He flew in Saturday morning...I was a tad bit late picking him up at the airport...because I got lost- shocker...it really wasn't my fault though...I went to the right train station originally- they just pointed me in the wrong direction, and I got all confused. BUT, I made it. We took the train back to the apartment and headed out for a brief tour of the touristy part of the city. We walked 
along Pg. de Gracia, through the square onto Las Ramblas...glanced at the random street performers...were amazed at the number of animals being sold along the street (rabbits, turtles, fish, birds, ferrets, even some chipmunks...who goes to Barcelona and decides to buy a chipmunk?!), found our way through a side street into a really cute square (with palm trees, which never cease to make Brady happy) and sat down for lunch. Brady tested out his rusty Spanish, and found, as I did, that those high school and college classes just don't teach you how to actually have a conversation...who ever needs to know how to write it? We walked along the waterfront, through the marina...Brady caught me up on his various business ventures...he always gets me motivated to get working on my ideas. Then we came back to the apartment and he took a nap to try to recover from the flight, and prepare for our concert that evening. The kids were very interested in my friend that was visiting...they got home while he was napping and wanted to take a quick peek in.
along Pg. de Gracia, through the square onto Las Ramblas...glanced at the random street performers...were amazed at the number of animals being sold along the street (rabbits, turtles, fish, birds, ferrets, even some chipmunks...who goes to Barcelona and decides to buy a chipmunk?!), found our way through a side street into a really cute square (with palm trees, which never cease to make Brady happy) and sat down for lunch. Brady tested out his rusty Spanish, and found, as I did, that those high school and college classes just don't teach you how to actually have a conversation...who ever needs to know how to write it? We walked along the waterfront, through the marina...Brady caught me up on his various business ventures...he always gets me motivated to get working on my ideas. Then we came back to the apartment and he took a nap to try to recover from the flight, and prepare for our concert that evening. The kids were very interested in my friend that was visiting...they got home while he was napping and wanted to take a quick peek in. He woke up and we headed out to the Pavello Olimpic stadium to see Jack Johnson, G.Love and Mason Jennings. While searching for directions to the venue, I discovered that this is where they held the basketball games in the 1992 Olympics...the Dream Team!! My life revolved around the Dream Team that summer- we taped the entire '92 Olympics, so we wouldn't miss any of the games....it was so cool to be at the stadium where they played. Unfortunately, the back of the tickets said no fotos...and we didn't want to risk getting caught with a camera, so we didn't bring it...only to discover the security was lame and we totally should have brought it...many opportunities for some sweet pics. Oh well. So, I'm not the hugest Jack Johnson fan...I like his music okay- it is nice background music...but nothing life changing. I have seen Jack play a couple of times and have never been overly impressed...this show was AMAZING. I'm still not sure how I feel about Mason Jennings...I knew 2 of his songs...the "Be Here Now" song I really like. And I big time heart G.Love...he is always a good time...I'll post my G.Love pic, just for fun. Then Jack came out and just put on a fantastic show...everything was just on. I think I never really got into Jack Johnson because his songs aren't heartbreaking enough...but there is something to be said for a songwriter that isn't a tortured soul (I mean, maybe he is...but somehow I just can't picture it) and is able to write songs that just make people happy. G.Love came out for a few songs...really added to the songs with his harmonica. Jack played 2 encores...for a total of about 6 songs. Our tickets were GA...which were for the floor. We got there for Mason, so a lot of the seats were open...we sat in a couple right on the side...and as the floor got more and more crowded, decided we wanted to try to stay in the seated area. Oh my gosh, you would never see the number of people smashed onto the floor in the US...the GA section went all the way up the stairs (such a fire hazard!) and the building was soooo hot. As the assigned seats started filling in, we snuck over to what appeared to be a VIP "I know someone" section...no one bothered us. We had empty seats all around us...the building was so unbelievably hot- I can't even imagine it being possible to breathe down on the floor...but we were fine- kicked back in a couple of seats...we realized the train was going to be a nightmare to take home, so booked it as quickly as we could out of there, and somehow beat the crowd, had a fairly empty train and made it home. Just really a stellar night, all around.
The next day we got up and headed out to the main train station to rent our car for our trip out to Costa Brava. Boy, was that a good time. The lady checking us in didn't speak great English, so communicating what we wanted (especially about insurance and such) was a challenge. After going through our options and making some decisions, our grand total was ridiculous...waaaay more than it should have been, not even including gas. So, we decided to look around, found a bus that would take us to the town we were going to...and headed out for 9.85 euros...quite a price difference. And we didn't have to worry about getting lost. Brilliant. We got into Tossa de 
Mar and found the hotel...changed into our swimsuits and took the 5 minute walk to the beach. This town is gorgeous. Such a picturesque place...the coastline is all rugged and rocky, the water was just so blue, the town is all little white beachside village buildings, there is a castle bordering one side of the beach. It really was exactly what I wanted for a couple day side trip out of the city. We got to the beach, got right in the sea...it was cold, but perfect. And really salty- you almost just float without any swimming effort at all. We went back to the hotel, showered and took a little siesta until the big futbol match started.
Mar and found the hotel...changed into our swimsuits and took the 5 minute walk to the beach. This town is gorgeous. Such a picturesque place...the coastline is all rugged and rocky, the water was just so blue, the town is all little white beachside village buildings, there is a castle bordering one side of the beach. It really was exactly what I wanted for a couple day side trip out of the city. We got to the beach, got right in the sea...it was cold, but perfect. And really salty- you almost just float without any swimming effort at all. We went back to the hotel, showered and took a little siesta until the big futbol match started. Spain made it to the finals of the Eurocup....very exciting...with soccer as popular as it is over here...everyone was so pumped for the game. We wandered around, through the little cobbled streets (seriously, the cutest town) searching for the perfect bar to watch the game. We found it. People had Spanish flags on as capes and so many noisemakers and chants...when Spain won...oh man...the excitement was ridiculous. It was so much fun. We enjoyed a couple Estrella Damm 
beers...then headed out to a bar on the beach for a couple more and to laugh at the craziness going on around us...cars honking, fireworks going off...then we headed back into the streets and somehow managed to find our way in this tiny little bar that was sooo cool. There was one couple and the bartender inside...he had records and was playing all kinds of great songs. We were talking about Jimi Hendrix- and how he saw him "oh at least twenty times...for like $2" and the couple were telling us about going out and seeing the Beatles...and how they used to put like 5 great bands together on one bill. Just a really fun conversation...all enjoyed with a couple more beers. Needless to say, we might have done a little bit of stumbling rather than walking, back to the hotel.
beers...then headed out to a bar on the beach for a couple more and to laugh at the craziness going on around us...cars honking, fireworks going off...then we headed back into the streets and somehow managed to find our way in this tiny little bar that was sooo cool. There was one couple and the bartender inside...he had records and was playing all kinds of great songs. We were talking about Jimi Hendrix- and how he saw him "oh at least twenty times...for like $2" and the couple were telling us about going out and seeing the Beatles...and how they used to put like 5 great bands together on one bill. Just a really fun conversation...all enjoyed with a couple more beers. Needless to say, we might have done a little bit of stumbling rather than walking, back to the hotel. Neither of us felt particularly great the next day...decided no more Estrella Damm for us. We woke up to really obnoxious spanish music outside at the pool at 10am, apparently for water aerobics...We spend the day on the beach. Found the couple from the bar from the night before, as well as a few guys from the soccer bar...such a small town, we kept running into the same people. Then we went and explored the castle..found a little private beach, that turned out to be public. Went back for a siesta in the early evening and then back out for dinner. There was a little carnival going on that had some pretty entertaining rides...my camera battery died, so I'll have to get some pics from Brady when he gets home...there was a great announcer at one of the rides that def enjoyed his job.
Next morning we got back up (again, at 10 due to the same water aerobics music)...went to the beach for a short while, found an English newspaper, and sat outside at a restaurant for lunch and read the paper, then headed back to the bus station and back to Barcelona.
I was back with the kids today...who by the way, can't get enough of Brady...they think it is hilarious that he sleeps all the time...seems like he is always sleeping when they are home. Brady went out to do the tourist bus...see all the major sites. And then is taking the train out to Sitges (the little beach town where my bag was stolen)...he booked a hotel out there for the evening and is going to hang at the beach tomorrow and meet back at the apartment after I finish working tomorrow...although I won't be surprised when he doesn't show up and decides to just stay in Sitges another night...I think he is going to like it out there.
And that brings me up to right now...are you all feeling caught up? It was long, I'm sorry...thanks for sticking it out and getting through it all....you are a trooper. I promise it won't be so long between blogs again.
I miss you much. Keep in touch. Here is a video from the bar during the soccer game...
