On Thursday, Anna drove us to the airport. On the way to the gate, we played Man vs. Machine to see if Daddy was faster than the CVG gate train. Man won this time.
After a quick pizza lunch, we boarded our first flight - on Air Canada from Cincinnati (CVG) to Montreal (YUL). The boys did great on the flight and we read a few new seek and find books.
In Montreal, we trudged our way to the international clearance (with the help of some kind agents who let our family traveling with small kids bypass a long line!). We then had a relaxing tea break in the terminal and Erika and the boys played an eye spy game. At 6:30, we took off for Barcelona (BCN). Bennett slept pretty well, resting on Daddy, after his dinner, but Nico fought sleep until he could no longer resist … almost in time for Bennett to wake back up. All in all, though, with the help of some activity books from Air Canada and Thomas the Tank Engine, we all made it pretty happily.
Lorena, her brother Pedro, and her pup, Nuk, greeted us with a big bouquet of flowers at the El Prat airport after we landed on Friday morning Barcelona time, picked up our bags, and cleared customs. Nuk was a little celebrity at the airport. After picking up our rental car, loading our bags, and installing car seats, we drove with Lorena to her house in Viladecans before driving a bit further to our lodging for the week - her Aunt and Uncle’s beautiful apartment by the beach in Castelldefels. Lorena picked up a tray full of mini croissants from her mom, which we’ve almost eaten completely by now! The boys ran out of battery 10 minutes into the drive and slept mouths wide open for 40 minutes.
When we got to Castelldefels, the boys, rejuvenated by their car snoozes, and inspired by the sights, asked to go to the beach. We had a blast playing in the surf and sun with the boys and Lorena, building sand castles and splashing in the Mediterranean Sea. Nico, in particular, enjoyed crawling around like a Sports Illustrated model in the waves crashing into the beach.
We were all gassed after the beach and Lorena went with me to a grocery store to get some breakfast foods for the boys for the coming days. We finished the day with dinner (doner kebab) and then unpacked as the boys stubbornly but happily refused to sleep.
On Saturday morning, we got up, quickly ate croissants and yogurt, and then made the scenic drive up windy and narrow roads to Montserrat, where we were met by Elena; her brother, Angel, and his son, Angel; and her sister, Imma, and Imma’s boyfriend, Carlos. They made a very sweet sign and the boys were overjoyed and surprised, although still a bit tired.
The literal, thousand-year-old Montserrat was absolutely stunning. As we walked into the monastery complex, we saw the funicular train and the gondola cable cars taking people up and down.
We arrived to see a big ball de bastons festival, which featured dozens of teams of dancers from across Catalunya doing an impressive coordinated group dance with sticks they rhythmically knocked together.
Angel helped us navigate the crowd and we made it into the beautiful church to see La Moreneta, and then the boys and Erika lit candles and left them in the altars carved into the mountain.
After a couple hours at Montserrat, we hopped back in our rental car and followed Angel and Imma’s cars to the Masia Vinyanova restaurant, where we had a long and delicious Catalan lunch with Elena’s family — her parents, Imma and Carlos, Angel and Angel, and Elena’s brother Jordi and his wife and their two sons. The meal was incredible. Over several hours, we started with some charcuteries, toasted bread, and tomato with olive oil; then had a 15-person veal paella; and finished with fantastic cheesecake — all on a hillside overlooking vineyards and with great company. We really appreciate the Ricart Romero family’s gracious hospitality and the chance to meet them in person. (There are three pictures of the paella to appreciate its true scale.)
After lunch ended (at 5:10pm), we drove back to Castelldefels with Elena, making a pit stop at Carrefour for a replacement electric pump (to swap out the one we shorted for the boys’ air mattresses) and more yogurt! Then, the boys had more fun playing with Elena and Lorena before we gave them a quick dinner and got them cleaned up for bed.
Tomorrow, we’re heading into the city for more exploring!
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