Sant Jordi

My rose and Tonis book, on the morning of Sant Jordi.. I also received a book..

Placa Catalunya setting up for a long day of selling roses..
The traditional red rose with a sprig of wheat.
Pink and cream..
Little plastiline Sant Jordis and dragons...

Aren't these the most amazing roses you've ever seen??
A lovely old man taking a break from the crowds..
The Catalan flag
More roses..
Even the mossos are buying roses..

Catalonia's most famous legend Sant Jordi, is celebrated throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April. The legend tells how a wicked dragon terrorized a small village, devouring all the far animals until there were none left. The dragon then demanded one of the villagers on condition that he would vacate the town. The villagers agreed, drew straws and the King's daughter was selected as the sacrificial victim. Only minutes before the princess, dressed in white, was about to be eaten by the dragon, a young knight appeared on horseback, speared the dragon with his sword and saved the princess. Where the dragon fell, a rose bush appeared with red roses the colour of the dragon's blood. The knight plucked a rose and gave it to the princess before riding off out of the gates and into the sunset. They later fell in love, got married and lived happily ever after. (Of course.)
To commemorate this legend, on the day of Saint Jordi, men traditionally give women a rose while females give males a book. Although this might seem slightly unfair, the atmosphere throughout Catalunya on the 23rd of April can not help but impress.
Sant Jordi is fast becoming my favourite holiday. Not unlike Valentines Day, the florists and streets are full of people selling long stem roses. Traditionally one red rose would be wrapped in newspaper along with a sprig of wheat and a small red and yellow striped ribbon (the colours of the catalan flag). These days however, it is not uncomman to see pink, yellow, blue! and even multi -colour roses. This morning I walked down into the centre of town, to really feel the atmosphere and be amoungst all the lovers and books and roses. Originally just a day for men to give their beloved a rose, it has since been transformed into national book day. So when a girl gets a rose from her man, in return she gives him a book. (Im still not so pleased with this part, why can't a girl get a good book too??)
So off i went, on my stroll of the city, i saw 80 year old men buying roses for their wives, i saw kids young lovers and old lovers, walking hand in hand. Oh what a romantic i am. But how sweet it was, to see everyone so happy and in love.

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