¨Barthelona¨

Just spent about 5 days in Barcelona, struggling to understand opening hours, directions to everywhere, Halloween-appropriated sailors from Germany, what to do on a Sunday, as well as how to speak Spain Spanish. Spain - or Barcelona - was a little different to what i had imagined, but nonetheless some FANTASTIC architecture, pretty good food and some great little quirky shops. But of course, it's all in the pictures....

Food...







Architecture...

Avignon street, where Picasso based his revolutionary piece; Les Demoiselles de Avignon

Old Jewish quarter

- A Synagogue


Olympic Village...














Art...

MACBA








La Rambla street performers...

Lyon

Last week went to Lyon, south of France, to visit Joel and check out the university town. Was there for less than 24 hours yet i got a great sense of the city´s charming, intimate streets lined with great bars and supposedly good places to eat.

BUT I´m not going to lie by hiding my disappointment at the tranquility of the city, given the excitement of the riots that had dominated the streets a week earlier. Ah well.

Tintin!!




Remains of last week´s riots




Eating dinner in the art deco restaurant, Georges. Yummmmm.

Marseille

More family!! Spent 3 days with newly discovered relatives; Gilles, Silvie, Juliet and Lilou in their absolutely gorgeous little french villa in Marseille countryside. They have been unbelievably accomodating, and i've had a fantastic time. Yes, there is a castle in their village. Their local bottleshop is a strip of wineries. They live in a 16th century Chapel, and they eat crossaints for breakfast. Gilles and Sylvie are flight attendants, and get to travel all over the world for their job. Perfect lifestyle? I think so.

Gilles and Sylvie, first night

Their house

Local winery

Beautiful French architecture

Me, Gilles, Lilou and Juliet

Crème brulée, chocolate brownie and greek yogurt with honey

Lilou, 3yrs old; isn't she cute!!

Just another southern French village... (Gorde)

A gorgeous monastery that still houses Monks today, who live according to 300yr old tradition