When in Rome, do as the Romans...

On Canadian boxing day (26th of December) it was a holiday in Spain and so nothing was open for us to go shopping as would normally be the case if we were back in Canada. Instead, we headed to the airport to go and spend a few days in Rome.

Tricia was our tour guide and had an excellent schedule of things for us to do and to see. Our first stop was the Vatican museum, the home of the Michaelangelo's Sistine Chapel. It took us a good 1.5 hours wating in line outside the wall to the Vatican city but we finally got into the musem. There were many interesting things to see, especially the statues and busts, some of which were from the first and second centuries (100-200 AD). There was one incredible bust of none other than Julius Caesar himself. Mark also really enjoyed the man who had the dozen children playing on him and playing with alligators as well.


Other sites that we visited also included the catacombes, Trevi Fountain, The Colisseum, Ancient Roman ruins, and of course the St. Peter's Basilica-this was incredibly large and the artwork also incredible.





Next we will be showing Mark's mom more sites from Barcelona and then off to Andorra for a few days. Stay tuned...

Merry Christmas from Barcelona..

Mark finished all of his exams in a week that was a marathon of exams, presentations and projects. To celebrate the end of the school term and the beginning of his Christmas hoidays, Mark and Tricia went to see a production of Handel's Messiah which was performed by an excellent choir and orchestra from the Czech Republic. The venue was the Basilicia Santa Maria del Mar, which is one of the oldest cathedrals still in its original existence. The basilica was incredible and built over 1000 years ago. It was in this same basilica that Christopher Columbus brought the first indian slaves back from the new world and there they were baptized christian.

Mark and Tricia also went to a FC Barcelona soccer game to celebrate their 3rd wedding anniversary. Barca lost 0-1 against Real Madrid.


Christmas was excellent! Mark's mom came to spend the holidays with us. We have started to do some of the tourist things around Barcelona but there was also much to prepare for Christmas. We went to a fantastic Christmas party at our church where everyone was supposed to bring a traditional dish from their country. There was Mexican food, Peruvian food, Spanish food, Salvadorean food, and Tricia's Canadian Chicken surprise-which was a big hit. Mark also made his debut as choir director for some special musical numbers.

Christmas eve we had a fondue. Meat/cheese and fruit/chocolate... it was all very delicious. We also went to see a special Christmas musical presentation at the Basilica where Tricia and I had gone to hear Handel's Messiah.

Christmas day we slept in, then opened up a ton of presents. Thank you to everyone for all of the wonderful things, especially all of the comforts of home that we cannot obtain here in Europe. Tricia was especially pleased to increase our DVD collection several fold.

Mark made waffles for breakfast and then we prepared for our Christmas dinner/lunch. We had several of the missionaries from our church over, as well as others who did not have families in town. We had a feast of sweet and savoury crepes. It was not a traditional meal but it was inexpensive and could feed alot of people.

We had a great Christmas and wish all of our friends and family the very best this season and that they may remember the most important things in life!

More Madrid Christmas pics...

I just had to post a few (Mark)....

Madrid Part II

This is a view of the street just outside of our hotel. They really do alot of street lights for Christmas. We went on a walk that night, despite the cold, and saw all the lights they had set up. The city really is beautiful.


Calle de Alcala, this is just off of Plaza Independencia. We wanted to take even more pictures of the streets, but after 9pm all the lights get shut off, they can't afford to power all the lights that long. All the main streets were decked out, everyone was out shopping that night.


THe traffic circle and plaza, I thought that it was beautiful. Plaza Independencia.


Eve just being cute while we waited for dinner. This was the first resaurant we found since we have been in Europe that had other children eating in it. They even had highchairs for the babies.


This is why we went to Madrid. We went to the Madrid Temple on Saturday, it was so beautiful. I was sad we couldn't stay longer.

Madrid part I

Madrid, a beautiful and cold city in the winter. We came during a festival, and so did everyone else in Spain. This is Plaza Mayor. It is here that they have their Christmas market and the tackiest things we have ever seen. Everyone wears horrible wigs, and masks, and goes around blowing on the most annoying toy trumpets. It was fun to see some of the Christmas traditions on this side of the world.



Probably some of the best of the Spanish culture is in the Prado Museum. Full of Velazquez, Goya, and Van Dyck; this museum is wonderful. We were lucky to be in town during a special exposition, "The Fables of Velazquez." Even though it was busy we were able to jump the line because of Eve. The paintings inside were amazing.


The Que. This line-up was enormous, there had to be over 2000 people in the line at any given time, it moved quickly though.


Mark in front of the Velazquez statue. Just outside of the Prado Museum. (This is Mark's favorite painter)


The masks and wigs that people buy and wear. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a horrible mask or a bright green wig. I still don't get the festival they were celebrating.

Happy Birthday Eve

Well it was Eve's Birthday, and we had a wonderful time. We had a little party on the Friday before her Birthday with all the little kids that she knows.
This is Wendy and her daughter Ainoha, Jen and Grace, and Eve and Me. Charlotte and her daughter Scarlett had to leave early.


All the girls (there are no little boys here, that Eve knows). L-R: Eve, Scarlett, Grace, Ainoha. Eve was in such a good mood for both her birthday and her little party, even though Gracie went home for good (to Utah) just yesterday. Her and Mom both cry a little when they think about it, but it will be ok. Eve was glad that Grace and her mom and dad were able to come to her party even though they were very busy.

Eve on her Birthday getting ready to go play with Scarlett.


Eve wasn't quite sure how to eat her birthday cake. She was a little afraid to touch it, and so decided on the full face approach. She got lots of lovely presents: Her very own cell phone (it talks to her and sings to her, she talks back:), building blocks, a book, a signing DVD, pjs, a very pretty red sweater, and a nice big winter coat (I didn't realize how cold it got here).

This week and the World Race

Another month has flown by and the weather is still holding. Tricia and Eve often go to the beach in the early morning to enjoy the fresh air and the beautiful view.


The World Race for sailing took place on November 11th. They have spent the last month preparing the port area, and the boats have been arriving over the past 2 weeks. They look so sleek, and the area so clean. Some of the teams inclue Estrella Damm, Hugo Boss, Delta Dore, and PRB. They had a big party on the port for the opening ceremonies, and they have had booths from different companies all along the whole port area. This is one of the boats getting ready for the race, it is about a week before racetime in this shot.



We wanted to take family photos, and we still will, but Eve has been sick so we took a few shots in our apartment. This one of Eve is one of our favorites, and she is growing up so fast. She will celebrate her first birthday next week. It is hard to believe that she is almost 1. We will make sure to update the blog with her Big Birthday Bash.

Mount Tibidabo

Mount Tibidabo is one the most unique places that we have been to in Barcelona. On the top of the mountain is a beautiful Cathedral; the Cathedral is set even higher by many steep steps that lead up to it. This in itself would not be so unique, there are many monestaries and cathedrals on mountain sides, but how many also have a theme park on the grounds? That's right. Just in front of the Tibidabo Cathedral is a theme park, about the size of Calaway Park in Calgary. The rides are a little older but draw a huge crowd of locals as well as tourists. We had never seen a Cathedral with a ferris wheel right beside it before. I guess it helps pay for the upkeep. Clever people.
October 12th is a holiday and so our little family took advantage of it and headed for Mount Tibidabo. It took us a while to figure out how to get there, but it was well worth it. The veiw, the weather, and the Cathedral were all beautiful. (the food at the restaurant was a little less than spectacular. Note to self: never by food at the only restaurant on the side of a mountain in Spain-$$$$ and kind of gross; we would rather have had carnival food)

This is Mark and Eve standing in the theme park looking over Barcelona


The whole family. It isn't easy to get to the theme park. You can drive, but there is limited parking. You can walk, but it is literally hiking up the side of a mountain. Most people take two seperate trams that bring you right to the amusement park gates. It is one of the most spectacular views.


This is my favorite view of the cathedral. It gives you the full effect with the merry-go-round in front of it. I


You can go right to the top of the cathedral. This is a view of the mountains that seperate Barcelona from other villages and cities around it. Truly Barcelona is surrounded by mountains and the ocean.


A view of the theme park from the top of the Cathedral.

Festival La Merce

The festival is a Catalan tradition and the giants as well as the human pyramids are the highlights. Here at one of the main plazas they show and perform both parts of the festival.


This is one of the Giants on its way down to the plaza. The streets were so crowded Tricia was lucky to get such a good shot.


There were dozens of giants (and people) in the square. The giants represented Spanish and Catalan Royal Family throughout their history. Each set would take turns dancing to the music that was similiar to the music of the era they lived. It was so crowded that Tricia took Eve off to the side of the plaza away from the noise and the people. Unfortunately Mark was not able to come to the Fesitval due to his crazy school schedule.


Eve having a grand time at the plaza, we were eventually kicked out; apparantly strollers are not permitted in the plaza, there are too many people. They didn't tell us this until it was so crowded we couldn't move, then they proceeded to yell at Tricia in Spanish to get out and they didn't care how. Eve was still enjoying herself, clapping at the crowds as she left.

Goin' to the Zoo

Off to the zoo we went; it was a great time for the adults as well as the kids. The couple we met from church are great and Eve loves having another baby to hang out with. The weather was perfect, and it is the only place we have been to in Barcelona that wasn't over-crowded.

Mark and Eve checking out the lemurs


The lemurs, relaxing and having a great time together. Don't ask me what he was doing, we aren't sure.


The weather was warm enough that most of the animals would do nothing but sit and stare at us. I can only imagine what is going through their heads. Bored out of his mind I would guess. How many times can you run around a log, a rope, and a small slab of cement before you begin to go crazy.


Mark, Eve, Chad, and Grace


Flamingos are always entertaining, but these aren't flamingos are they. The elephants were great; smelly, but great.