Eric and Shannon European Vacation 2013: November 2013

Monday, November 11, 2013

Tuesday, November 5, 2013

I don't think we ever summarized this little evening.

Cool little spot in Barcelona, supposedly where Picasso and his friends used to hang out. Kind of a tourist trap now, but actually a good one. Cool decor, live piano, amazing food.

We had the lobster and mushroom canneloni where were amazing.

Then we had the baked cod fish. It was super soft and didn't taste fishy at all. I really enjoyed the seafood in Spain and I'm not a big seafood guy.


Maybe I liked it better cause it was smothered in cheese...

Sunday, November 3, 2013

Landed at O'Hare

Ready to be off this plane. We got up 16 hours ago

Thanks Mom

We financed this trip with some of the money dad gave me from mom's 401k and life insurance policy. She was always looking out for us. We probably could have done something responsible with it, like put in in savings to save for a house, but we thought mom would approve of using it to see the world, spend time with each other, and enjoy good food and wine. We like to think you were with us as we laughed and enjoyed good Spanish wine. And I know, I know, Ireland /UK in 2014. We will get together with Mary and reminisce about your Ireland trip.

Love, Eric and Shannon

My Thoughts On Barcelona

Barcelona was a fun city. Less hectic than Madrid but had plenty going on. Deceivingly big, but you can still get from the beach to the mountains in a couple hours. We had amazing weather the whole time we were there, 70 and sunny - in November!

I loved jogging in Montjuic. Wandering the narrow streets if the Gothic district was entertaining. Raval was interesting. The views from Tibidabo were stunning. We didn't do a lot if them, but the few museums we went into were worth it. Great architecture and wide boulevards making for great sight lines. Good food and booze around every corner.

Definitely felt different than the rest of Spain. Primarily because they spoke Catalan ahead of Spanish, but the lifestyle was also different. There seemed to be more business, industry, and fewer people drinking immediately after work. I guess I could call the city international, but really, it felt like it could be in the US (except the architecture). Very commercialized. Las Ramblas could have been michigan avenue, but with more people hocking tiny helicopters. I saw more american chains here than the rest of the trip combined. Not that that's a bad thing, just an observation.

Tons of tourist traps. Trams, flamencos, paella, 5 for 5€ tapas. It's as if they took everything they think Americans think about Spain and shoved it under one roof. Hop on hop off bus tours, overpriced trams when you can take the bus for half the cost. Tourism must bring a lot if money to the city and they try to milk every dollar out of us. Probably also felt more american because we hung out with Amanda and some of her friends and they all spoke English.

None of this is meant as an indictment on the city. There are plenty of "local" things to do, just have to find them. I could see why it makes an alluring location for an American or Englishman. Be an easy transition from home, and the weather is obscenely nice.

Vegetables?

We had a veggie panini for lunch. Didn't eat many vegetables in Spain. Bread, cheese, meat, and beer.

Frankfurt Airport

Made it here. There were a lot of Asians on our flight. I think the Germans made them wait in the long line on purpose.

I have 3 Frankfurt stamps on my passport, yet I've never actually been to Frankfurt.

Shannon booked her flights with miles. I booked mine regular, so technically we have different reservations. Shannon has status with united so she gets upgraded to economy plus. On the way here they bumped me up to sit with her no problem. Not so easy on the way home. Never ask a German to break the rules. I thought Shannon was going to throw down with the lady at the counter. Eventually the third person we talked to have us seats together. We'll be home a scant 10.5 hours from now.

Luthansa

Is crazy efficient. Routed everyone with the earlier flight to the automatic terminal. Later flight in the crazy long line. 1st class counter helped common folk if there wasn't a 1st class person waiting. Woman at the counter took the initiative to fix our seats, check our birding passes. Very helpful. Those Germans. So efficient. They are the only airline with flights leaving this early. They sent all the Asian people with their massive luggage through the long line. And the white people to the shioet line. I assume there is a later flight through Germany to China, so they could wait in the long line without fear of issuing their flight. Or there was some serious racism going on.

There is a crazy long line

At the airport

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Bye Spain

4 am wake up call

It's 6 hours earlier than I usually get up

Night Cap

Went to a bar with Amanda and some friends. Nice people. Pretty sure they were all native English speakers.

Hadn't eaten, so finished with a bikini and patata bravas. No longer feeling adventurous.

Currently packing and finishing off the beer in out apartment. Have to be in a flight in less than 6 hours. It's cool, I'm sure well rest comfortably on the plane.

It's currently 30 degrees colder in Chicago than it is here. Hooray!

At least we get to see our dog. Silver lining?

Spanish Wine

Couple last glasses. Had two here. We're going to eat but the service was slow and we didn't like the menu. Pretty sure the service was slow because one woman was owner, bartender, server, cook, and dishwasher, so it was hard to be mad.

Lost my photo...

I have no idea what's going on

All weekend there had been some sort of midevil festival going on near our apartment. Booths with food and trinkets, kids games, etc.

Today there is a band, people in horse, dragon, and griffin costumes, kids in devil costumes. We might be about to be sacrificed. But we decided to have a coffee with baileys anyway.

Last Night of Vacation

Heading out for our final night...

Post-Tourist Stuff Snack

We got hungry, stopped at a little coffee shop once we got down the mountain. Had a pork sausage focaccia pizza. Really tasty.

And then a new beer - Rositas - was kind of a stout brown beer.

Tibidabo

Took the funicular up this mountain. There is an old church and amusement park (random). There are also hiking trails. We mainly looked at the church and enjoyed the views.

Beers with a View

On out way to Tibidabo. It was a long walk from Guell, so we had a beer.

Guell Park

The story is Gaudi stated this park on a hill on the north side of town as a wealthy, isolated community. He built two houses than died, so it was never finished. Now us common folk hang out there. Great views of Barcelona.

Post game snack

We were so hungry after the game because no one told us about the halftime sandwich. Started with a bikini (hint: it's a grilled cheese and ham) with a fried mashed potato ball.

We were still hungry, so we ordered a cheese plate with tomato bread. You can never go wrong with cheese and tomato bread. I apparently didn't take a photo. Just ate.

Pre-game dinner

Red wine, veggie empanada, and croquet plate. They somehow whip the meat in the croquets, like mashed potatoes. This was before the game, just didn't post it.

Quimet and Quinet

This tiny little tapas restaurant. Maybe the size of FDs back room. Looks like its run by a mom and her daughters. Unique flavor combos but really good.

Salmon, yoghurt, and honey montadito.

Mushroom empanada

Potato chips and cockle/yoghurt montadito.

FC Barcelona Game

Barca (that's what the cool kids call it. Well, actually they call it Bartha) win 1-0. That's the important part.

The game was interesting. Felt like a college environment and not just because of the no booze policy. Big, old stadium, fan section, coordinated chants, flags, fight song, generally the pomp and circumstance of a college football game. Oh, and it takes 7 hours to get 90k people out of that old stadium. No one leaves their seats or eats and drinks during game play. You do all that during half time.

As for the game, it was kind if boring. I've never watched an entire soccer game start to finish with no other distractions. I'm not saying the sport as a whole is boring. Just this game. It was not a big rivalry, FCB is in 1st and Espanyol in 27th in La Liga. Barca should have crushed them. Frankly they totally out played them. Probably had the ball 75% of the game. Had plenty of good scoring chances but couldn't finish. Espanyol had maybe 2 good chances. Luckily FCB finally scored because the fans were getting rowdy. Sports fans are sports fans. Complaining about the ref, yelling at their team. Different language, same attitude. I don't know if I'd go again, but I'm glad we went.