Under the Catalan Sun

I am painting my room GREEN today. So far it is looking good. I will post pictures when it's finished. I am hoping for everything to be done by this Saturday. That is the goal for most of the things in the flat.

Yesterday I went to IKEA with Pepe and Joan's mom. I still can't believe how much she bought us. I felt so bad but she wanted to get things for us. We have new couch covers, a new coffee table, a new side table, three new lamps, three new pillows, new sheets, a new hamper, two new chairs, mirror...incredible. Last nigh Joan and I were like kids on Christmas, opening our boxes and looking at everything we got. We managed to get the chairs built and one table. Today I may attempt to build the side table myself. Saturday Joan and I are going to IKEA to get a couple more things. Some artwork for the walls, a couple more chairs for the table, curtains. This place is coming along nicely.

I have to wait 5 hours before I put the second coat of paint on and now I'm not sure what to do. I keep thinking about EVERYTHING. What I should be doing, what I want to do, my job, money, that I really would rather say screw it and go down to the beach and read. It is only 11 so I have time to maybe do all that.

I feel like Frances Mayes in Under The Tuscan Sun...buying a house in a foreign country, renovating it and continuing your life there. It is a terrific movie and if you haven't seen it it's worth checking out.



Message for Tink: There is great radio station here you would love, it's called flaixbac like flashback, they play a mix of American music (all kinds) and popular Spanish music. The site is http://www.radioflaixbac.cat/ maybe you can check it out!

This is for Ms. Heather in Florida, I miss you mucho and cannot wait for your next blog post! Get to writing!

Miss you all,
C.M.

Catalan Favorites

Last night I planned to have a quiet night in, drink some wine and curl up on the couch with a glass of wine and watch a movie with my sweetie.

That turned into Albert coming over and helping us move the huge monstrosity in our living room that someone once called furniture. Which turned into dinner and more glasses of wine which also included Shabir and Ana.

I went from not wanting anyone over (not because I don't like them, I do!) because the flat is not perfect yet to having a small get together. It ended up being very nice, I enjoy the company of Albert, although we don't speak much without a translator (ehem...Joan) he is very funny and enjoys a good bottle of wine now and again. Ana is very sweet and Shabir knows how to be the life of a party. In the end, it wasn't so bad and the neurotic holly housewife inside me got over the fact of our place not being "perfect" and more into having a good time.

Today was great as well, we went to Joan's parents and had a great Sunday lunch. This is something that we will always look forward to because Joan's mare can cook. Dessert consisted of these delicious, delicate and delectable pastries that could have been picked right off the pages of a cookbook. Buttery crust filled with custard and kiwi's and strawberries; light layers of angel food cake with a soft and subtle kiwi glaze with fresh strawberries on top. Lastly, a chocolate cake topped with baked apples and warmed to perfection.....incredible. I really must learn to cook. For the sake of Joan's stomach and mine. Not that I can't cook, I can, but more things of the American variety.

Joan has work in the morning and I should get to bed as well. Tomorrow I'm going to IKEA with Joan's mom and we are going to get a few more things for the flat. Hopefully some nice lamps and a coffee table, possibly a mirror and some paint. I should be returning to work soon but I'm hoping that maybe I don't return until later in the week. I know I am going to want to get our room done as well as the living room and if I start working we will have to wait for the weekend.

It's raining babies outside....(an expression that I hope catches on soon) and I always fall asleep so soundly during a thunderstorm.

Perhaps I'll make it down to the beach tomorrow, I could use a good workout.

Take care and talk to you all very soon!

C.M.

T.G.I.F.

Yesterday ended up being better than I had thought. After I went next door to use the phone to call Joan, the neighbors and our landlords, Pepe and Benhar invited me to lunch with them. It was about a 20 minute walk but I didn't even notice with the great company I had. Pepe doesn't speak English but Benhar does and is such an interesting person to talk to. They are a couple in their early thirties, very nice and genuine people. Pepe is from Andalusia where the people are known to party-all the time. Benhar is from here in Lloret, he actually lived in our flat when he was a child.
Anyway, we walked to this great restaurant where the paella was the specialty. I have never had paella but I wasn't going to turn down a trip to lunch.

First, they ordered me a bowl of mussels. I tried them, a bit salty, so no more of those. I had plenty of calamari and then the paella. The eyes of the shrimp looking up at me disconcerted me a bit but after I got past that, it was delicious. We had wine and gelat for dessert. Here, lunches last 2 hours or more. It's all about friends and wine and enjoying the company of others. When we left, Benhar was talking to me about walking and if I, being an American, was used to walking so much. I told him no and that if we were back in Maryville or Saint Leo, everyone would take a car. Benhar made good points, after lunch, why not walk it off, exercise and let the digestion process happen rather than driving to your home and being stationary the rest of the afternoon. I couldn't agree more.

We found ourselves on the beach that was littered with children. Being the last day of January, the schools take the children to the beach for the day and the parents come and give them omelet sandwiches which is a very special treat. We met Benhar's brother who was there with his girlfriend to pick up their child. He thought I was Russian. Why? because of my dark hair and piercing blue eyes he told me. I can take that. I like to take many forms, when I was blond I was "the American" when I had red hair I was "the Irish girl" when I dyed my hair dark brown I have been both "the Russian girl" and "the Spanish girl".

Walking along the beach and seeing the waves crash on the rocks, the seagulls overhead and the sweet perfume of chocolate churros is now my favorite moment. On our way back home we met a friend of theirs, Carlos, who has a American girlfriend as well. She is studying in Barcelona now and has to go back to California in a month. He said that one day we should meet. It would be nice but I would prefer Alison to come back instead.

We returned at 5 and I only had an hour or so to get the flat ready for Joan. I managed to get everything unpacked and everything cleaned by 6:30 and lucky for me Joan arrived at 6:45. damn traffic.

We had our first official dinner in the flat. We sat in front of the windows and watched the city go by.

Today, I am at home again and waiting until 11 for Pepe and I to go into town. She needs to get a few things from Joan's parents meat shop so I figured another afternoon would be fine, she is hilarious and although she doesn't speak English and my Spanish is very basic, usually I can understand what she says. At 4 Joan's mom, Maribel and his sister Ariana are picking me up and we're going to get a few things for the flat; cleaning supplies, more pillows,decorations. I want to get it clean incase they come upstairs to see it.

Tonight Shabir wants Joan and I to go out with him and Ana, she just flew in from Madrid last night. I'm not sure that we will go, Joan ends up being exhausted after work. Possibly Saturday.

It is only 9 now so I have two hours to get myself together.
I miss you all and wish you a very wonderful day!

C.M.