Spain

Barcelona is an absolutely beautiful city! I’m not big on art or architecture but the architecture in Barcelona is intriguing and eye catching. Balconies on almost every building, fancy details and accents everywhere you look, gigantic gothic cathedrals, stately, regal museums and government buildings and the Gaudi buildings are indescribable! I had never heard of the Spanish-Catalan architect – Antoni Gaudi – until I came to Barcelona but his work is amazing! He designed everything from houses, cathedrals and parks. My three favorite – Park Guell, Sagrada Familia, and Casa Batllo. It’s too difficult to describe in words what his work looks like. The best I can do is say it’s a cross between a Dr. Suess vision and something you would imagine in a fairytale. Look him up on the internet – I promise you won’t be disappointed. I’m sorry I don’t have pictures to share – the internet is just too slow for me to post pictures.

I actually didn’t do a whole lot in Barcelona. It’s super expensive – I think we all had sticker shock coming to our first European country (boy is the USD in the dumper compared to the Euro!). I rode the tourist bus, visited Park Guell, toured Poble Espanyol (a mock Spanish village), walked La Rambla (the main drag) and the surrounding quaint, stone-paved roads and alleyways. I drank a lot of sangria and ate a lot of paella and chocolate churros. It was not a port for crazy adventures or travel but all in all it was a good week.

I have to say though that the biggest highlight of the week for me didn’t have anything to do with Spain. The highlight of my week actually took place on a pay phone outside of the port. Yup. That’s because on Wednesday, March 26 at 10:39am EDT (3:39pm Barcelona time) my nephew, Zachary, was born!

I knew my sister’s due date was while we were in Spain but I thought the chances of her actually having the baby while I was in port (and I could easy get to a phone) would be slim to none (I just don’t have that kind of luck and who delivers on their actual due date anyway??). Turned out I did have that kind of luck! Not only did she have him while I was in port, but she had to have a scheduled C-section so I got to call just before she went in for the delivery and I talked to my mom just after she saw him for the first time. It was excellent – it made it feel like I wasn’t so far away. I was really sad about the prospect of missing the entire event – if we had been sailing I might not have known about the birth until after it was long over. It was nice to feel somewhat a part of things even though I am halfway around the world.

Mom and baby are both doing well. I talked to Becky on the 27th and I heard Zachary over the phone – that was crazy and made it feel more real to me (they really DO have a baby). They should get out of the hospital today or tomorrow. And I’ll be home in just 24 days to meet Zachary!

Only two more days before we arrive in Turkey…