Monday, April 11, 2011

Visit from los padres

Hello everyone.  Sorry it has been a while since my last post but I was occupied keeping my parents busy.

They got here on Thursday, March 24th and left on Sunday, April 3.  While they were hear we basically did everything that you can do in Barcelona.  I also saved a lot of the major sites in Barcelona for their visit so I was also excited to see everything.  Especially the Gaudi stuff.

The highlight for them was probably the first Sunday when my host family invited them over for Paella at lunch.  Their kids also joined us.  They have two kids, Gerrard 29 years old (I think) and Angela who is 30 years old.  Angela has a husband and is pregnant with a girl.  All three of them joined us for lunch and know English, more of less, which helped with the translating.  My parents were blown away by the Paella and the whole scene in general.  The entire lunch lasted about 3 hours and we talked the whole time.

On Friday night we went to Montjuic to see the Citadel on top and see the Joan Miro Museum.  Our plan was to take the gondola to the top but we missed the last one of the day by about 2 minutes so we had to take a cab.  There was a protest and a lot of traffic so we didn't get to the Joan Miro museum until it was about to close so we just went to the Citadel and then the fountains at Plaza España.  The fountain show is amazing and it only happens on Friday and Saturday night.



My favorite part about having my parents here was that they could take me out to dinner.  I have been here since January, and I had not gone out to dinner once.  While my parents were here we went out to dinner every night.  The first place we went to was called El Glop.  This place was not that great but we had some Torres wine, and some Calçots.  Calçots are onion type things that are charred and you dip in some kind of sauce.  They were really good and fun to eat. 


The next night my mom got a little sick and I had to take her to my programs doctor.  This was bad but it didn't seem to be much of an obstacle while they were here.  After taking her to the doctor my dad and I went around the corner to a Thai restaurant.  This place was pretty tasty, although the Pad Thai didn't compare to Taste of Thai in Ithaca.  My expectations might have been a little high. 

Monday night we went to a famous place called Els Quart Gats.  It means The Four Cats in Catalan, and it is famous because Picasso and Earnest Hemingway used to hang out there.  The restaurant had a piano and someone playing the whole time we were there, and he was very good.  My dad even suggested a song and he played it.  My dad loved that.  Tuesday night I invited some friends out to dinner and we went to a place called Los Caracoles (The Snails).  This place was also very good.  I got a half rabbit.  I had never had rabbit before but it was really good.  Although I wasn't really sure how to get to the meat, but it was an experience.  

Wednesday night we went to the Palau de la Musica to see a piano concierto.  It was an orchestra with a grand piano, and it was amazing.  We couldn't really see the orchestra when we leaned back in our seats but I just enjoyed listening and looking around at the ceiling and walls that are so incredible. Here are some pictures




I have wanted to go here since I first walked by it and saw some pictures of it.  After that we went around the corner and got some Mexican food and Margaritas.  The next night we went up to Gracia to a place my dad found.  We kept it simple and just ordered a Bolognese spaghetti and a Hawaiian pizza.  They were both amazingly good.  Then to top it off we decided to order the chocolate brownie with syrup on top, and it might have been one of the best brownies that I have ever tried.  Friday night we went to a place called Los 7 Puertas (the 7 doors), near Barceloneta and the port.  Once again the food was amazing.

The next morning my aunt, uncle, and cousin were getting into Barcelona.  I was saving the best place for the one night when both my parents and cousins parents were here.  I got a recommendation from my professor to go here and get the Paella.  We got there and got a bottle of Cava, but ordering food was a little complicated because of the language barrier so the manager had to come help us.  I tried but there was a lot that I couldn't translate.  We got some red shrimps for an appetizer and I split a Paella for three with my cousin and aunt.  I have to say it was amazing but not quite as good as momma can make, which really says something about her cooking.  My professor also told me to talk to the owner/chef Juan who was cooking the Paella.  One thing I loved about this place was that they were cooking the Paella at a stoke right out in the open so you could watch them make it.  I went and talked to him for a minute and say that Xavi had told me about this place.  Then when we were almost done with dinner he came over and gave me a bottle of Cava.  I was amazed that he did this and extremely thankful.  It was also really good Cava.  I think I am going to save it for my last dinner with Jourdan and my family here as a thank you to them.

After my parents left I had a week with my Aunt, Uncle, and Cousin.  It was really fun having them here and I have never spent that much time with them and not my parents.  I also got to learn about my Uncles crazy travels around Europe in the 70's while he was hitchhiking from Israel to Spain.  I didn't spend much time with them in the day but I went out with them on two nights.  The first place we went to was a tapas place in El Born that was amazing.  We got wine, cheese, ham, smoked fish, and some great sausage things.  Then on Thursday night they invited me to the Palau de la Musica again for this Guitar soloist from Barcelona.  His performance shocked us all and he made some sounds with an acoustic guitar that I didn't know were possible...like a snare drum.  He was also funny and put on a show towards the end.  We bought his CD and I put it on my computer.  It is classical guitar but very soothing and nice to listen to.  

Having my family here was awesome, and they loved it.  They also got to do pretty much everything that I suggested and wanted them to see.  Although I tired them out and I think they were glad to return home to reality.  I know my mom was happy to get back to working out.


Thanks Mom and Dad...also less than one month left here :(

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