years of adventure
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Past Adventures

The Adventure Awaits!

Welcome!  We can't wait to take you to with us around the world!
​
Look for upcoming posts by The Aventura Kids about cities and countries we've visited together, plus practical tips from Mom to help parents plan their own family adventures!  Dad may even check in from time to time with cool historical facts and/or bike routes!

Taste of Travel #5: Playa de La Concha, San Sebastián

3/21/2018

4 Comments

 
Picture
Playa de La Concha, San Sebastián

​Our family discovered Playa de la Concha in the Basque city of San Sebastián for the first time in 2014 when the Aventura children were still tiny.  Little Angel, just four years old, flung off her sandals and ran with delight across its golden sand toward the bay.  

"I LOVE THIS BEACH, MOMMY!" she trilled.

We'd flown from California for a home exchange in Biarritz, France just on the opposite side of the Spanish border. To our surprise and disappointment it was gray and rainy in southern France every single day.  The house was damp and dark. Its bathroom towels smelled mildly of mold.

"Let's drive across the border," suggested my husband Señor Aventura.  "We may find better weather in Spain."

"That's hard to believe." I wrinkled my forehead, trying to imagine how driving just thirty minutes south could make a significant difference in the weather.

Lo and behold, he was right!  As we made the easy, scenic drive between Biarritz and San Sebastián the clouds actually seemed to part and then gently melt away. 
​
Picture
Beautiful, sunny day at the Bahía de La Concha!

We arrived to find the sun shining upon the exquisite beach, Playa de la Concha, that takes its name from its shell-like shape.  

"Look Mom!!!!  Sand!!!  Real sand, not pebbles!!!" exclaimed The Scientist, who was feeling homesick for California.

"Yay!!!  We can make sand castles!!!" exulted his brother Soccer Dude. 

The children raced forward, eager and delighted.  My husband and I stretched out the threadbare beach towels we'd found in the French exchange house, laying down on the sand.  

"Finally, it feels like vacation!" I smiled.
​
Picture
2014 - Making sandcastles at La Concha!

We ended up returning across the border four more times during that two week stay in Biarritz... even to celebrate The Scientist's July birthday.  

"I like it here at this beach so much," he confided.  "I want to spend my birthday in San Sebastián and go to that amusement park on top of the big mountain!"

​
Picture

(We returned again in the summer of 2017 to celebrate Señor Aventura's 43rd birthday.  It's a destination that draws one back, again and again.)

There are a million things to recommend about the lovely city of San Sebastián - pintxos, shops, culture, art, musical performances, bars, Michelin star restaurants and world famous cheesecake.  We adore their aquarium, worth a blog post of its own!


Here is a taste of the iconic beach that first captured our hearts... covering five of its 'must-see' aspects.  La Playa de La Concha and its spectacular surroundings should be on everyone's bucket list!


Playa de La Concha 
Picture
View of the Playa de La Concha from Monte Urgull.

The beach at La Concha is every sunbather's dream.  At approximately 1350 m long and 40 m wide, there is plenty of soft sand where friends, families and singles can play, picnic and sleep. During our various trips to this beach I've seen young couples flirt over paddle ball, teams of players diving into volleyball, children chasing each other in games of tag, topless sunbathing, and people of all ages strolling.

Playa de La Concha is a perfect place for young children because although it's situated on the Atlantic Ocean it's protected from rough water and high surf thanks to tall mountains that surround La Concha Bay.

The waves are gentle and mild and the beach itself is enormous.  Your children will have plenty of space to run and play without worry of getting knocked down by a wave hitting the shore.  Our kids have spent long hours there making drip castles and digging tunnels.
​
Picture
2017 - Soccer Dude hard at work.

For adventurous youth and adults, a nice floating dock is anchored in easy swimming distance.  It features a diving board and a slide, so strong swimmers can entertain themselves by heading out to the dock and diving off the board into the middle of the sea or having fun on the waterslide. 

​In 2014 our children watched this activity enviously from the beach. By 2017 their swimming skills were strong enough to reach the dock.  They spent hours diving and sliding!


​La Concha is magnetic for people from all over the world, so it isn't surprising to hear a relaxed mix of French, Spanish, English, Italian, German, Russian and Portuguese floating gently on the air toward the water. 

There are also typically street musicians (buskers) perched above the beach on the nearby boardwalk. The sounds of jazz may waft into your afternoon daydreams.



Isla Santa Clara
Picture
Isla Santa Clara in the Bahía de La Concha

The tiny island of Santa Clara looks like it should come straight out of a Robert Lewis Stevenson novel.  It's not hard to imagine a pirate ship docked just off of the sands of its Playa de Santa Clara or buried treasure hidden somewhere in the densely forested cliffs. 

Although never officially inhabited, Santa Clara has served many purposes over time - maybe even as a 16th century quarantine for people dying of plague! It's sad to think of abandoned souls looking longingly across the bay toward their homes and families as they took their final breaths.

Even now Santa Clara has an air of mystery and pathos... yet remains pristinely beautiful.
​
Picture
2017 - Aventura kids in front of Isla Santa Clara with lighthouse in background!
​
Whether you arrive by boat or swim there you'll be charmed by Santa Clara's unusual lighthouse, a terrace bar where you can order tasty beverages while looking out across the bay full of little white boats and picnic tables where you can enjoy a true feast!

​
Monte Urgull
Picture
Monte Urgell (mountain, L) with statue of Christ of the Sacred Heart overlooking San Sebastián

The view of Playa de La Concha and Isla Santa Clara from the top of Monte Urgull is nothing short of awe-inspiring. You will not regret the short, steep hike up the mountain to achieve this world class panorama!
​
Picture
2014 - View from Castillo de la Mota fortress on Monte Urgell.

While at the top take a brief tour of the Castillo de La Mota fortress dating back to the 12th century AD. It was rebuilt many times as a defensive base to help protect San Sebastián from various invasions (mainly by the French) over many centuries. ​
​
Picture
Christ of the Sacred Heart overlooking the Playa de La Concha

The Castillo was declared a Spanish National Historical and Artistic monument by the king nearly a hundred years ago (1921) and the land around it was turned into a public park for all people to enjoy. 

In the 1950s a special statue of the Christ of the Sacred Heart was commissioned and placed in the center of the castle as a beacon. At 12 meters high this graceful statue can be seen easily from across the Bay and makes a truly striking figure on the horizon!

​

Monte Igueldo Amusement Park 
Picture
2014 - Monte Igueldo Amusement Park

To the left side of Playa de La Concha and Playa de Ondaretta sits Monte Igueldo, an imposing mountain with a breathtaking view!

​For more than a century Monte Igueldo has offered various forms of fun and entertainment for locals and tourists.  In 1912 a Casino was built which later (1925) turned into an elegant ballroom where wealthy guests could dance the night away.

This casino and ballroom has more recently been converted into a 4-star hotel along with an amusement park featuring various rides and attractions geared to young children. With 20 attractions including the "Mysterious River", "Terror House," "Boat Pond," a carousel and bumper cars, families or groups of friends can easily spend several happy hours at this fun park and then enjoy a snack while checking out the phenomenal view!
​
Picture
View from Monte Igueldo

Historic Boat Races
Picture
Training for the annual race!


San Sebastián takes pride in its annual regattas held once a year at the end of the summer in the Bahía de La Concha. 

Inspired by a historic tradition of fishing boats racing each other to shore to sell their catch, these races began formally in 1879 as part of an annual festival and have continued ever since.  For the first two Sundays in September, eight boats race to the finish line.

Originally wooden fishing boats were raced but over the past 130 years the competition modernized and now racing boats are made of kevlar and carbon fiber.

An annual women's regatta was launched in 2008, and its excited audience is steadily growing!

For a few days the sands of La Concha and the nearby boardwalks function as a stadium from which onlookers with binoculars can spectate and rejoice.  ​Visitors flock from all over Europe to cheer the boats on from the beach.  This event is sometimes called the 'Olympics of Rowing'.  Such fun! 

​
La Concha at Night
Picture

​Lastly, a little romance...

By night the Playa de La Concha is lit by gorgeous gaslamp streetlights that line its raised boardwalk.  Whether you stroll barefoot under the stars on the sparkling sand or above it on the promenade, there's something more than magical about the Bahía de La Concha in the moonlight.

For these reasons (and a million more) we highly recommend visiting the Playa de La Concha in San Sebastián!  
​
​
Life is short.  Get out there and choose your own adventure! :)
Picture
​Did you like this post from the Years Of Adventure Travel Blog?
If so, feel free to share or re-post!  ​​​​​​​​​​​​
4 Comments

Taste of Travel #4: Spectacular Mallorca Beaches

3/14/2018

1 Comment

 
Picture
The perfect destination for your Spring vacation?

The weather in Spain has begun to warm up a bit!  March temperatures in Catalunya are now in the 60s Fahrenheit (15-19C) and although we're still getting sprinkled with rain here and there, buds are flowering on many of the trees I pass by during my daily morning walks.  The sun is shining nearly every day and the massive swarm of green parrots that have made Barcelona their special home chirp away ecstatically for hours as if to shout, "We've made it!  Winter is over!"
​
Picture
Spring has arrived in Barcelona!

Semana Santa is fast approaching... that special week before Easter each year when schools close, we give prayerful thanks, and many people take off for vacation!  Almost every conversation I have with friends right now revolves in some way around Spring Break: where we are going; where they are going; where we all went last year... where we'd love to go in the future!

One great place to head during Semana Santa in Spain is Mallorca!
​
Picture
Lovely Mallorca at dusk.

Mallorca is the largest island of the Balearic Island chain, which has been a self-governing region of Spain since 1983. Along with the other islands in the group including Menorca and Formentera, Mallorca is an incredibly popular tourist spot... and has been so for literally thousands of years!  The island has been settled in one way or another since 6000BCE! 

Over the millennia Mallorca has been inhabited by Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines and Moors. It even played a major role in the Spanish Civil War, when it was a major seat of Republican power until Franco's Nationalists (assisted by the Italian air force) forced them out completely in the Battle of Mallorca. 

These days, Mallorca is known worldwide for its exquisite beaches, warm summers and mild winters. Celebrities and artists continue to flock to this lovely island in search of inspiration, rest and relaxation.
​
Picture
It isn't hard to see the allure Mallorca has for people all around the world!

Mallorca is such a popular destination for European tourists that it is sometimes jokingly referred to an extra German state (since there are so many German tourists that visit each year)! 

To our family, Mallorca seems to provide Spain with the same kind of paradise-like vacation spot that Hawaii represents for the United States.  Mallorca is a truly wonderful place to get away, unwind and enjoy the beach!  In fact, there are over 30 fantastic beaches to check out in Mallorca!

In this week's Taste of Travel we'd like to recommend two of our favorite beaches for your Semana Santa or spring vacation!


Cala de Deià
​
Picture
Follow the signs to this special place!

My husband and I first glimpsed Cala de Deià while watching a TV miniseries based on John Le Carré's suspenseful novel... "The Night Manager."  In one scene an intense confrontation takes place at an outdoor family luncheon held right above the sea.  This scene is particularly scary because it juxtaposes the insanely idyllic backdrop with a brutal armed invasion. As a viewer, you feel taken off guard and vulnerable while watching!  

Not long after we watched the miniseries Señor Aventura explained to me that the scary scene had been filmed at a Mallorca beach he'd like to visit someday, the Cala de Deià.  

So, on our first family trip to Mallorca we made this beach a family priority! 

Thickly wooded pine trees overlook it and you actually have to take quite a hike down a long paved road to reach this secluded spot.
​
As it turns out there is no sand at Cala de Deià.  It's a tiny beach made of shingles, pebbles, rocks and gravel - all of which are surrounded by high cliffs.  ​
​
Picture
Wooden shingle beach surrounded by steep, high cliffs and thickly wooded forests.

There are really two main attractions at this beach.  First, the water is extremely clear!  Visibility is great and you can see fish swimming around even in the shallow areas.  We noticed plenty of people with snorkeling gear at Cala de Deià.
​
Picture
Cala de Deià

The other attraction is the restaurant to the left of the beach "Ca's Patro March" which hovers above the water on the side of the cliff.  With luck you can enjoy a wonderful afternoon there feasting on fresh seafood and traditional Mallorcan dishes, along with wine, gelato and homemade dessert.  (Reservations recommended.)  ​
​
Picture
Ca's Patro March

​Honestly, this is an exceptionally romantic spot!  If you happen to be there without three children, that is... 

"Someday we should come back here, just the two of us!" smiled Señor Aventura.

Picture
Great place for a date!

Worth it for the views alone, the food is also quite tasty at the oceanfront restaurant and we found the service to be very friendly and accepting... even though we arrived at sunset with cranky, tired kids who were 'starving!' after their swim in the sea. Two hours later our family left with full tummies and everyone smiling!!!
​
Picture
A wonderful way to watch the sun set upon Mallorca!

You won't soon forget your day trip to Cala de Deià and Ca's Patro March!  What a magical combination!

​
Caló des Moro


Picture
Caló des Moro, Mallorca

Visiting Caló des Moro involved quite a trek from the little village of Biniarix where we were staying in Mallorca.  In fact this superb beach is located on the exact opposite end of the island - near the town of Santanyí!  We learned that it would require a 90 minute drive in each direction for us to visit the beach in our car... which is quite a bit more time than we'd typically spend driving to reach any California beach!

Which underlines with emphasis just how FANTASTIC and special the Caló des Moro is... not only was it worth every second of our 3 hour total drive from Biniarix but we would have made the trip again and again - eagerly! - if we'd had more time in Mallorca.

The Caló des Moro is one of Mallorca's most priceless hidden gems.  With crystal clear, turquoise blue waters and a pristine, private location it's worth every bit of the real effort required to reach this stunning cove. 

Picture
Worth the effort!

All of the parking near the beach itself is limited to residents only, which undoubtedly helps to control the number of tourists who flock in warmer months to experience this treasure. The locals are pretty serious about "No Parking" and there are a lot of signs posted emphasizing that you will be towed.  We've also heard unsubstantiated tales about punctured tires... they're pretty serious about not parking there.

So, we found free parking about a mile away and hiked toward the water.
​
Picture
Taking the long road to the beach!

The trail we took was very uneven - in fact, I'm not sure it was a real trail at all! We later learned that there was a much easier path... which is a good thing because the route we took was on loosely packed dirt up a staggeringly high cliff that took real focus to navigate with three children. I would not recommend it to families with young kids.

"Don't get too close to the edge!  Stay on the trail!  Watch where you step!" I called anxiously as I followed behind Little Angel, Soccer Dude and The Scientist.  

"I'm more worried about you!" smiled my husband with care, thinking about my longstanding back injury.  

After a rigorous, sweaty hike we at last reached the edge of the beach and our jaws collectively dropped open in total awe.  It was even better than we'd imagined it could be!
​
Picture

Honestly, who needs to go to the Caribbean when you can find a heavenly beach like this just a 26 minute flight from Barcelona? The azure water and pale sand - both pristinely clean - look as though they've popped right out of a tropical fairytale!
​

Picture
Pointing the way to the hidden beach!

​It would be so easy to pass an entire perfect day in a place like this... although by the time we arrived in the afternoon there were only a few more hours of light. Little Angel and I waded and splashed along coast while Señor Aventura and our boys swamfurther out in the water to explore hidden caves where they found frogs and baby octopi!
​
Picture
Little Angel wades into the crystal clear water.

The sandy part of the beach is very small with some large rocks dividing it into sections. During summer months the beach can become so crowded that there is literally nowhere left to sit!  For this reason we recommend experiencing the Caló des Moro in the Spring (Semana Santa) or during the Fall (October) to fully enjoy the exquisite beauty of the place without the hassle of big crowds.  

We smiled to hear so many different languages being spoken along the beach... German, French, Spanish, English, Dutch and even Portuguese!  Everyone together, just chilling out and enjoying the day!
​
Picture
Beach goers relaxed near the cliffs and caves, and atop the small sandy beach.

Later during our dusky walk back to the car we discovered that there is another nearby beach (Cala S'Almunia) very nearby... but it is more of a beach for divers and less for swimmers.  Much less beautiful!  
​
Picture

A word of caution - nude bathing is allowed at both of these beaches and our children got a good giggle out of seeing an elderly couple walking without clothing on the beach. 

"Look Mommy! That old lady is naked!" laughed Little Angel before I could shush her.

"Oh my gosh!  Look away!" shrieked her brothers who were simultaneously horrified and delighted. 

Also, it's a good idea to keep in mind that neither of these wild beaches have facilities (e.g. no bathrooms or restaurants) as they are both well off of the beaten path.  We recommend bringing in your lunch along with anything you may need for personal hygiene. Sadly, neither Caló des Moro or Cala S'Almunia is wheelchair accessible. 

However if you're okay with these realities and still looking for a great outdoor adventure, we give the Caló des Moro top marks!  It's one of the top three most beautiful beaches I've ever visited in person!
​

Life is short.  Get out there and choose your own adventure! :)
Picture
Wow. Just WOW!!! Spectacular!
​Did you like this post from the Years Of Adventure Travel Blog?
If so, feel free to share or re-post!  ​​​​​​​​​​​
1 Comment

Mejoramos!  We Dig Into Our Spanish Life

10/25/2016

2 Comments

 
Picture
Mejoramos is the 'we' form of a verb in Spanish that means, 'we improve'.  For example, when I met with Soccer Dude's fourth grade teacher recently for a parent conference, she explained to me with enthusiasm that 'Él está mejorando a levantar la mano para hablar en clase.' (He improves at raising his hand in class to try to give answers.) This is a real achievement for our little dude, since he's essentially a beginner with Spanish.

I feel like this verb perfectly captures where we are at right now in our Spanish adventure. Estamos mejorando.  We are improving!  Every day, little by little, we improve in a variety of ways.  We are settling in, getting our routines up to speed, discovering new spots and activities that we love.  We're growing in our language abilities, but also in our resilience. Living 6,000 miles from home is a huge change.  Sometimes it's hard and frustrating - and other times it's amazing and brilliant.  

​Either way, we're getting better at it.
Our kids have probably never worked this hard before in their lives, at anything, and I am so proud of their determination right now.  Poco a poco they are learning how to navigate a new school system, make friends who don't speak much (if any) English, speak up for themselves when they don't understand something, and buckle down to study for exams and projects in a way they've never had to do before.  They came in knowing no-one and without any kind of support system... other than us.  Yet they are succeeding!  

Of course, it's not perfect.  
Picture
There are a few Catalan kids who say mean things sometimes to my sixth grader, like "Go home, California," or "You can't play, America."  These aren't the kids from his class, but rather others on the playground that don't know him yet.  

Apparently sixth graders here also use plenty of colorful four letter words when talking to each other, which is a big change for him from his old school. The Scientist is learning how to be resilient in the face of tough conversations, and not to take it personally if Catalan peers judge him by his nationality before they get to know him. 


When the sporty kids he wanted to play soccer with at first rejected him from their lunchtime games, The Scientist patiently continued to ask them "Por que?" with a smile, again and again until finally they broke down and let him play.  Yesterday he also brought his own soccer ball to school, and started up a new game.  Immediately a Spanish child joined him, and now they've started an ongoing recess game where anyone is welcome to play.  Señor Aventura and I could not be more proud of his growing grit and problem-solving ability.

Soccer Dude and Little Angel have made many friends.  Recently at Soccer Dude's first soccer game after getting his cast off, several parents of his classmates approached me to let me know that their children talk about Soccer Dude all of the time at home.  "My son tells me that your son is a very good soccer player," one Catalan mother confided.  "My son talks about your son all of the time and says he is a great friend," another local mother beamed.  Watching Soccer Dude race around a birthday party with his buddies, I felt great pride in his cheerful, warm personality.  It was so tough for him to leave San Diego and his best friend, Mini Mueller... yet he is managing to thrive.
Little Angel has four close friends here and her teacher told me last week that every child in class wants to be with her because she is so happy, friendly and kind.  "Me encanta," her teacher shared.  "Es supercontenta y es brillante."

"I truly don't know what my son will do when your daughter leaves to go back to California," a mother confided in me on Saturday morning.  "He says (Little Angel) is his very best friend."
Picture
The Scientist, Soccer Dude and Little Angel are 11, 9 and 7 years old.  They are human. Some days they are enormously energetic and motivated, while other days they just want to keep their heads under the covers for a little while longer.  Five more minutes.  Maybe ten. They have their ups and downs like anyone else.  

Yet their dad and I could not be more incredibly proud of our brave kids.  They are expanding so rapidly as little humans and doing it with gusto and (for the most part) true positivity.
Picture
We've got attitude, yo!

​Señor Aventura and I are settling into this new life alongside them, and we too are growing.  Friends here generously tell me that my Spanish has improved in the last two months, and I really appreciate this compliment because heaven knows I am trying so hard!  Every day I am making a million mistakes, blushing, and asking people to please correct me.  

My amazing friend Viva continues to meet with me twice a week for a language exchange and she is the best teacher in the world.  Each week we sit over a cup of tea inside the organic market and talk to each other for 90 minutes in English; 90 minutes in Spanish. I could not be more lucky; Viva is very patient and takes the time to explain the reasoning behind the lessons and corrections.  Entonces, poco a poco, mejoro. (Therefore little by little, I improve). ​

Last week, I had the incredible opportunity to attend a cooking class at Viva's home with nine other women, all of whom are Catalan.  Like me, they were mothers of children in elementary and middle school, and many of them share Viva's passion for travel and cooking.  I loved meeting such a great group of smart, motivated women in Catalunya. It was the hardest Spanish class I've taken so far... as 95% of the three hour conversation was conducted in fast Castellano with my ears racing to keep up!  Many of the women speak English, some quite fluently, but I greatly preferred for them to speak normally in Spanish so that I could learn while listening.  Viva taught us how to make three delectable recipes, at least one of which I may actually be able to re-create without her guidance someday :)  

​What a lovely afternoon.  I learned so much, my brain was tired on the walk home!
Picture
Cooking class in Spanish with Viva! Great day.
So, a day in the life?

​Señor Aventura and I awaken while it is still dark out each morning Mon-Fri to get the kids ready for school.  I make the snacks, get breakfast ready, have clean uniforms waiting and help the kids pack their sea of bags and backpacks for all of their sports, electives and classes.  Today for example, The Scientist will have German, computer science, art and soccer practice at school, in addition to his regular classes.  This requires an additional art smock plus a sports bag... and I swear his backpack must weigh 30 lbs right now.  

Little Angel is taking her first field trip today, to Catalunya en Miniatura.  I'm pretty sure this will turn out to be a miniaturized version of the Spanish state of Catalunya with each big city represented including its landmarks (like the big Sagrada Familia church in Barcelona).  She left for school in her track suit, very eager and excited to spend the day off campus with her friends.

When they are dressed, fed and packed each morning, the kids walk with Señor Aventura (and sometimes me) to the bus stop.  The process of getting them ready and to the bus takes about 90 minutes.  From there, my day is typically fills up rapidly with errands, meetings with friends, doctor appointments, laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning, working and writing.  I thought I'd have so much time in Spain to write - and I'm working on a novel - but often I'm on the go from the moment the kids leave the house until the moment they get home.

We've gotten through our first round of Fall illnesses and now have a pediatrician we respect, along with the knowledge that we need to switch our health insurance.  We are still amazed by our ability to walk into a farmacia without a prescription to buy antibiotics recommended for us by our doctors by email.  The cost is incredible too!  For a recent eye infection I paid a total of 4 euro for two different antibiotics - drops and creme.  Wow!

Señor Aventura bikes or swims every morning.  I've made a commitment to myself that I can only get fresh gluten free bread and treats from the best bakery in Barcelona if I walk at least one way, to or from the bakery.  It's a 4 km walk (2.5 miles) so I'm routinely walking between 1 and 3 miles a day - and sometimes as many as 5 miles.  We very rarely use the car in the city, and I love that it's so easy to get around without it.

It is a very good, very simple life that we are living right now - and we are so blessed to have this opportunity.  Every time I walk to the little neighborhood shop for a basket full of figs or fennel, I marvel at how fresh the produce is here and how nice the shop owner continues to be.  ​
Picture
Fall has begun and you can now buy roasted chestnuts and sweet potatoes wrapped in newspaper from corner vendors, most afternoons and evenings.  Around 6pm you can see swarms of school children in uniforms clustered around the hot chestnut vendor, everyone getting a snack on their way home.  There are so many great things about this... exercise, nutrition and community at the top of the list. 

At last, we've discovered where the post office is located so we can send mail back home! We've also learned where the local toy shop sits, in case we have a birthday party to attend.  When the boys recently went away to camp for 3 days, we stopped by this toy store with Little Angel to get a special small treat.  She chose glow-in-the-dark stars to affix to her walls and ceiling, and then spent many happy nights putting up stars.  Going to sleep at night is now four times as much fun, because the children lay in the dark looking at their stars until they drift into slumber.

We've also been blessed to have family visiting this month, most recently my gorgeous sister-in-law and her very kind and funny husband.  For the purposes of this blog I will call them 'Los Radiantes,' (the radiant ones).  

Picture
Loving our time with Los Radiantes!
Los Radiantes live in Oakland and we don't get to see them nearly as often as we'd love, but every time we do hang out together is a hoot!  They are so intelligent, huge-hearted and humorous.  Generous of spirit too!  Tía Radiante has a smile that could light up the darkest room.  On her first full night here, she kindly spent over an hour helping The Scientist study for a test on his Spanish verb tenses, and I couldn't help grinning as I listened from the kitchen where I was washing dishes, to hear what a fantastic teacher and coach she was for our little man.  Every kid should be so lucky to have a loving aunt like this.

Tío y Tía Radiante share Señor Aventura's passion for cycling, and they all did a lot of riding together when the sun was shining in Catalunya.  Señor Aventura took them for longer rides along the Costa Brava and up toward Girona.  They had a magnificent time cycling and enjoying tapas together... and in celebration of their visit, Señor Aventura made his all-time best ever paella with fresh setas (wild local mushrooms, hunted in nearby mountains in the Fall).  I've never had such tasty, thin mushrooms before.  It was a treat!
Picture
Los Radiantes!

​Last night Tía Radiante and I shared an experience I will never forget, as we laughed and cried our way through making a roasted chicken.  In Spain they don't de-head a whole chicken or remove its innards when you buy it at the store.  For the first time in my life, I had to take the head off of a chicken using my bare hands (the knife couldn't do it) and my sweet sister-in-law (a sometimes-vegetarian) bravely assisted with gutting the bird, removing most of its internal organs.  We were in hysterics over this chicken, giggling hard at the squeamish situation.  In the end, we blessed the bird with red wine and managed to roast it... although we may inadvertently have caused Soccer Dude to become a vegetarian in the process.  ​
Tía and Tío Radiante spent a week with us and then a week in Paris, after which they returned and told us all about their adventures.  Today we hugged them goodbye, as they headed home to America.  They've inspired us to spend New Year's Eve in Paris too!  We are very excited to get to know that timeless French city as a family.  As it turns out, Viva will be in Paris with her family at the same time... so it will be a city full of beauty, fun and friends at the holidays.  

October has been a good, generous month for La Familia Aventura.  We continue to grow closer as a family and to better understand how to navigate this new life together. Estamos mejorando!  
​
2 Comments
    Picture

    Meet Andrea

    Hi! I'm Andrea, a 42 year old mom of three from California! I was an elementary and middle school teacher for 20 years (off and on) and now I'm a writer living with my family in Barcelona, Spain!  We started to travel the world with our kids when they were 3, 5 and 7 years old. Six years later, they're fantastic travelers! My posts aim to give you ideas about how to experience new cultures, foods, languages and adventures with your kids... all on a careful budget!

    Destinations & Travel Tips
    ​

    Finland
    France
    Italy
    Portugal
    Spain
    The Netherlands
    United States
    ​

      Want More Adventure In Your Life? 

    Subscribe to Newsletter

    Categories

    All
    Finland
    Italy
    Portugal
    Spain
    Travel Tips

      Have Travel Questions? We've Got Answers!

    Submit

    Past Adventures

    January 2019
    September 2018
    August 2018
    June 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    March 2016
    November 2015

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
  • About Us
  • Past Adventures