Barcelona, Day #2

Because this short holiday was Runa's birthday present, she was allowed to choose how we should spend the day. So, the second day in Barcelona we took a long walk near the Arc de Triomph, then we went to the Zoo.

The Arc de Triomph is located on Passeig de Sant Joan, at the beginning of a very long and beautiful pietonal walk which ends in the Park of the Ciutadella. Is build in red bricks, in a Moorish Revival style, and it was erected in 1888 for the Universal Exhibition of Barcelona.

We took a long walk in the Park of the Ciutadella, starting from the Castle of the Three Dragons (Castel dels Tres Dragons), also build for the Universal Exhibition in 1888.It was built to resemble a medieval castle and served as a restaurant during the 1888 exhibition. It currently houses the zoological and geology collections of the Museu de Ciències Naturals (Natural Science Museum).

One of the most popular attractions in the Park is the Cascada, a triumphal arch with waterfall and fountain. The design resemble a little bit with Trevi Fountain in Rome. The architect (Josep Fontsère) was assisted by Antoni Gaudí, at the time still a student.

The last stop of the day was in the Zoo Barcelona, where we spent most of our day, watching the animals, eating ice cream and patatas fritges.

I Took A Deep Breath of Summer

Hello, Barcelona! I am for the fifth time here and I'm still discovering and enjoying it!

Here is already summer, and after such a long winter, for me this trip in one of my world's favorite city is like taking a deep breath of summer!

We landed here yesterday afternoon and we started straight the tourist tour! Because is Runa's first time here, we transformed ourselves in guides and we headed first to Sagrada Familia, the cathedral-symbol of Barcelona.

Then we stopped to eat some seafood and patatas bravas, and gather some strenght for the next objectif: Parc Guell. 

The Guell Park is most beautiful park in the world, if you ask me, designed by the great Gaudi, the architect with the best imagination ever.

Then, we took Runa to see the the sea, the statue of Christopher Columbus, where (of course) we climbed right to the top. We took a walk in the port, to watch the ships, the pigeons and the seagulls. 

Late in the evening, we went to my friend's home, where we didn't fall asleep, but we all passed out :)

I hope you have a gorgeous weekend! See you tomorrow!

Little Ballerina

Mara had the first rehearsal on the big stage of the Romanian Opera. I had only the small camera, and I was too far to use the flash, so the pictures aren't so great, but I promise next week I will have great beautiful pictures from the show.

My Weekend In Images

I fell asleep (again) in Radu's room this evening, after his bath, and I really don't know if he was the first asleep or myself. It might have been me, because I don't remember anything, except Bogdan knocking at the door, and myself asking what time it is.

It was a hell of a weekend, with a minutes schedule and lots of things to do. No, I didn't have time to think at all. All I had to do is... do. 

The Saturday started with Runa at the Chinese Painting Course, with Margareta from Learning Studio. She is Runa's teacher and meanwhile her own, because she is discovering new paths for her students, as well for herself.

We took the smaller kids in Kiseleff Park, in this gorgeous day, encouraging them to enjoy the beauty of reviving nature. It was also the Antique Fair in the area, they had a lot of fun watching the stuff while I was in the Peasant's Museum meeting my beloved friend Valentina.

Coming back from the Museum I had a lot of fun with the kids!

I have a new haircut and I'm so proud of it! Is the shortest hair I had in years, is so easy to live with!

Then I payed a visit to my mom at the hospital, she is having a bad time after a difficult treatment with lots of side effects. So I had to go today in the village she lives in to bring some more analysis here for her. It's strange how the doctors don't have her history in the computer, even she was there last week, too.

Saturday night we celebrated my friend's Ioana's birthday, yeeey! She invited us to her party, we had a lot of fun, listened good music (she previously worked for a famous radio station here) and ate some wonderful cooked food (she wanted to open a restaurant recently, too). Happy Birthday, Ioana!

This morning the girls went to the Opera, to see Hansel and Gretel, a nice opera show for kids. In Opera's Park we took some nice pics together, but Radu was really, really upset when he realized he won't go with them to see the show. 

Then we went with Radu to the village, as I said, to bring my mother medical history. Radu saw the little baby chickens and was delighted. We had to leave fast, to be back in time to pick up the girls from the Opera!

And then we had to prepare for the guests visiting our house this afternoon. Guests with kids, of course. Nice kids. I don't know why I fell asleep twice while writing this post. 

But tomorrow will start a whole new week, isn't it? Oh, YES!

Flying Family Reloaded