Wednesday, August 12, 2015

#1501 I'm going to Spain!!!!

One month from today, on September 12, I will put my happy ass on a plane to Long Beach where I will meet up with my "original" family. The next day, September 13, Mom, Lizzie and I will put our happy asses on a plane bound for Barcelona, Spain! We get to stay there for two whole weeks!

I am beyond happy and excited. I feel so lucky to be going to Spain with my mom and my sister. It has been 27 years since I've been there. The last time I was there, both of my grandparents were still alive (I'm pretty sure). My cousins were just kids, like me. Now my grandparents are gone and my cousins both have children that I have never met.

I'm already thinking about the places I want to see.  I can't wait to see the places I remember like Tibidabo, La Rambla, the Sagrada Familia and the Gothic Quarter. I'd love to go to Montserrat. I have not been to the Picasso museum and I would love to see it. We are planning a day trip to Sitges and I haven't been there since I was a little kid. We will also get to spend a few days in Platja d'Aro, the beach town where the family lived when they moved from Barcelona.

And the food! I think it was in May that I wrote about how much I wanted to eat Spanish churros. I will get to eat them next month! I remember when I was first talking to my sister about the possibility of this trip, I was so overcome with emotion about the whole thing, that I started crying and said, "And I'll get to have churros!" Ensiamadas. Tapas. Sangria. Cerveza. Pan con tomate. Jamon. Queso manchego. Chorizo. Oh my goodness! It's a good thing we will be doing a lot of walking :)

We will be staying in three different apartments that we found on Airbnb.com. The first one in Barcelona is in the neighborhood where my mom lived with her parents. It's near where you get on the street car to go up to Tibidabo. In my mind, I can picture the walk from the subway station to the old apartment. We passed by a wonderful pasteleria, Farga. The second apartment is in Platja d'Aro and I think it's near where my aunt used to have her beauty shop. It's not far from the beach, just a few blocks. The last apartment, back in the city, is about half a mile from the Sagrada Familia. I don't know much about the neighborhood, but I think it will be fun. Much nicer to stay in apartments that in a hotel. A little more room and some privacy for each of us will be excellent.

I've been studying Spanish with my Rosetta Stone software and I just purchased a beginner Catalan software from Instant Immersion. I have found that I understand it all a lot better than I speak it. My brain has a hard time putting the words in order. I'll try though. I really love the sound of the languages.

Thanks, Mom and Dad, for this beautiful gift. It really means more to me than I can express. I have always hoped to return to Spain. I would like to take the boys sometime, but it feels right to go back now with Mom and Lizzie. I am counting down the days!!


1 comment:

Anonymous said...

I'm excited!!!
Tinc moltes ganas de veure Barcelona i menjar, i passejar...tot amb las meves filles :)

mamacita