Spain 2011

This summer we once again returned to Spain,	These breathtaking views greeted us every day on the balcony.
Alexi wakes up very early every morning, and sometimes when he wakes Mami up she falls back asleep on the couch.	Papi looks way more awake for Alexi's early morning wake up call.
Mornings in Spain are spent at San Pol beach.	Alexi had fun burying his legs in the sand.
Alexi displays his Barcelona pride while watering the sand.	Alexi is always anticipating the next best thing.
On our walk back up the hill from the beach to our apartment, we take breaks to stop and smell the flowers.	Blackberries also greet us on our beach walks, which we pick right off the vines and eat.  Delicious!
Cooking in Spain is an act of love.	We shop at Nanas for delicious soy protein such as "meatloaf".
We eat la comida, the main meal of the day, when we return from the beach at about one.  Pasta with homemade pesto is a new dish we made this year.	One of our favorite la comida dishes is yellow rice with tofu, peppers and safron.
After lunch is always pooltime!	Sharon and Alexi enjoy playing ball in the pool (with a pink ball that Alexi got in an egg in the Spring Egg Hunt in our NYC neighborhood).
David plays keepaway with Alexi(!)	Alexi absolutely loves playing in the kiddie pool.
David and Alexi enjoyed playing soccer poolside.	Watch out Papi...Alexi is about to overtake you(!)
This summer it was much cooler in Spain; Sharon often had to wear David's waffle.	Due to the cool weather David and Alexi spent some days indoors watching the Tour de France.
One cloudy and rainy day we did an outdoor scavenger hunt with Alexi.	Alexi holding up one of his finds during the outdoor scavenger hunt.
On rainy days David enjoyed playing ping pong with his friend Nina.	Alexi is calling NEXT GAME!
Being a parent means calling upon reserves of energy for nonstop activity....	...especially when you have an Alexi who is always on the move.
Alexi enjoys a galleta poolside for his afternoon snack.	Alexi lays down poolside for a rare moment of rest.
Alexi is still small enough to enjoy the rides they have in the Cap Ducal playground.	Alexi rocks back and forth in this yellow fish (his favorite color)!
David and Alexi pose at the top of the slide in the Cap Ducal playground.	Down the slide they go!
Our summer tradition is eating la comida with the wonderful Pallares family in their home at Cap Ducal.	Posing in our apartment once again with the Pallares family.
One night we ventured into town so Alexi could enjoy the rides.  Here Alexi rides a motorcycle, as Sharon and David both did when they were young children.	Alexi enjoys driving the blue Spanish school bus.
We look forward to seeing you next summer Spain!	Who's the movie star behind the Foster Grants???!!!!

School Trip to Spain

Over mid-winter break my school traveled to Spain. We visited a total of 7 cities, and our trip started in Spain's capital: Madrid.


Pictured above are the Madrid Bullring, La Plaza de Toros de Las Ventas del Espiritu Santo, and a Monument commemorating Don Quixote, Sancho Panza y Miguel de Cervantes.



After a walking tour I headed to el Catedral de Santa María la Real de la Almudena. Back in 2007 David and I visited the inside of the cathedral, and on this trip I got to climb up to the cupola of the cathedral to see Madrid from above.


The amazing view from the top of the Cathedral, of Madrid and el Palacio Real.



We spent the late afternoon of our first day in Madrid at el Parque del Retiro, where we went out in the lakes in rowboats to get close to the Alfonso XII Monument, and then walked around the park to el Palacio de Cristal.



On our second day in Madrid we went on a guided tour of El Palacio Real. Before our tour of the Royal Palace, I hung out in Plaza de la Armería with my students Sahirah and Raven.



Two enduring symbols of Madrid: Puerta de Alcalá at la Plaza de la Independencia and the statue of the bear kissing the tree.



The fearless chaperones, first enjoying tapas in Madrid and then the ladies posing in Córdoba.



On our way to Sevilla, we stopped in Córdoba to visit La Mezquita (a UNESCO World Heritage Site).



The site of La Mezquita was originally a pagan temple, then a Visigothic Christian church, until finally being converted into a mosque by the Umayyad Moors.



When you walk to the center of the mosque, all of a sudden you behold a cathedral, right before you eyes. Unbelievable beauty, and inconceivable to find a cathedral inserted in the center of this large Moorish building. La Mezquita was definitely one of my most favorite destinations on this trip.



We spent one day in Sevilla. Pictured above are the Cathedral behind bountiful orange trees and the Alcazar.



The Opera "Carmen" is set in Sevilla. David and I saw "Carmen" at the Met Opera House this January. Pictured above is Plaza de España and Bullring where Carmen ultimately meets her fate.



First view of the beach and Mediterranean on our trip south to Costa del Sol.



I woke up early to see the sunrise at Torremolinos, one of my favorite places visited on this trip.



Next trip destination was Granada to visit La Alhambra, a palace and fortress complex constructed during the mid 14th century by the Moors and the greatest example of Islamic architecture in Spain (and a UNESCO World Heritage Site).




Photos of the exterior and interior of La Alhambra.



The beautiful reflecting pool in La Alhambra, and the view of Granada from La Alhambra.



We saw amazing flamenco at Cuevo de la Rocio in Granada, where we were in a cave and mere inches away from the dancers.



From Granada it was off to the City of Arts and Sciences, the very modern and forward looking part of Valencia.



We spent the afternoon at Oceanografic, the largest aquarium in Europe.



On our first day in Barcelona, we walked along Las Ramblas, where there were many tempting treats on display.



We went on a guided tour of Barcelona, and our first stop was Park Güell, designed by Antoni Gaudí. David and I have visited the park before, though I have never seen it so empty - usually there are huge crowds of tourists.



Pictured above: the main terrace, surrounded by a long bench in the form of a sea serpent, with gargoyles on the outside, and the two buildings at the entrance of the park (prototypes of the homes that were never built despite the dreams and desires for a Spanish garden city movement by Count Eusebi Güell).




A monumental work of staggering genius by Antoni Gaudí: La Sagrada Familia (scheduled to be completed in 2026).



I am a huge fan of Antoni Gaudí. Back in 2007, when David and I visited Barcelona, we visited two Gaudí landmarks: Park Güell (pictured) and Casa Batlló. This year I got to visit and take a tour of La Pedrera, another private residence designed by Gaudí.



The best part of the tour of La Pedrera was going up to the roof, to see the amazing Gaudí sculpture and innovation: Gaudí was the original environmentalist, recycling broken glass bottles in his sculpture and architecture.




We spent our last day in Barcelona. Pictured: my senior girls at Park Güell, and myself (their advisor) at Montjuïc. This was a phenomenal trip, and I am looking forward to one day taking David and Alexi to the places I visited with my students in Spain.