Calçotada

A Calcot is a variety of spring onion which is cultivated in the Tarragona region of Catalunya. To obtain them, an elaborate growing process is required. The Calcotada which originates in Valls, a town in Tarragona, is made by cooking calcots over an open flame. When cooked the spring onions char on the outer layer, known as ?camiseta? (Spanish) or ?samarreta (catalan)?.
This outer layer is removed, dipped into a delicious Romesco sauce (a bright orange, pulverised amalgamation of garlic, almonds, tomatoes and chillies) and eaten whole, tilting your head backwards, and somewhat like a fire-eater, lowering the calcots into your mouth. A huge napkin tied around your neck is virtually essential as it is a fun, but messy process. Besides this there is the Porró? the glass drinking container from which you pour wine directly into your mouth. And if you miss?and you probably will at first...that napkin is the only thing that will help you leave the restaurant looking respectable!!!

This was my second experience of a Calcotada, and what fun it is. Toni had booked a table outside at the club house and about 30 friends and family turned up to stuff themselves full of onions. It was a really fun day, and lasted long into the evening, with many glasses and bottles and more glasses of wine!

Semana Santa en Berlin

Potsdammerplatz and the Sony Centre

Our awesome hotel room..
Flying over the Alps in France

Some of the still standing Berlin Wall
Shopping shopping shopping
Brunch and the best pancakes ever!
The outside of the Hotel.
Walking through the city

Parliment House

A little red 'Ampelmännchen a 'crossing light man''
A little green 'Ampelmännchen a 'crossing light man''
In the park
Snow! Magical snow!

We packed up and went to Berlin for Easter, which was great. I hadnt left the sunny shores of Spain for almost a year, so it was good fun to get on an airplane, even if i was a little hesitant about being allowed back in. We holed up in an awesome hotel right in Alexanderplatz for three nights. The weather was fun, snowing softly every day like little magical balls of lint falling through the mist. It was between 0-5 degrees but hardly noticable with all the fun we were having. On the Saturday we spent a good 9 hours strights shopping, all within the 500metre area of our hotel (note the photo of shopping bags).. and got some great things, the shops are far better in Berlin than Barcelona. We did all the touristy things and even had time for the museum of modern art, although the collection was pretty rubbish and at 8euros a head we were less than pleased.. oh well. The most memorable for me is still the Sony Centre at Potzdammerplatz designed by Norman Foster and the Jewish Memorial site with huge massive granite slabs.

De Colores

De colores

De colores se visten los campos

En la primavera

De colores

De colores son los pararitos

Que vienen de afuera

De colores

De colores es el arco iris

Que vemos lucir

Y por eso los grandes amores

De mucho colores

Me gustan a mi

Spring is almost here and im falling in love with colours! Lots of colours! I love how they look together, complementing each other and making me smile.....

My boys...

These boys are very special to me, and i miss them lots and lots and they know it! I finally have my ticket to fly to Australia in July, i am super excited just to hang out with these three ALL the time!
love you guys
xx

La Sagrada Familia

Navidad

Toni with his new shirt
Christmas day, the table...

We had a lovely Christmas period, although tinged with sadness as it was the first without Toni's mum. On the night of the 24th, we went to his brothers house for dinner. There is a tradition in Catalan called Caga tio, which is basically where the children hit a piece of wood with a stick so that it 'poos' presents. Let me explain. A week before Christmas, a little piece of wood with a face and a christmas hat on, is put under the tree and covered with a blanket. During the week the children leave it bowls of fruit peel to eat. The idea being that when you hit it, it will have diorrahea and 'poo' more presents for you. The children are forbidden to look under the blanket before Christmas and they are told that if they do so there will be no presents. Then on the night of the 24th, the children (mainly toddlers and youngsters it doesnt really work for older kids) have to sing a little tune, and then hit the Caga tio with a stick, after that they look under the blanket and they find a small present. While the child is opening the present, or looking away, another present is placed under the blanket and the same things happens again. It was really nice watching Toni's nephew Marc doing this. He is only two so he was pretty suprised after each present appeared.