TravelStream™ news feed for member clandybar on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/clandybar en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:53:57 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1203165000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1203165000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1203165000/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:53:57 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

After we finished our Latin American adventure, we spent a month with my Mom and Dad in Calgary. We spent the month repacking boxes and taking inventory of all our remaining earthly possessions, catching up with friends and family and trying to stay warm! There were a few days in Calgary at the end of January that were -30 degrees celcius or below. Far cry from +35 degrees in Buenos Aires in early January.

We took the bus to Vancouver on February 16 to see my aunts, uncles and cousins there for a couple of days. Then we flew to Ireland for a week and then off to Spain for the big adventure!

So why Spain? We´re looking for a life with a few more sunny days, a new adventure in a new language, outdoor activities, different pace... Mexico and parts of South America are really appealing but we would have to jump through hoops for work visas, etc. Spain has a lot of what we are looking for plus we can both work there as we have the magic little U.K. passports. So here´s hoping we can make a go of it. Once our Spanish is more fluent we´ll be laughing, but for the meantime, we´ll go to school and practice a lot. With my TESL certification, I hope to find a teaching job and Andy is looking for contract work within his specialized area of engineering but technical translation and proofing are also options.

We´ll keep everyone up to date on progress and see if we can make a real go of it as expats!! Adios...
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1234137600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1234137600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1234137600/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:42:18 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Paris, Île-de-France, France

We decided to book a mini-break in Paris for the week before Valentine's Day. The prices for hotels and flights are very reasonable in winter and we heard the queues would be short for all the best attractions.

We arrived on Friday morning at 11:00 a.m. and took the metro from the airport into the city and up to Montmarte. This is an amazing neighbourhood - so perfectly Paris. It is everything I imagined Paris would be - all the cafes and baguette shops and people walking their little dogs. Ahhhh. We found our hotel which was perfectly situated - good access to the metro, Sacre Coeur and lots of cafes, restaurants and nightlife. We didn't waste any time getting out to explore the city. First stop Eiffel Tower!

We only stood in line for about 10 minutes at the tower, then we were up the elevator and on our way. It was just as exciting as I imagined it would be. Great views! We had sun for the first part of the afternoon but the sky got grey by about 2:30 p.m. We made it up to the very top of the tower - a bit chilly in February but totally worth it. We were lucky that we didn't wait until Saturday as the top level was closed due to bad visibility.

Next we walked towards the magnificent gold dome that we saw from the Eiffel Tower. We found the Hotel des Invalides and the gold dome church. Apparently this is where Napoleon is buried, although we didn't go into the crypt. We arrived just in time to see a photo shoot for a group from the French army. It was fun to watch them standing so still and making different formations. By this time, the sun was going down quickly and Paris was getting a bit chilly. We headed back to Montmartre to find a cozy restaurant. Then we went to a pub and had a few drinks.

On Saturday, the weather was miserable, but we pulled on our warmest gear and headed out. We decided to make it a museum day in order to stay warm. We headed to the Louvre and although it was crowded, we were able to get a close look at the Mona Lisa and other famous works of art housed there. The building itself is amazing - so huge. After 4 hours we had still only covered about 1/3 of it. After our day of art and history we decided to walk along the Champs Elysees to explore a more modern side of French culture. We wanted to find a restaurant and see the Arc de Triomphe up close. We happened across a Citroen showroom with cool gadgets and cars so we had to stop in for a look. Then we found a place to eat and warm up. We waited until dark to walk to the Arc de Triomphe. It is spectacular at night. Very beautiful. We made our way back to Montmartre after this with a stop at the Moulin Rouge on the way. I wanted to go to a show just for the fun of it, but it was sold out - darn. Another time...

On Sunday the weather was still chilly but a bit sunnier. We made our way to the Musee d'Orsay to check out the art from the 1848 - 1914 period. It was really lovely and bright inside the old train station. I'm a fan of Degas painting and sculpture so I was happy to see this area. After the museum we walked along the river and crossed over to the island to visit Notre Dame. It seems small from the outside but it is a very grand and beautiful cathedral. A very popular attraction. Next we walked to the Pantheon and the Jardin du Luxembourg. We headed back to Montmartre for dinner and then ventured up the hill to see Sacre Coeur at night. The view from the cathedral is amazing and the church itself is both beautiful and eerie in the moonlight.

Monday, our last day in Paris, was truly freakin cold. But it was still Paris and I still loved it. It rained all day but we found some cool places to explore. We found the Centre Pompidou, the ultra modern art museum. Wow, some of the art here is too much for my taste but some of it is cool. We warmed up in Starbucks (I know, I know) and then walked to the National Music Hall and finally sulked back to the hotel to get our bags and head to the airport. We arrived to the airport at about 6:00 p.m. and everything seemed fine. But an hour later we discovered that Charles de Gaule and all other airports in the City were closing due to high winds. So our flight was canceled and we were rebooked on a flight the next day at 4:00 p.m. Well, at least we got a hotel for the night from the airline. The rest isn't exciting.. mostly sitting and waiting. But we made it home safely, only 24 hours later than planned. Paris was amazing. I can't wait to go back some time in the summer to see everything again but green.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1237486620/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1237486620/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1237486620/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:39:46 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Valencia, Valencian Country, Spain

I first heard about Las Fallas from my friend from work (Alexandra) because her boyfriend Juan grew up in Valencia. It is a city-wide festival where the different communities compete to build huge street sculptures out of paper, wood, styrofoam and the like. Then they paint them and show them off before burning them all to the ground. It's like "out with the old, in with the new". So we decided to go on the weekend before the big bonfire to catch a glimpse at all the fallas.

So we arrived in Valencia at about 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 14. We decided to take the bus as it was a bit cheaper than the train but maybe not quite as comfy. From the bus station we took a city bus to our hotel then went exploring. We found a cool falla everywhere we turned. I was so amazed at the talent and artistic ability that goes into the sculptures. It seems a shame to burn them but that's part of what makes the tradition as cool as it is.

In the afternoon we found the City of Arts and Sciences. The buildings are amazing works of architecture. The area is so clean and modern and such an interesting contrast with the historic parts of the city. We really liked the dry river valley that you can walk along too. There was a flood many years back so they diverted the river to the outskirts of the city and turned the old riverbed into a park. So you can walk or cycle from the sea all the way to the outskirts of the city along the paths in the park. It is full of orange trees and very green. Such a nice place to have picnics and enjoy the sunshine. We were so lucky we had amazing weather all weekend.

After checking out a lot of fallas in the streets, we wandered to the Mercado de Colon (a very upscale place with cafes and shops). We had a coffee and later met up with Juan and Alexandra. With them we walked into the centre and around the old city. I love the old buildings and narrow streets. Later on we found a pub and had a rest and a beer. We carried on walking around after dark to see all the big fallas in the centre that were lit up. Then we walked to the street of lights which was so amazing to see. I can't even imagine the electric bill for that neighbourhood. It was so mesmerizing to walk down the street with so many brilliant lights above! Later we found a great Italian restaurant and had a nice relaxing evening eating and drinking.

On Sunday morning we slept in a bit but then met up with Juan and Alexandra at noon to start walking into the centre. At 2:00 p.m. every day there is a big fireworks and firecrackers display at City Hall called mascletas. The streets were packed for blocks and people were drinking beer and having a great time. The funniest thing was that we found the mascletas to be really loud but two babies sleeping in strollers nearby didn't even flinch during the whole 10 minute spectacle!

After the mascletas, we walked back to Juan and Alexandra's flat to get their car. Then we drove to a neighbourhood outside of the centre that has won the competition for best falla for the past 6 years. I have to say it was impressive. Although it wasn't quite finished, we could imagine how beautiful it would be. The communities had until Monday night to finish. Then judging was Tuesday and burning was Thursday. Anyway, we went for lunch with Juan and Alexandra then went off to the bus station for our journey home to Barcelona. It was an amazing weekend - a must see event if you ever plan on being in Valencia in March. It was loud, but very very fun!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1231012980/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1231012980/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1231012980/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:32:36 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

We made it back to Barcelona on December 31 at 6:30 p.m. and had two hours to get home from the airport, change and get to Marmalade in central Barcelona. But we made it! We met up with our friends Tommasso and Susan, Tom and Marischa and Alexandra and Juan. It was a fun night - more good food and lots of drinks. We also met a British couple on holiday who were really nice.

Somehow the evening flew by. We wanted to stay out all night but we're just old I guess. We rolled home at about 3:00 a.m. on the metro although I can't remember it to be honest. New Years day and the days following were pretty quiet.

We decided to go to Port Vell on January 5 for the Three Kings festival. It was really cool - the kings sailed into the port on a big ship and all the kids were there to greet them. They take envelopes from the children with their gift list. Then on January 6, the kids receive their presents. The parade of the Kings started at the port and wove around the whole city. It was nice to see all the families lining the streets.

Christmas holidays ended on January 8 - back to work once again. But it was a lovely long rest.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1262043000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1262043000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1262043000/tpod.html Sat, 04 Apr 2009 08:15:09 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Portadown, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

We arrived at the Belfast airport on the evening of December 22 - the first time in my life I've ever been to Ireland without experiencing serious jetlag! It was really nice to arrive feeling normal after only flying for two hours from Barcelona. We still had a bunch of shopping to do so the first few days we pretty tiring. But then Christmas came and everyone relaxed into a routine of eating and sleeping!

It was lots of fun spending Christmas with Andy's family. We got to see our niece Rachel and nephew Alex - which is always a treat.

We spent a good portion of Christmas day stuffing our faces at Andy's aunt Noeleen's house. She cooked a wonderful turkey with all the trimmings. Luckily there is a lake close by and the weather wasn't too cold so we all piled in two cars and went for a long walk!

On Boxing Day everyone went to Adrian and Bessie's for another feast. More amazing food and lots of laughs! After that we spent time with our friends Richard, Avtar and Gary and their family. Then we went to Portrush to visit Andy's sister Wendy and her husband Mark and the kiddies. We played with all the Christmas toys, went bowling and watched the Polar Express. Good times!

We flew back to Barcelona on December 31 just in time to gun it home, change and make it to the restaurant Marmalade to meet up with our friends.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1225481460/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1225481460/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1225481460/tpod.html Fri, 03 Apr 2009 17:15:12 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

We were fortunate to have a lot of visitors our first Summer and Autumn in Barcelona. First our friend Cathryn came to visit from England, then our friends Richard and Avtar from Ireland, then Claire's parents from Canada, followed by Andy's brother Adrian and his wife Bessie and finally Andy's parents from Ireland!

We had fun showing everyone the sites and most of the time the weather was warm and sunny except for a few days in September. We made it to the beach every weekend from June - October, which was amazing. We also had a lot of fun going to Montjuic movies, checking out outdoor festivals and concerts and meeting up with friends for BBQs.

In August we checked out the street festival in the neighbourhood of Gracia, which was visually stunning to say the least. So many streets were decorated in different themes. There was a street with Antarctic decorations, another with Mexican wrestlers, one with giant sewing decorations and so many more that I can't recall. Definitely a fun place to go in August.

On September 11 when my parents were visiting, we went to the city centre to see the giant statues and human castles for the National day of Catalunya. The Plaza was so full with people we couldn't move. It was a very cool parade. Later in the week we went to some concerts in the area too. We even saw the Sam Roberts band from Canada!

Later in November when Andy's Mom and Dad visited we went on the City bus tour which was so fun. I always wanted to go on it but never had a chance. It is a really great way to see Barcelona and you can get on and off all day with the same ticket. There are three lines running in the summer so you can get a pass to switch lines and see even more of the city. I think the highlight of the trip was when Andy and his Dad went to Nou Camp for a tour of the stadium. It was fun going to Sagrada Familia again too - every time we go it is even more amazing than the last. Can't wait until it's done in 20 - 25 years!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1217358120/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1217358120/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1217358120/tpod.html Sun, 10 Aug 2008 17:37:36 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Roses, Catalonia, Spain

It has been really hot in Barcelona lately and you can tell that people are looking forward to their holidays. A lot of Spaniards still do the 3 or 4 week holiday in August but since we're still new to the life here, we're taking a few days as mini-breaks and then we'll save our bigger breaks for later in the year. But the best thing about living in Barcelona is the close proximity to the beach - especially the Costa Brava.

On July 25 we picked up our rental car and headed North up the coast towards the French boarder. We had booked a hotel in Roses with the idea of exploring the towns and sights in the surrounding area. So we made it to Roses by 1:30 and checked in to our hotel. After lunch we drove the winding road to Cadaques, a beautiful and quaint fishing village. The road is a bit dangerous (we witnessed two accidents on the commute there and back) but the result is worth the effort. Cadaques is just everything I imagined, white houses, narrow streets and lovely seafood. We explored for a few hours before heading back to the bustling streets of Roses and battling for a parking space. That evening we ate at a little Australian themed beach restaurant.

The next morning we found a little cove just outside Roses with a nice beach and not too many people. We lounged by the sea and even went swimming. By 2:00 p.m. we were hot and in need of food so we packed up and headed to Figeres. This town is home to the famous Salvador Dali museum. At first we wondered how we would find it without the street address or a map. But then we saw a big red building with massive eggs on top and figured we were in the right place. The museum was great for an afternoon excursion because it was a way to beat the heat and was full of the most interesting, strange and wonderful art. Some of the art is shocking, some is weird and some is beautiful. Very cool museum indeed. We headed back to Roses after an afternoon shower cooled things down. Later in the evening we pigged out on paella and sangria and had crema catalan for dessert. Yummmmmmmmmm!

On Sunday we hit the beach again but this time it was packed. We arrived early which was a good thing as the area was packed by 11:00. In the afternoon we went for a drive to a little village called Castelló d'Empuries. The village was so quiet, we assumed everyone in it must have been having a siesta. We wandered the street of the sleepy town and finally came across a pub with a bit of action. After a couple of claras (beer and lemon soda), we walked some more and found some historic buildings and a park with shade.

Once back in Roses, we had our own siesta then took a long walk along the beach boardwalk. We worked up an appetite and had a pretty huge feast at an Argentinian restaurant. Oh the memories of Buenos Aires... There was a party at the beach with a DJ and decent music so we wandered over to check it out after our meal. On Monday morning we got an early start back to Barcelona. But unfortunately it wasn't in the cards. I forgot my passport at the hotel so we had to turn around after 45 minutes on the road! Oops. Traffic getting back into Barcelona was crazy. We waited for ages at a toll booth and then crawled through traffic jams the closer we got to the centre. And this was at 11:00 a.m. But regardless, we got the car rental back on time and took the metro home. We spent the afternoon at the local beach to get the last bit of sun and sand from our mini-break! It was a lovely and relaxing getaway and so close to Barcelona. There are many more places along Costa Brava to explore so we'll be sure to do this again soon.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1215890100/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1215890100/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1215890100/tpod.html Sun, 03 Aug 2008 17:35:11 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Montserrat, Spain

We have been spending every possible evening and weekend at the beach since mid June, but we finally decided that we'd better try exploring other landscapes as well.

On July 12 we decided to take the train to Montserrat, where mountain and monastery meet. Part of the fun of the excursion is the transportation. The train journey on FGC was scenic and relaxing. Then we caught the zipper train up the mountain and the panoramic views were stunning. The village at the top is part historic and part touristic. There are a few hotels, restaurants and a museum which are fairly modern. Then you have the lovely old monastery and cathedral as well as little old churches further up the mountain as part of the hiking trail. There is also a special Virgin Mary here but I admit that I don't remember the whole story. We had our picnic lunch on the monastery steps then wandered around inside. The area with the candles is really beautiful.

Later on we took the funicular up to the very top lookout and walked to one of the old abandoned churches. There are some nice hikes here if you have enough time. We saw that the sky was getting a bit grey and gloomy so we cut our hike short and started to walk down the hill back to the village. At 6:00 we caught the zipper train back to the railway station. On the way down the hill, the skies opened up and let out a great shower. It was still raining cats and dogs by the time we arrived back in Barcelona. We got soaked through just running a block and a half from the metro to our apartment.

This is definitely a must-see day trip outing if you want to explore the region of Catalonia but be back in Barcelona in time for dinner. The scenery is so different from the coast - the rock formations and terrain are very unique. Plus the old historic feel of the monastery and little churches conjures up images of the past. There are so many myths associated with the mountains too that are fun to read about. And the religious symbolism is very powerful too. It was a great day out despite the wet ending!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1214322720/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1214322720/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1214322720/tpod.html Tue, 24 Jun 2008 12:20:07 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Sitges, Catalonia, Spain

On the weekend of June 21 we decide to take full advantage of the glorious weather and spend a lot of time at the beach. On Saturday we went to one of the Barcelona beaches called Bogatell and just relaxed. There were a lot of people with the same idea, but it was still easy to find a spot. On Sunday, we packed a day bag and headed on the train to Sitges, a great little seaside town about 45 minutes from Barcelona.

It was such a great day out because the weather was perfect and the atmosphere there is so chilled. We started by hanging out at the beach for a few hours under our new umbrella. It is the only way I will be able to be a beach goer with my fair skin! Then we wandered to the old church and through some of the quaint narrow streets to the other side of the town with even more beaches. We found a great little shady pub to have lunch at and then wander through the town. We had icecream later on the grass near another beach but we were asked to move - oops!

After wandering, lounging and hanging out at the beach some more, we called it a day. We took the train back to Barcelona and enjoyed the sunny evening. Monday was a work day but there is a really important holiday called San Juan on Tuesday, June 24.

One of the girls I work with had a party on the night of June 23 which was a lot of fun. Her apartment has a terrace on the roof that can be used by all tenants so she claimed it for the night and about 25 of us drank, ate and watched fireworks until the wee hours of the morning. On the way back to our place on the metro, it was like being in a night club on wheels. All of the kids that had been at parties were now off to the beach to continue their celebration. I think it is even more festive than New Years Eve. We tried a special cake for the occasion called Coca - very sweet and yummy. Today is just a chilled out day (June 24) as everyone recovers. But the kids are still setting off fire crackers so we have to endure the booms every few hours!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1212333360/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1212333360/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/clandybar/3/1212333360/tpod.html Tue, 24 Jun 2008 11:50:06 -0400 Moving to Spain - A Relocation Adventure

Jump to the full
entry & travel map

Barcelona, Spain

It has been ages since I've done an entry but that is mostly because we lost the internet connection at the place we were staying in May. It got a bit difficult to share space with other people so we were really excited to find our own apartment at the end of May. Andy searched for weeks and practiced his Spanish a lot by contacting multiple agencies to view their apartments for rent. Finally he went to an agency on May 29 ask about one apartment but it was already rented out so they whisked him over to another and right away he knew we should take it. I saw it the next day and by June 1 we had paid the deposit, met the land lady and moved in. That's the benefit of a furnished apartment - everything is here and we hardly need anything. We have all of our boxes in Canada that we will be shipping over but there should be room for everything.

So the cool things about this apartment are: it is in a modern building, the furniture and decor is tasteful and funky, there are two bedrooms so we can have visitors, we get afternoon sun so we can sit at the balcony and drink wine, and best of all - we are a 10 minute walk from the beach!!

We're in the community Poble Nou (new town) which is one of these communities that is transforming from old to new but hopefully they will keep the charming old aspects as they make way for new condos and office blocks. It has this great rambla (wide pedestrian street) about 2 blocks from us where people saunter to the beach, buy ice cream or sit on cafe patios and drink cerveza. It is charming and very Barcelona. There is a lot of construction in and around Poble Nou where they are pulling down old factories and apartment blocks to make way for new buildings. It adds value to the neighbourhood but some people feel it is taking away the character. I love the neighbourhood though because everything is within walking distance. We have three supermarkets within three blocks, two green-grocers with fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, the rambla and beach are close and the metro station is only 2 blocks away as well. We can be in central Barcelona in 15 minutes on the metro.

So this is the start of the next adventure in Spain now that we are officially living here. It was a complicated process but another check mark on the list. If anyone is ever doing the same, a healthy amount of Spanish is essential and a lot of patience. Feel free to contact us if you ever need advice!

Now we can invite all our friends and family to come and visit so we can share all of the wonderful things about Barcelona and surrounding areas with them! But for now I must go to the beach...
]]>