The Newly Weds

  Barcelona, Spain
Saturday, November 3, 2007

My sister Paula and her new husband, Ignacio moved to Barcelona a couple weeks ago.  Now that we're only around the corner Ed and I thought we should pay them a visit, albeit a quick one since flights to Barcelona over the weekend were not too varied.

We met in Plaza Catalunya where the noon sun was beating down hard.  Coming from a cold London we were clearly overdressed.  Ignacio was wearing a summer shirt and my sister was in a tank top whereas Ed and I were carrying heavy sweaters and jackets.  Ugh.

It was amazing to see my sister again, although last time I saw her was for her wedding in Buenos Aires only 3 months earlier.  I felt really proud that they had been able to pick and leave everything much like Ed and I did a year and a half ago, and now they know as well as we do how difficult it can be.   



We didn't have much planned for the day except catch up and wander around the streets of Barcelona. But seeing as it was as hot as a summer day we found a bar in a small square flanked by the massive buttresses of an old Gothic church, and enjoyed a few drinks.  Talking about their new beginnings here in the Old Continent reminded me of how it was when Ed and I first arrived, back when we landed in Mallorca to work the summer in 2006, pretty much timorous of starting out in a new country and a new culture, timid of everything and everyone.  Paula and Ignacio were pretty much in the same situation we had been in: they now need to find jobs and get settled in so we gave them the tips and pointers that had been useful for us back then. 



One thing that did change in Barcelona is the prices.  Apparently prices have gone up substantially and it was very noticeable for Ed and I who had enjoyed a laid back 10 days last year before flying into London to start anew.  Where before my rum and cokes were about 4.50€, now they cost around 6€.  Paula mentioned that in the short while they had been in the city, they had heard negative comments from people about the raise of prices and how it's affecting the general cost of living, particularly food and rent.

After a quick stand-up falafel lunch from the same shop Ed and I had pigged out in the first time we were here, we took the metro to Mount Montjuic, probably my favorite part of Barcelona.  A huge change from the busy din of La Rambla, the quiet streets of Mount Montjuic were indeed a haven in the city.  The dense gardens spiraling up the hill looked out to the elegant domes and spires of the National Museum of Catalan Art, glowing in afternoon light.


 
The old Botanical Gardens which Ed and I had enjoyed so much last trip were unfortunately closed, but I made sure my sister and her husband remembered the place for another afternoon walk.  The little bars that are so common in Spanish squares and parks were enticing so we sat down for a few more chilly San Miguel's.
 
As the sun started going down the temperature began to drop fast, and I was now glad we had brought the previously useless sweaters and jackets.  Paula and Ignacio took us to their new home which is shared by two other Mexican chefs.  A bottle of rum, a bottle of champagne, many beers and a bowl of Spanish olives and gherkins later, we had a good time just sitting there talking and laughing.  


 
Ed and I left for the airport at 4am, with promises of seeing each other again real soon, maybe for Christmas or soon after.  I left relieved that they looked happy and relaxed, as two newly weds should.  As for me, I was happy to have my sister closer to home now, within arms' reach.