Merry Christmas

After hours of editing.......

.....Videos from our Barcelona trip!

All available in HD and with music.
We're also uploading all our old holiday videos to John's YouTube Channel - a link to this can be found in the links section on the right.

Flying skier

In fact he is not flying but jumping above the clouds. I saw this on the web yesterday and thought it was fantastic, something I wish I could accomplish.

When the Boys did Barcelona

I thought it would be fun to compare and contrast my recent post with trips John and I took about a decade ago (before we met).  

John, Paul, Simon and Tomas visited Barcelona. Here are a couple of photos of them enjoying the local cuisine (and Cava).  I didn't find many of the architecture!

While out in Barcelona they were joined by Dave.

Some of my old Barcelona photos will follow in future posts along with John's videos from our most recent trip.

Rob and Valerie Come to Stay

It was great to have Rob and Valerie to stay on a flying visit from Canada.  We only had a day to spend with them in Edinburgh so we went to 2 of the most iconic locations in the City. Firstly it was up Arthur's Seat.
Here are Rob, Valerie and John at the top.

 And from here we can see where we are off to next.

You guessed - Edinburgh Castle.

I couldn't resist a picture of this cool customer.

Rob and Valerie at the Castle.

John and me at the Castle.

Looking down the gun towards the Scott Monument.

John's 40th Birthday Party

After returning from Barcelona we made a trip down to Barnsley for a little family party.

The presents -

Looking through the birthday album with Dad.

The Cake - make a wish!

Cutting the Cake, never short of volunteers to help with that task.

Barcelona

Finally, here are our photos from Barcelona.  We celebrated John's birthday while we were there and enjoyed fabulous warm weather.  

On our first evening we met up with Graeme an old friend and colleague of John's.  He took us to a great pinchos place called Golfo de Bizkaia just off Passeig del Born .  You help yourself to pinchos (tapas like snacks served on bread) and they count up the number of cocktail sticks when you have finished.  Absolutely delicious - we went back again!

La Boqueria market off Las Ramblas.  A tourist atraction in its own right.

 The Gothic Cathedral where they keep 13 geese.

Gaudi's Casa Batlló

 Mies Van de Rohe's German Pavillion

Sagrada Familia

 Another fabulous recommendation from Graeme - Pizza Concept on Calle Fonollar 2.  It was warm enough to sit outside on the terrace, in October!

 Museo Picasso

Pablo Espanol

Carrer de Sant Pere Mes Alt, Born. We rented a little apartment from Friendly Rentals who we also stayed with in Rome.  The location was close to the sights and there were loads of great restaurants and individual shops to find as you wandered the narrow streets.

 

 

Plaça Reial

Casa Güell, Gaudi's first commission.

Origens, again just off the Passeig del Born.  Great food once we worked out how the unusual menu worked.  

Las Ramblas

 Sunday lunch with Graeme and Antonio.  Vermouth with anchovies, olives and beans followed by paella, sardines and squid.  All washed down with a little wine and topped off with Friar Angelico (a hazelnut liquor).  A perfect birthday celebration for John and Antonio.  Thank you guys, it was fabulous.

The three amigos.

Park Gúell