Monday Sept. 8 Dali Museum

So, I wake again about 5am, cannot get back to sleep! I listen to another couple episodes of Wait Wait...until Tim gets up. We decide to eat the European breakfast offered at the hotel. It is an incredible spread. I wonder if Europeans feel the same way as we do about Continental breakfast. Anyway, tons of bread, cheese, salami, ham, cereal, tea, coffee, hot chocolate, juice, tarts, pastries, etc. It was really good. Then we finished packing, checked out and went to get the car. We had a car in a 24 hour lot for our trip out of Spain. We got on the highway, got some petrol...and off we went. We were headed for France...with a small stop along the way. The Dali Theatre/Museum in Figures, Spain http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teatro_Museo this museum was designed by Dali. A couple weird turns later, we arrive. We are able to go to the museum and to the jewelry display as well for the same price. It was very interesting. I would have liked to have some more time to head to the coast and go to his home. The jewelry was incredible! We got a quick bite to eat once we left the museum...and then headed on to France. We passed by fields of corn, sunflowers, grains....we saw chateaus in the distance and even got a glimpse of the coastline. Going from Spain into France was as simple as slowing down as we crossed the border. We headed on to Carcassonne. We arrived and found our hotel fairly easily. The hotel used to be an abbey...so it was very quaint. The view from our room was the castle...the sun was going down and the view was incredible. I was getting REALLY sleepy...every afternoon I had been taking a nap, so I was tired. I fell asleep for about an hour or so, then got ready to go out and find dinner. Tim had a place he wanted to try in his book...the hotel clerk wasn't sure if it would be open or not. We went ahead and walked there. It was open. Tim wanted me to try cassoluet http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cassoulet and what better place to try this than an off the beaten path restaurant! It was yummy, very heavy food....but good. We want to try and make it ourselves. We walked some of it off going back to the hotel. It was about 10:30pm when we got in...tomorrow we storm the castle!

Sunday Sept 7th Barcelona

I woke up at 5am and could NOT get back to sleep! It was awful of course, Tim was sawing logs. I put on my iPod and listened to it for a couple of hours. By the time Tim got up I was ready to fall back to sleep of course! We ate some snacks in the hotel room and then headed out. We wanted to hit the Sagrada Familia http://www.sagradafamilia.cat/ A cathedral designed by Gaudi, unfinished, it is still a work in progress. We walked there...passed a library, not open though! We also passed the Arc de Triumph of Barcelona...very beautiful. Tim found a bocce court in the park! Anyway, we arrived at the Sagrada Familia and paid to get in...so much to take pictures of! We looked through the cathedral, then stood in line to ride the lift to the top and walk around the top. The view was incredible. Then we went out to see the Gaudi side of the cathedral, also amazing! We left the cathedral to hit the Picasso Museum, decided to take a cab so we would have plenty of time to walk around. We take the cab and end up waiting in a long line for the Picasso Museum. Turns out that it is free the first Sunday of the month...and so we waited to get in. The Picasso Museum was incredible. Much of Picasso's early work, you could see the transformation once his work was influenced by other artists. He had some incredible works from when he was 15 years old. Once through the museum, we went to a cafe for an incredible sandwich and some coffee. We return to the hotel for an afternoon nap and then we head out to walk the Barri Gothic region. The cathedrals and alley ways are incredible. We go into the big cathedral from last night, and then we wind our way through the alleys to other places. We got some ice cream, we see a open air market selling cheeses and meats. We end up near where we were last night, stop at an outdoor cafe from some sangria, it was really nice out. Then we head down the waterfront opposite of where we went the previous night and see the Columbus monument, there is a flea market going on there...lots of neat old things. And, then we head up Las Ramblas...this outdoor shopping area with cafes all up and down the road. There are tons of shops and artists booths. Tim and I stop to get some tapas and sit and people watch. We also got some incredible dessert churros y chocolat...very yummy! Then we headed back to our hotel a totally different way...passed a Hard Rock Cafe...I just HAD to go in! I got a t-shirt, the girl in there was so fun! She wants to come to America! We told her that Barcelona was pretty awesome! We then got to the hotel and crashed!

Saturday Sept. 6th Barcelona

So, I finally woke up about 5 hours later, took a shower and got dressed. Tim and I decided to go exploring. Before we left, we asked the hotel clerk to recommend a good place to get paella. He called a restaurant and got us a reservation for 8pm. Tim and I thanked him and headed out. We went through small passageways and alleys, all very picturesque. The buildings had gorgeous features and we found an opera house with some incredible tiling on it. We walked down an alley and came out onto a plaza with tons of people doing a dance. There was a band playing and people dancing in groups. Tim said that in the book there were traditional dances on this plaza sometimes. A lady came around asking for donations for music programs. We gave and got a sticker. There was a band playing...it was really quite something. The cathedral was pretty busy, so we continued down the alley and saw a second cathedral, we went in for a little while and looked around. Tall stained glass windows, high ceilings, and carvings, it was incredible! We continued to the water front...there was a festival going on, lots of people. We saw some gypsies with their wagon, some boats, and so we headed along the waterfront to our restaurant. We passed a soccer stadium with a game going on...then we arrived at Port Olympia, site of the Olympic village. There was a McDonald's and a Pizza Hut. The view of the sea was incredible with the sun setting. We walked out onto the boardwalk. We watched a sailboat go by and the surf for awhile then went to find our restaurant. We arrived...the place wasn't particularly busy. We ordered seafood paella for two and some gazpacho to start. It was sooooo yummy! We were offered flowers to buy and someone came along to take our picture. It was a table outside, the weather was nice, it was very romantic! For dessert I ordered creme Catalan (which is very similar to creme brulee) they also brought us a complementary dessert of cakes with melon liquor and something in a bottle with a homemade label. I guess it was grapa. Tim and I tried both, preferring the melon for sure! Once we were done with dinner, we walked back to the hotel. It was a great first night in Barcelona!

Friday Sept. 5th The Trip Begins!

So, my adventure began at 3:50am on Friday, Sept. 5th. I didn't need to get up that early, but I did...so I thought I would just get up and get going! I did a few last minute things, dishes, garbage, recycling, and some final packing and I am out the door and on to the airport. I ended up with my black back pack suitcase, a purse and a tote bag with mostly books...I thought it was pretty lightweight! I got to the airport without incident...I met a lady in the shuttle who brought her neighbor to the airport several hours earlier than her flight so his wife didn't have to get up and take him to the airport...he was in the national guard. We ended up talking about rigorous military training. Once I was checked in I decided I would stop and get something to eat...a yogurt parfait which was good and then wait until boarding. Once on the plane I decided to nap first. I think I got about 1 1/2 hours of sleep then I woke up and read THE CAMEL BOOKMOBILE which was an excellent book! I arrive in Chicago without incident, it did get a little bumpy on the way in...but nothing too major! The girl sitting next to me remarked on the fasten seat belt sign during the turbulence...we were so packed in our seats we weren't going anywhere...there really wasn't much room! Once in Chicago I decide that I may need to eat (a decision I will regret later) So I went to Chili's for a burger. I call mom, Tim calls me...and I talk to a couple ladies seated next to me. They both tell me that I should be careful in Barcelona, as they have some world wise friends who have been mugged there...picked on by a motorcycle gang or something. I head to the gate after eating a bacon cheeseburger and a coke. There really isn't anywhere to sit, so I stand...boarding the plane we show our passports and boarding passes. I sit on the aisle next to a girl from Madison WI, she is headed to a small town in France for a semester. She has never traveled overseas before...and is a little nervous, but excited. We are served dinner...Tim has told me only to get the pasta, nothing else! So..I get the pasta. It isn't bad. I eat and then decided to watch a movie. I watch MADE OF HONOR and WHAT HAPPENS IN VEGAS, both are cute movies. I tried to sleep, but could not. I figured I would regret that later! The airline served plenty of water, soda, tea, coffee...also had complementary wine and beer...imagine that. I stuck to water for the most part...I wanted to see if I would fall asleep. I read, I listened to my ipod. We were served breakfast as well (I really didn't need to eat in Chicago). Arrived in Munich without incident. I went through customs, that was virtually painless...and then I went on the hunt for a ATM so I could get some euros (per Tim's instructions) and then I passed by some great looking eating places...with German pretzels, etc, of course I wasn't remotely hungry...and so I got some water at a shop, found a bathroom and then headed to my gate. It was kind of muggy there! They still have the little booths for smokers in the airport! We went to board the next flight...we went through the ticket gate, walked down some steps, out into a bus....then we were driven to a plane with outside steps. Spain air...it was small, dirty and cramped. There was a delay on our take off...by this time I am feeling kind of sleepy! Which...is bad. We take off and I enjoyed the great view of Germany, I definitely want to return there someday! I am sitting next to some people going to Barcelona on holiday from Germany! The guy sitting next to me is reading about the Hell's Angels. We land in Barcelona...the plane erupts in applause...I ask the people next to me if this is normal, they seem to think it is strange. I am soooooo tired. I just start following signs for luggage claim. I get to the luggage claim and cannot find my luggage. I look at everything, can't find it. I finally ask...I have walked to Luggage Claim A, and my luggage is in Luggage Claim B...the big question is how to get there...and how can I tell Tim where I am? I get out into the regular terminal and ask several people...finally I figure out that I have to go back through security to get to terminal B and then go to luggage claim. I feel like life is in slow motion and I feel ill I am so tired and worried about Tim. Anyway, I get back around and through...I locate my luggage...then I come out into the terminal and NO TIM...I am frantic at this point...I keep searching the crowd...looking...no Tim...I am about to cry...but I stop myself. I decide to get the luggage on my back...walk up and down the strip of people and keep looking. Finally, I see him, and he sees me!! Oh my gosh!! We are so happy to see each other. He was worried about me...I explain what happened...and we head to the car. I help Tim navigate back to the hotel and then I fall asleep! WHEW! By the way, it is now Saturday Sept 6th.

Super Bowl Sunday

So, I have decided to keep up with THIS blog for at least another few months while I think about what I really want to do with blogging. And, I am sure I will be doing some interesting things in the next few months.

So....we have been WHITE (snow) since December. So I LOVE this. In the last couple of weeks we have had about a foot of snow (plus some inches of snow). Which has been great. Everyone in Spokane has said they haven't had a winter like this for about 10 years. And...they are trying to assure me this isn't normal...but I want it to be normal!! Check out a couple pics from Spokane. One of me is in Manito Park, the other is outside of my apartment complex. It was something. Last weekend the snow started on Saturday and fell until Sunday night...it was incredible. The other amazing thing is how little they plow here. There were people still snowed in all week last week. They are hiring construction vehicles to help dig people out. It took until Wednesday or Thursday before our main road 29th was passable (without sliding all over the place or taking out the bottom of your car). Tim and I took his brother to Manito today to do some sledding and run around. They went skiing yesterday and really had a great time as there is even more snow on the mountains! I was planning to visit my sister this weekend...but Snoqualmie Pass has been closed for most of this week due to snow and avalanches.

And...the game is on...I haven't really been watching, but its not as if I am a huge football fan, unless it is OSU...or I guess the GREEN BAY PACKERS...other than that...I am not a fan.

Happy Football Season!

Happy New Year!

I know it has been awhile since I wrote in my blog. I am thinking of changing my blog, since I have been in Spokane for awhile and I haven't really done anything too monumental now that I have arrived. I will definitely send out my new blog once I set it up and think of an awesome cool name for it.

I did start a new job at the beinging of this year...and that has been great. I really like it!!

Best of luck to my readers! And...see you again soon!
Peace
Tracy

SIRIUS RADIO SUCKS

Okay, two years ago I thought it would be a great present for my husband who would commute from Cincinnati to Indianapolis for work. I got him a great package and got a great deal. A year later, my new truck came with a SIRIUS radio free for a year...and I loved it. I was so excited with it that I wanted to renew it once it had expired. My husband and I thought we would combine our accounts and be SIRIUS customers until we couldn't afford it anymore. Well, the calls started at the end of October. So my husband called and asked them if he could combine our accounts and pay for it. They told him to wait until my account expired and then reactivate it then and add the two accounts together. Seemed reasonable. Well, I kept getting calls. I explained that I had to wait until it expired to combine the account with my husbands and that I loved the radio...but please quit calling as it was a cell phone. The operators were really apologetic and told me they would add me to the DO NOT call list. However the calls kept coming. And I kept calling back to ask them not to call me. Then, finally after about 15 calls I decided I didn't want this harassment...so I told my husband and he decided to cancel his radio too. The calls kept coming. As I have a east coast phone number and live in the west I was getting calls at 8:30am on Saturday morning (5:30am in my phone's reality). I emailed their customer service. Finally I was told that it takes 4-6 weeks to get off the call list. FOUR TO SIX WEEKS????? Do we not live in an age of technology? can't it just be deleted??? Well the calls are coming more frequently and I got a call on Saturday at 4:30am.....is this reasonable???? Of course whenever I call, I need to talk to a supervisor....who can't be reached...so....I am SCREWED...please consider this before getting a SIRIUS radio...it can't be undone...and they are friendly but can't really do anything.