Where in the World Day 9

I've been gone so long that it's getting hard to keep track of days, Kim! I don't have anything explicit on the agenda for today or tomorrow. Actually, most of the time in Majorca is "free time". Madame trip planner thought we might be tired of sightseeing and plans by now so we can go with the flow on the island. I plan to read and lay on the beach. I really want to hike, as well, but the hiking company never emailed me back so we will just have to see what happens. I know we will be enjoying nature and exploring the charms of the island. There are some caves that you can take a boat in and they play classical music. I'm not big on caves but that sounds pretty cool. The other girls may go snorkeling but I think if you have snorkeled once, you are good. I have checked it off my life list and am content to opt out.
I'm sure I'm a little homesick by now. Do you miss me?

Where in the World Day 8

It may be the weekend, but there is no rest for the sightseers!
Today's excursions include the Plaza de Espana, Parque de Maria Luisa, Pabellon Mudejar, Plaza de America (think there will be a McDonald's for authenticity?) and the Queen's Sewing Box. Again, I don't know what half of these things are but I am particularly intrigued by the last one.
Tonight we fly to Palma Majorca.
Hubby will be going to his friend's wedding solo tonight. I feel pretty bad about that one. I would love to be dancing with him right now!

Where in the World Day 7

Happy Friday! TGIF for all of you back  in "the States", no?
Today is a big day for me....we are getting flamenco tickets for tonight!!!!! I totally dream of them inviting me to dance on a table or up on stage. In said dream, they loan me a big, boldly colored skirt. I am overjoyed.
Before I can get there, though, madame trip planner is hoping we will visit Iglesia de San Pedro to find a bird, Iglesia de la Magdalena, Iglesia San Jose, Salvador, Plaza Nueva, Casa Pilatos, Roman Columns and Plaza de Toros.
I just had a moment of language awakening...doesn't "iglesia" mean church? How many churches are we visiting????? Did I mention the trip planner is super Catholic? I'm seeing a pattern here:)

Sneaking in a post from Espana

The itinerary changed a little bit but I am keeping a travel journal to keep you all abreast of the excitement...when I get home.
Flamenco show tonight!
We were trying to cram a trip to Morocco in from Seville but I don´t think it´s going to happen, sadly.
I think I need to sign off from the tourist free 15 minute computer stall.
Adios!!
ps. I got mooned from an alley in Barcelona day 1.

Where in the World Day 6

Dear Kim,
I will be in Donana National Park all day today. Siobhan will loan me some binoculars and I will try to put in contact lenses.
Almost a week in, I hope we are all still talking at this point:)

Where in the World Day 5

The party of three adds a member today! A friend flies in from the DC area to join the fun this afternoon.
Sights to see today: Plaza Virgin de los Reyes, Hospital de la Caridad chapel, Seville Cathedral and Giralda, Alcazar Palace and Jardines de Murillo.
Oh, and Kim, I didn't forget you.....

Where in the World Day 4

All Aboard!!!!!!!!
Today I will enjoy a 6 hour train ride from Barcelona to Seville, home of Flamenco dancing!
Here, we leave behind our days of hotel stays and check into an apartment with a rooftop deck. Yes, please!
We will be seeing the Hospital de los Cinco Llages, the Basilica de Macarenca (I will try to do the dance outside the front door), Muralles, Iglesia de San Luis, Monolitos Romanos, Plaza de San Lorenzo and maybe Torre del Oro.
I'm sure at some point on the trip we will enjoy some night life. It's just not written on the itinerary.

Where in the World Day 3

Good Morning! Today we will be visiting la Boqueria, the market. The pictures I have seen of the fresh fruits and veggies are enticing. Also on the agenda for the day: Parc Guell, Monument a Colom, walk along marina boardwalk, air tram to Montjuic and gardens, Castell de Montjuic, the Olympic Stadium (which I think might be closed) and Palau.
If this is hard to understand for you, imagine what it feels like writing out that I will be going to these places I don't even understand:) Who am I kidding? It will be thrilling and surprising! I don't know a lick of Catalan and can really only say "hola" in Spanish. I can ask where the library is in French, do you think that will help? Ya, me neither.
In the afternoon we are visiting a monastery, Monastir de Sant Pau del Camp. I don't know what we get to do there but it sounds cool!
To wrap things up, we will visit the magic fountain, aka Font Magica, at night.

Where in the World Day 2

Today the agenda calls for exploring Barri Gotic. We will visit the Cathedral de Barcelona and cloister/gardens. We may even attend a morning mass. I thought about trying to find a Mormon ward to go to for the day because that would be cool but I speak no Catalan (the language in Barcelona). My friend, the trip planner, already had a full day scheduled for us, too.
At noon, we will see the Sardana, the national dance. In the afternoon, we will sightsee the Sangrada de Familia, probably the most famous site in the city. It's the unfinished church designed by Gaudi, with signature curves. We will also see La Pedrera, Casa Batlo, Casa Amatller, walk along Pasieg de Gracia Street (the block of discord), visit the Arc de Triomf, Parc de la Cuittadella, maybe row a boat in the lake there, see Parliament, walk along the Psg Del Born and maybe hit up the Picasso Museum. Whew! I don't yet know what half of those things are but I am sure they will be lovely!
Finally, in the evening we will be seeing the Santa Maria del Mar Cathedral.
After all of that, I hope my friend the tour guide will let me sleep!

Where in the World Day 1

Last night I took a red eye flight to land in London today for a layover long enough to get out and see a bit of the city. I might be more excited for the afternoon in London than the whole two weeks in Spain. I'm so pumped to see the Tower of London. I have read enough Philippa Gregory books and others in that genre about the Tudor court that I can't wait to see the real thing. I asked my friend if we could wear fake halloweenesque slashes on our throats to channel Anne Boleyn but she vetoed that idea. After the Tower, we hope to also visit Westminster Abbey and view Big Ben and the London Eye. By tonight I will be in Barcelona!

While I am gone....

I will be departing for my trip to Spain tonight. I have set up posts to show what I will be doing each day I am gone! These are meant for the purpose of time suckage when you should be doing something at work or around the house but would really rather not. They are also for my buddy Kim so she knows I  am not abandoning her while I am away without cell service for two weeks. Because it tickles me, I will be addressing my posts to Kimmy, herself:)
I have been getting really sad leading up to my trip. It's inevitable that I almost always cry before I travel. The idea that I won't see my husband/cats/bed/tv/mom for two weeks makes me appreciate them so much more. So I gleaned from that sadness that another reason to travel is to greater appreciate the comfort, safety, and general pleasantness of home. It's great to see other places and absorb their culture a bit-it rattles us up and helps us see the world through fresh eyes. But as Dorothy said, "There's No Place Like Home". That girl was ahead of her time.
I hope while I am gone and on hiatus from publicly complaining about the world, you will plan your next trip or do something really nice for yourself! I would now sign off in Spanish if I knew any.....

Been around the World and I, I, I

"I can't find my baby". Do you remember that song? It's in my head for some reason. Maybe it's because I am leaving tomorrow for my big adventure.
As for today, I am cranky. Work stuff has kind of been blowing my mind today. I won't get into it and you're welcome for that.
I have a lot to do tonight including packing, although I have been trying on clothes since last weekend. Because someone else planned the trip and I don't even understand half of the things on the itinerary, I'm just hoping I have the appropriate attire for all of the activities. I'm no fashionista but I am overly preoccupied with the clothes I will be wearing.
Tonight I need to give Hubby lots of hugs and spoon with the cats.
The DVR is cleared enough to accommodate the shows I will miss while I am gone. Check.
Me and Madame trip planner, as my friend who organized the trip is now being called, have added another tv show reference to the mix. We already have our Sex and the City  names, our Golden Girls names, our Jersey Shore personas, or as autocorrect just taught me "personae". I suggested Mob Wives identities, too, but not enough people are into it yet for it to be fun. The newest addition is from Ru Paul's Drag Race 3. The cool girls are "Heathers" and the lamo-s are "Boogers". It can be our little inside joke.
I hope I bring the right books to read, too! Isn't it the worst to bring books on vacation or to the beach and then not really be into them? I always travel with two books, just in case. I also worry that I will blow through my book and then I will be book-bare. I actually went book shopping when I was in Iceland, for the next book in my series. It was awesome to have a pricetag in Krona on the front of my book.
Ok, enough from me. Ta ta for now!

Countdown to Spain

“To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted.” – Bill Bryson

As I am just days away from seeing London and Spain, I loved seeing this quote on the blog "Everything Everywhere" today.

I spent Saturday trying on summery clothes to wear in the warmer Spain has to offer. I learned that most of my wardrobe is brown, black, or blue. Oh, with some gray interspersed. I just hope I pack everything I need!

Mmmmmm

Skyr: A miracle food

Skyr

I try to make my posts entertaining but sometimes it's more important to just get down to business. I am pretty sure I have found a miracle product and I think it's only right that I share the news. On a more selfish level, I figure if more people buy said miracle product, maybe it will get easier to find.
Skyr is one of my finds from Iceland. It was one of the only things I could eat, actually. It's very much like yogurt but it's technically a soft cheese. That sounds gross but go with me on this one. It's 150 calories and 16 grams of protein!! (Actually I found one that is 100 calories and 14 grams of protein).
I don't love to eat meat so getting that much protein in one place is pretty amazing to me-that's more than tuna!
The best part is that it's really yummy. I don't love most yogurts. The whole Greek yogurt movement is totally lost on me. Skyr is smooth and creamy and filling. I prefer strawberry, fyi.
So, here's where I have found it: the brand I prefer is Skyr.is and I found it at Whole Foods. I couldn't find any brand at Trader Joe's, another healthier grocery store. It's not carried many mainstream places but I stumbled upon a brand called Siggi's at Stop and Shop this week. They didn't have any plain strawberry; they had more exotic flavors. I will be trying that later in the week.
Oh, I think I forgot to tell you why it's a miracle food. Everyone in Iceland looked like a Viking to me and Hubby. The first day we were there, a group of high school kids was on a field trip to the same tourist attraction as us and they were ALL (no exaggeration on this one) taller than us. Then, one day while watching Icelandic TV, since we didn't get anything else, we saw this competition they do there with 12-15 year olds doing like 100 push ups and rope pulls and other beastly feats. Natives eat tons of skyr and they can do this stuff. I ate some on Monday for breakfast and lifted weights for an hour that night, increasing my weight on almost every body part. I also ran 2 consecutive miles, which I haven't done in a couple months due to my laziness. I just felt like Thor!!!
So, I think you should run out and buy some and try to scale a building or run a marathon-it will help.