrow for a tour of the BMW base. Very cool boats - lots of € being spent around here on the habour, the race. We spent today at the science centre here. The building is spectacular, and the displays are good. David and James are starting to get a bit weary of museums, but fortunately there are playgrounds and big spaces in which to run!

One of my favourite observations of our time in Spain is the interaction between Spanish teachers and their students. There is very little when they are on field trips for sure! Today, we spotted a group of 14 year olds having their sandwich lunch by the fountain. Their teachers were over by the tour bus enjoying their lunch with a bottle of wine and a smoke. This seems to be normal everywhere we´ve gone.

Tomorrow we fly to Italy where we have secured a hostel room North of Pisa, and then a cottage in Chianti for a few days. Don´t know how many posts we´ll get in, so I´ve added a few pictures to this one.

Happy Birthday to Kathy, Grandma Pat and Jill. Best wishes to Craig and Maureen and their family over the next few days. Hope all is well with everyone - send us a note to let us know what´s going on.

Sun shining, looking for a place to stay at Easter in Florence...

Hola - we went to and incredible playground yesterday - the Gulliver is a strucure with slides and climbers which is in the figure of the character, sprawled on the sand - all 110 feet of him! The boys spent an hour climbing all over, sliding and having fun. The playground ha its own first aid station with two full-time first-aiders. Fortunately, not required by us.

We also spent several hours at the aquarium, which is fabulous. The weather is warm and sunny, but we are indoors at the internet spot trying to figure out and apartment for Florence the week before Easter. Not an easy thing to do...

On Monday, we hope to see Ross Halcrow (former 11A Street resident and member of BMW Oracle yacht team) for a tour of the base before he heads out for more practice sessions. Looking forward to seeing the yachts up close.

Valencia

Hola - we arrived in Southern Spain after a lovely relaxing train ride down the coast. As we were pulling into town, we saw ll the towering sails o the America´s Cup yachts bent over in the stiff off-shore breeze. A very exciting visual for our first day here. We found our apartment with no trouble. The owners are very nice, and the place is beautiful - large rooms with high ceilings and lovely tiles on the floors. We went for a walk and found a playground with the biggest spiderweb climber, I´m sure, on the planet. And of course, the nearby cafe which serves the playground offers ice cream, beer, gin and tonics, etc.

Today we of to find the Oceanarium, and of course, more playgrounds. Over the next few days, we hope to play on the beach (25 degree weather), see some of the big Yachts in action, and generally enjoy the Spanish lifestyle. I´m beginning to see why Sean Connery chooses to live here...

Sights of Barcelon

Hola Amigos,

The playgrounds just keep getting better here. The one at the zoo was excellent, but today we found one which rated a 10 for the parents near the botanical gardens. Not only was the equipment good, there was a bar/patio attached where we bought cafe con leche, Fantas and beer! In a glass! There was a large group of Spanish kids playing, their ´supervising´ teachers were sitting back enjoying a few smokes, some conversation and some drinks. The playground bar also serves wine, whiskey, etc. I think we need this at Riley Park... Also some good notes for the Ecole King George playground/garden committee.

In the garden, we found a large hedge maze which entertained for about an hour. We pretty much had the place to ourselves in spite of the fact that entrance is free on Wednesdays.

After, we went down to the beach for a final visit before moving on to Valencia tomorrow. We saw a fashion photo shoot featuring a female model in very skimpy underwear, and a totally naked guy who went for a swim in the chilly ocean!

Also, we have seen some great architecture yesterday and today - the Sagrada Familla and the cool appartment designed by the same man (genious) Gaudi. We want a house that looks like that.

Thanks for comments. Will update pictures soon.

Cheesies are good in Spain

Hola from Barcelona. We are into our rental place by the beach for a few days now, and really enjoying the summery weather here - up over 25 degrees a few times. We had some problems getting into our place - agent never answered his phone - and some problems when we got in - drains were plugged and there was a flood - but we have managed to overcome, and the place has turned out to be nice and convenient. We are in the neighbourhood known as Poblenue, near a metro stop and a 5 minute walk to the Med.

So far we have strolled the beach, visited the Olympic harbour, the aquarium, the Museo Picasso and the Museo Maritimo. Today we spent 5 hours at the amazing Barcelona Zoo. David has really liked the attractions, James´s favourite spot is at the top of a very tall play structure on the beach. He has learned to say Hola to all the other kids and quickly engages in whatever game (pirates, bionicles, etc.) they are playing. We have figured out the transit system and will have time for a few more adventures before heading off on Thursday to Valencia, home of the America´s Cup Yacht race.

Again I am unable to attach pictures as I am at an internet outlet that won´t let me pug in. I´ll try to get some new shots up soon.

FYI - we are not checking our hotmail address too much as our shaw account is working fine. Please send messages to robanddeirdre@shaw.ca

We are all well, and starting to think that maybe 5 months in Europe might just be do-able after all!

Back to Carcassonne

Short entry - back to drop off the car and visit the old Cité one last time. It is now summer here -25° in the sunshine. Tomorrow off to Narbonne and then Barcelona on the train. The boys are excited because it's a TGV. But, we have to be up at 0600 to catch it. Always the rub....

Try for new pictures today

Yesterday, we took a trip down to Collioure near the Spanish border, in the shadow of the Pyrénées. It is a beutiful harbour town first established for trade by the Phonecians. It also boasts a massive Templar fortress built right on the edge of the harbour. I'll try to load on some new pictures today of some of the cool sights we've seen. In 1905 Matisse started experimenting with blotching colour on paper to create images and art that were new and somehow impressionistic here. Some of his earliest works are on display in the fortress.

Today we hope to see some caves near Carcassonne, and then maybe play boules in the square. The day after tomorrow, we are heading by TGV down to Barcelona. Our lack of ability to really speak an Spanish at all is freaking us out a little, but we've been assured by many people we've met that it won't be much of a problem.

Thanks to those who have left comments on the blog, especially Hilary Martin for leading us to he blog with the text of her award-winning speach!

David and James are evaluating the playgrounds of Europe for an upcoming publication. The playground on the beach at Colliure rated an 8.5 for scenery, quality of equipment and proximity to the sea.