My family arrived in Barcelona mid-December. Right when I met them at the airport (running late in true Lindsay fashion) I felt as if it hasn’t been six months since I’ve last seen them but six days. Just like anyone that you are close with, you pick up from where you last dropped off. So that first day, I walked them around all of Barcelona (literally) and shared my excitement and love for my wonderful city. I guess all of my gung-ho-ness took a toll and the next morning, I woke up as sick as a dog. Definitely the sickest I have been since living here. Couldn’t get out of bed. Barely could talk. Over-dosing on Nightquil. Bleh. So I had to pretty much map out where they were going versus being the delightful tour-guide I had been training to be. It sucked. Luckily, Emergen-C is my new best friend and – after taking shots of it on an hourly basis- I was back to my usual self. So the week in Barcelona with the family was a lot of fun – my dad got his fix of olives and tomatoes, my mom got her fix of Gaudi and my brother got his fix of checking out Spanish women asses. The last night they were here (before we left for Italy) Anna and I took them to my favorite restaurant in all of Barcelona, Cerveceria Catalunya (or as we American chicas call it – The CC). We had the best time chowing down on the multiple tapas that came our way and downing pitchers of Sangria. After dinner, Anna and I decided to take Christopher out for a chill night out on the town. We went to one of our fave neighborhood bars, Bonobo, and decided to grab a beer. Well, one beer resulted into many followed by shots of Whisky and Patron (oh yes). We are dancing around the bar. Chris is flirting with the bartender. Anna and I made new (male) friends. We were having a blast. As the fun looked as if it was about to end (it was approaching 3AM) we (along with our new friends) decided to go club it up. Toma! So we get to the club and this is where the chaos begins. As I was being the friendly American gal I am by chatting it up with our new (male) friends, Anna and Chris decided to continue their love for Patron.
{Okay, so the next parts of this story were re-told to me by Chris the next morning while we were hung-over on our flight to Rome.}
So Chris and Anna are at the bar and, as Anna, being the hot-mess she is, finishes her shot, she slams it down on the bar and decides to slide the shot GLASS across the bar. It lands in a bucket of ice next to the bar, shattering into millions of pieces. The bartender is pissed. Anna runs away. Christopher attempts his apologies in Spanglish. We then have to leave the club.
We grab a cab and head back to our place. Once we arrive, I look over to my left and see that Anna, no surprise, is passed out. I point this out to Christopher who then has to come around and carry Anna up three flights of stairs to our apartment. Once we get inside, she wakes back up with this newfound energy and decides we need to have a feast. I go to change into my pajamas and come back to the kitchen to see that she has concocted some type of tex-mex-fried-rice meal that Christopher is happily scarfing down. I feel a bit queasy and decide to return back to my bedroom and pass out.
{AGAIN, the next parts of this story were re-told to me by Chris the next morning while we were hung-over on our flight to Rome.}
So Chris goes to sit down in the living room and asks Anna if he can get on her computer. While Christopher is checking his emails and such, Anna proceeds to pass out on the couch. Chris is ready for bed and tries to wake up Anna who won’t move. So, being the Southern kid he is, he picks Anna up and carries her to her bedroom. As he is walking down our narrow hallway he comes to the foyer and, while trying to scoot past our table, he hits Anna’s left leg into the wall. She starts yelling and, trying to calm her down, his initial reaction is to turn the opposite way where he now rams her right leg into the wall. Anna continues yelling, “Owwwww! Owwwww!” Chris continues carrying her. Finally, he gets to her room and drops her on her bed. As he walks out the door he hears a loud crash. Anna rolled off her bed, into her nightstand, taking the lamp with her. Chris, once again, puts Anna back into her bed, picking up the broken lamp and tries to leave. She begins to yell at him, “WHERE IS YOUR SISTER?!? I NEED YOUR SISTER!! WHERE IS YOUR SISTER?!” After he calms her down, informing her that his sister (me) is asleep in my own bed, she passes back out.
And that is when Chris decided that drinking with his sister and her friends ends up being more work than necessary.
So yes, Barcelona with the family was an adventure. But Italy was even more so: a new country for all of our eyes to witness, a language that nobody knew (even though there were attempts) and customs that were very different – you understand why I can’t possibly include everything from the trip. As a result, I have composed a Top 10 Moments in Italy list:
In no particular order…
1. Enjoying some of the most amazing pasta, lamb, wine, tiramisu and lemoncello of my liiife.
2. Throwing a coin into the Trevi fountain twice (once to return to Rome, twice to fall in love in Rome and three times to get married in Rome).
3. Exploring the Vatican with our wonderful, intelligent and oh, so witty British tour guide.
4. Gelato galore!
5. Having a new appreciation for ancient history during our visit to the Forum and The Coliseum.
6. Boot shopping with mom and Rosa, our Florence tour guide.
7. Climbing 467 steps to the top of the Domo with Chris and then…taking in that VIEW!
8. Laughing at dad’s try at Italian (“Bella your face!”)*
9. Shopping the markets in Florence and hearing the BEST pick-up line ever…**
10. Being surrounded by my wonderful, funny and very American family!
* So we were having before dinner drinks (a standard for my fam) and our waitress was this adorable, tiny Italian lady who had really pretty skin. As we ordered more drinks and chatted it up with her, my dad decided to be such a charmer and compliment her with this gem of a line: “Bella your face!” And yes, he did this in his best Tony Soprano accent. I practically spit out my wine laughing so hard at his honest attempt.
** My mom and I decided to check out the leather markets on our last day in Florence. As you know, walking around these markets, the men will say and do anything to get you to come over and buy something from them. So you hear a lot of “bella! bella!” action. As we pass this one guy, he tries the same old line along with a proposal to me. I kind of laugh and keep walking. So then he goes, “Bella, you dropped something…” My mom and I turn around to look and see nothing. We look back at him as he goes, “My heart!” My mom and I couldn’t keep a straight face after that. I repeated what happened to my brother and I think he’s already tried this line back home (with no success).
So yes, Italy was just amazing. I really enjoyed Rome but really fell head over heels for Florence. I would love to return and explore more of the Tuscany region (hi, Under the Tuscan Sun). And more of Italy! There’s Venice, Milan, Naples, Sicilia and so much more… Ahh, Viva Italia!
Once I returned to Barcelona post the Italian Christmas vacation, I got ready for a new visitor: Scott! We keep laughing because we do not have a single picture together during his visit in Barcelona but, even though we have no picture proof, we had a good time. Of course, the majority of the trip consisted of eating at some of Barcelona’s best restaurants. Research for him, gluttony for me! All in all – it was a blast to host him and I hope he’ll get to come with me and Anna for our future south of Spain vaycay we are still planning.
So now here we are into the New Year! I’m not going to lie… We haven’t had some of the luckiest of experiences starting 2010. Is the bird poop wearing off? Perhaps. I know that I’ve had my first bout of home-sickness: twice within one month! Initially after my family left, I realized how much I missed them. And to think of going another seven months before I see them again well, the thought kind of bummed me out. And even more so, with The Saints in the Super Bowl – I have NEVER before wanted to be back in Louisiana more than now! Oh, talk about a party...
So for the start of January, I thought it was going to be a rather long month. The weather has been really yucky (and freaking cold!) and getting back into the swing of teaching when you’ve had three weeks off isn’t that fun plus no visitors or trips until the beginning of February. So I was a lil sad until I got the best news: Jake was coming back to Barcelona for a quick visit! It’s as if he knew how down I was and decided to come to my spirit’s rescue with a very spontaneously planned trip!
So Jake’s visit was about two weeks ago and we had a blast. As he practically lived in Barcelona for over a month just last year, I didn’t necessarily need to play tour guide with him. We just walked around the city and went to some of his fave spots as well as mine. We did hit up the Picasso museum (first Sunday of the month it’s free) and had quite an interesting experience. Right now there is an exhibit going on with a focus on Japanese erotic art. mmmhmm. Let’s just say, people were REALLY kinky even back in the 1700s. Surprised? Well, I kind of was! Some of the sketches actually made me blush. Anyway, the funny thing is that I told my family to check out the Picasso museum while they were in town (when I was sick) and I remembered that all three of them were like – uh yeah, not really a fan or that was the least favorite thing they experienced and Chris mentioned something about awkward moments…Okay, so when I put everything together I practically died laughing. Oh well.
So yes, Jake’s visit couldn’t have come at a better time. As always, he helped me appreciate what I have going on here and living in the moment. I was sad to see him go but now I have a bunch of things coming up that I’m looking forward to… Such as… Anna and my trip to Portugal! I can’t wait to experience everything the country has to offer. We will also be cheering on the Saints this Sunday while in Portugal. Living up to the stereotype Europeans have of us football-loving/wing-eatin/loud-as-fuck Americans. Proudly! I can’t express how excited I am to have the Saints in the Super Bowl! It just makes me so giddy writing about it now! Eeek!!! Who Dat?!
Anna’s bestie, Annie, comes into town in about two weeks so I’m pumped for that visit as Annie has got to be one of the most fun gals I know. We plan to hit up Sitges while she is here to celebrate Carnival…It’s going to be a blast. Then the first week of March we have Erin, Meesh, David and Nick’s visit!!! I can’t wait to be reunited with 2 of the Loyno gals (and their fabulous men) in Espana. Again – it’s going to be nuts. And then, right after that, my Fanny Pack comes to Barcelona! Then Jeanna and Lils, my BR girls…Then my bestie, Nicole…I mean – the visitor train doesn’t have an end in sight! So jump on! Just do it fast (as we have limited spaces available).
I plan to update the blog more so now that I’m back with a schedule. I promise an update after Portugal. I posted pictures from my family’s visit (Italy and Barcelona) on Facebook and Shutterfly so if you want to see ‘em and don’t have access– just hollah back, shorty.
I know I’ve left out some funny stories, some touching ones and classic Lindsay ones…If I think of any, I’ll repost. Or just skype with me. As Maureen and Nicole can attest – you get a BUNCH more juicy details about my life when you get me chatting. So, just sayin…
Oh, here is our motto for 2010: It Can Only Get Better!
Lovin and Missin you peeps. Keep on keeping in touch.
On the Search for a Matador who (dat!) is a SAINTS FAN,
Linds
Black n Gold Super Bowl!
Song Suggestions:
Little Red Corvette – Prince (theme from when Scott was here)
Lucky Man – The Verve
Run – Vampire Weekend
Movie Suggestions:
It’s Complicated
We saw it in the movie theater here. Not the original version. The dubbed one. It WAS complicated when your Spanish isn’t up to par. And damn hilarious. Oops.
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