Spain 2013

We vacationed again this summer in San Feliu de Guixols, Spain.  This was Mateo's first time at Cap Ducal, and he loved being there surrounded by his family (though he had to show his NYC pride of course!).

The big difference in our trip to Spain this year was we rented a car!  Our trips down the hill to the beach and to town that used to involve a 20-30 minute walk now take a mere 5 minutes.  We definitely embraced car culture in Spain.

Alexi, as always, had a fabulous time in Spain.  This year he left the baby pool behind and spent all his afternoons in the big pool playing with Mami and the big kids.  Halfway through our trip Alexi jumped into the big pool all by himself and started swimming ladder to ladder.  He also jumped into the pool 101 times in a single afternoon!  Go Alexi!

Mateo spent time poolside also.  He went into the shallow pool in his baby float and spent lots of time napping in his own personal tent.

We spent most mornings at la playa.  Both boys enjoyed playing in the sand.  Surprisingly, Mateo did not try to eat the sand as Alexi had his first summer in Spain.  Alexi enjoyed building moats with Papi.

We had so much fun taking in the sand and surf at the beach.  There were some big Atlantic ocean size waves this year!

Every year we spend an evening each week in town, walking La Rambla, having a pizza dinner at Cibu, enjoying some ice cream and hanging out with our friends Nina and Sven who have a daughter Ana who is the same age as Alexi. 

We visited the home of David's dear friend Jordi Palleres in Vic on the occasion of his birthday party.  We were warmly welcomed as family.

One of our favorite destinations in Spain this summer was Castell, a beautiful, small beach a short drive from Cap Ducal.  It was recommended to us by our friend Gloria. 

 

We went to Castell two times and spent the entire day, swimming in the Mediterranean, eating lunch at a restaurant on the beach and going for walks with Mateo.  We even got to check out some Iberian ruins.

Alexi's favorite activities in Spain as a five year old were reading (in English and Spanish!) and riding his boogie board.

Since we had the car this year we took many day trips together as a family.  We spent one day visiting Girona and La Bisbal.  In Girona we climbed the medieval wall surrounding the city and were thrilled to find that the vegan restaurant we visited back in 2010, B*12, is still around and thriving.

Our last week in Spain we took a day trip to Perpignan, France.  We were psyched to so easily cross the border without showing any passports and be in another country.















In Perpignan we had lunch at a local outdoor cafe (pizza of course!) and then toured the Palace of the Kings of Majorca.

 

Next year Alexi will be swimming laps in the big pool with Mami and Mateo will be standing on his own tossing the ball with Papi in the baby pool.  We are already looking forward to Spain 2014!!!