Road Trip in Spain Part 1

After Barcelona, we drove to Montserrat, Tarragona, Zaragoza and Olite before stopping for four days in San Sebastián.

Mamu against the dramatic backdrop of Montserraat

Chamu playing in the park 

Chamu offering Dadu his flower in Tarragona

Chamu happily touring his Roman forum in Tarragona

Fairytale-like castle in Olite

Chamu being greeted by the knight at the Parador Olite

Mamu, Dadu & Chami-Chami

Barcelona

We spent two weeks in the lovely city of Barcelona.  The weather and people were especially kind and food was great!  Spending a long time in a city is now our preferred way to travel since you get to know the city so much better and you don't feel pressured at all in packing your day.  We walked around a lot, sat down whenever we wanted, played in the park whenever Chamu wanted...

Amazing Pintxos at Bar Pinotxo

Parc Güell

Park Güell

Chamu and Gaudí Gekko

In Bilbao

Harassing the artwork

Taipei and HK

We had a lot of fun (and relaxation) back in Hong Kong and Taipei. We attended Mab's fabulous wedding, got check-ups for both Mamu and Chamu and caught up with many friends we hadn't seen for a while.  Mamu especially enjoyed the food (can't believe it's been almost six months since she left)!

Joaquin had fun hanging out with great grandma, grandparents, aunties and uncles (and Costanza/Inés/Axel/Zack/Tristan/Isabella/Tarin)...Of course he also checked into the hospital for one night due to bronchiolitis...but he braved it through and made it to Barcelona alright.

Joaquinus Chumus Maximus

At the Roman Forum in Tarragona

El Caga Tío de Barcelona

One of the strangest Christmas traditions, I would think, ever: according to our friends Angel and Alia, kids in Catalunya believe that if they feed El Tio de Nadal ("The Christmas Uncle"), this happy faced wood log wearing a red cap, over the period leading up to Xmas, it will grow (which it does via parental ingenuity and deception). Then come Xmas, they can beat it with a stick, singing a song ("Caga, Tio, caga turró..."), until it will (we kid you not) "shit" Xmas presents. Naturally we couldn't resist having Joaquin participate in this:

Out the rear end of the Tío came a present ideal for Joaquin: a paper truck! (with the sponsoring Ham company's logo, of course).

Prague