Trips 2013: Spring Break Part II - Barcelona!

Can I repeat again how fantastic this trip was? If any of you would like to travel with the Hayes Family Five, we will welcome your buffer and your help with the apartment costs - because we scored a FANTASTIC apartment in Barcelona. I went through airbnb.com for the first time and it was a great experience. Our owner was SO helpful. Stuart had given up coffee for Lent, so we needed a kettle to make tea. But sadly, no kettle. I mentioned it to her and the next day she had purchased a kettle and delivered it! Not to mention, she had a cool apartment in a great location. Barcelona is a beautiful city, and the Catalan people are so friendly. From the shopkeepers, to the restauranteurs, to the average Joe on the street, we really only experienced a wonderful friendly and open vibe. Sadly, we did not get to practice much of our Spanish here (because they speak Catalan - which sounded a bit like a mix between Portugese, French and Spanish), but the language barrier was not an issue. Smiles, nods, pointing and more smiling was the universal language. But because words just cannot do this trip justice alone, I will let the photos do the talking.

A table for 8 - yes, please! (One of my favorite parts of the day - where we all sat down together.)

Beautiful tile - everywhere. Original and just stunning.

Silas agrees - this apartment is the BEST! (yes, of course we had wireless)

Someone's room - I can't remember who - mine and Stuart? (not Luke's, for sure) - should have taken a picture of our windows and little balcony!!

Our first day involved a bike tour with Fat Tire Bike Tours again. I have to say, thus far, our least favorite of the Fat Tire tours. It all hinges on the guide, and I thought she was good, but not great. Our Paris was the best, and later that month we did the London tour - he was second. However, I would still repeat the experience. One of the best ways to get a flavor for the city. Poor Suzanne had caught the illness the night before (the one we ended up sharing so nicely), and had a rough go of it on the hills of Barcelona - but she persevered! I would have been out of there - well, I probably wouldn't have even started the tour!!!

Zee & Stuart get their tandem bike.

Clearly Zee thinks you are all something special!

Really Mom - another picture??

Group picture in front of the Arc de Triomf

The Cascada, in the Parc de la Ciutadella

Always with the Tiger rag. (Gina, Monica, Suzanne)

Some good eats at Barcelonetta Beach  - our lunch stop on the bike tour

That night, we ate in and then decided to head out to the Magic Fountain light show. We were pretty sure we could walk the entire route from our apartment. It turned into a decent 25 minute walk (remember, we have little ones with us), but was well worth it. A fun night at the Magic Fountain music and light show!

Those probably speak for themselves. The next day, because you ALWAYS need a beach day, we did just that and headed for Barceloneta beach. This beach was built just for the 1992 Olympics that Barcelona hosted and is actually a really nice beach. It is also a European beach. Know what I mean? And it was a good weather Sunday - which meant it was packed with people. Some of them not fully clothed. Well...when in Barcelona! KIDDING KIDDING. We maintained our American sensibilities and kept ourselves fully clothed (I didn't really think it was warm enough to be topless or bottomless at any point in the day - and trust me, we saw both!)***

 What do we see here?

 For Stuart's pleasure reading, he re-reads books we had to read in middle school/high school. HUH?

 Gina and Stuart were obviously discussing something really interesting!

 Luke is buried.

 Zee has to join in the fun, too.

 Football on the beach (not the American kind)

 Playing on the beach!

Silas and Zee made this awesome double chair for themselves.

This post is already so long, I will need to make a part III - we saw SO MUCH in Barcelona. I haven't even touched on Gaudi!!! 

***A note on how we handled the nudity - so, there were several topless women, including one very pregnant bouncing up and down, splashing her stomach with water. (We were wondering if there were specific health benefits to the Meditteranean cold water for the baby?) We handled it by not making a big deal out of it. This is typical here - in Germany, you can be nude on any beach you would like - the whole family, playing beach volleyball, in the nude. So we just did our best to not make a thing out of it. We also employed distraction techniques to keep them occupied. And we didn't get hung up on it. We had a great day at the beach! 

Normandy & PARIS!! Part deux

Hello Friends!

I know, I know.  But we have been doing things here.  I will do a post on sports again soon (just went to a tournament in Rotterdam with Luke - playing International Schools from all over - what an opportunity), but I wanted to get back to our Fall Break trip we enjoyed so much.

We debated the trip to Mont St. Michel because of the drive.  It was 2 hours plus some away from where we were staying, and an old abbey in the water didn't seem that interesting for the kids.  However, we all LOVED it. (Thanks to my sweet friend Dawn for encouraging me that it was worth it!!)

If you want to know more about the abbey itself, check out its Wiki page here. I had read about the abbey in several fiction books, but had no idea about its reality. Then, while in Bayeux visiting the tapestry, there was a scene played out at Mont St Michel on the tapestry. It showed soldiers drowning in quicksand and the hero saving the day (later he was the bad guy, but isn't that the way of most stories? Who we think is bad is good, and vice versa??) Quicksand experience was all it took and my boys were IN! 

You saw from the previous post we broke up the drive there with a stop at St. Mere Eglise and continued from there to Mont St Michel.  I will let a roll of pictures demonstrate the fun that ensued.  The construction prevented me from truly capturing the majesty and beauty of this place. All I can say is GO!!  It is worth it.

Taking the shuttle to Mont St Michel

A lot of construction because they are restoring it to its state where it is surrounded by water at high tide - a bridge will reach it now, instead of a causeway.

Love how they closed the gates! There are actually a few bed & breakfast hotels on the island.

Family portrait made by fellow touring Americans.  This is from the abbey itself with the marsh in the background.

boys will be boys!

Zee snaps a portrait.

Luke snaps a portrait.

Zee posed me and snapped the picture!

In the quicksand.  It was chilly that day, but the boys braved the cold water!

Love them!

Quicksand socks!

This is from behind the abbey.

We headed back to our hotel with full hearts, so thankful for these experiences.  The sun truly did shine on us that day and we would love to go back.

The next day it was on to Paris.  Let me just say that this drive was no problem - until we reached the city.  It took us 1 hour to get around the circle to where our apartment was.  UGH.  And the roundabouts reminded me of Italy - no lanes, just go as soon as you can and wherever you can.  And hope you reach your exit.  ("There's Big Ben, kids.  And there it is again.  Look, kids, Big Ben!  And again...")

Our favorite thing we did in Paris was the Fat Tire Bike tours.  Truly, a great way to see the city and something active for all the family.

Who doesn't love the behind the back shot while bicycling??  I know, I know.  Safety first!

Look at this great tandem bike for Zee - he felt like a big guy with the rest of us!!  

Our kids were the only ones on the tour - and they behaved so wonderfully.  So great to keep them busy by bike riding!

Enjoyed it even in the rain!

Our bikes had names - he is checking to make sure this is his!

What is Stuart thinking?

Showing their calves like all the Louis's did in their portraits.  We learned so much on this tour!

 I think it says a lot that we loved this tour even in the rain.  They also offer walking tours, Segway tours, and a variety of bike tours.  Stuart and I plan to do their all day Versailles tour soon - we hope!

The rest of Paris went by in a blur of going to the top of the Eiffel tower, trying French cuisine without knowing exactly what we were getting (some successes, some failures!), and generally getting to know the city a bit. The kids loved the science museum there, and we spent a good part of one day there, avoiding the rain and exploring. It is easy to get around on the underground there, and we had so many Parisians help us out. Our last night we did a boat tour on the Seine. I think this could be magical, if it is not cold, rainy, and foggy. However, we did see a lot of sites, and enjoyed a warm beverage or two. And the Eiffel tower lit up at night on the hour is a must-see. Really.

The boys look out over the Seine

Temporary art display around the Eiffel tower - bears representing every country.

The Arc de Triomphe

No fear - 2nd level - Eiffel Tower

A lot of fear - at the top. (we went into the glassed in area immediately after this picture!)

This nice Parisian shared his bread with us.

By the EIffel tower

Thanks to the shared bread, this happened.

Pizza delivery in a crowded city

Science museum fun

He can fly!

Lit up on the hour!

The Notre Dame in Paris during our foggy boat ride

Notice Stuart's eyes closed on the last night of our trip - always at the end of a week long trip, I cannot get a picture with his eyes open!  ;-)

We really did enjoy both Normandy and Paris, although Normandy was the highlight for all of us. I hope you enjoy the pictures, the thoughts, etc.  Vive la France!