unfolding goodbyes by k

we had another goodbye yesterday. i wrote to my friend today to thank her for having us and saying i would miss her and she wrote back:

In the words of the great Dr. Seuss, " Don't cry because it's over - smile because it happened."

a great thought. and i am smiling.

tomorrow we start a one-week road trip to the rioja (wine region of spain), then on to bilbao for a visit to the guggenheim. from there we'll head to biarritz in france and spend a few days there before driving back to barcelona.

we're going through things, getting rid of stuff, deciding what to bring back. the refrigerator and cupboards are getting low in supplies and i just opened what should be our last mega pack of toilet paper...

vinaros - by b

we got back yesterday from a fun and relaxing time in vinaros with ian williams who invited us down to his and betsy segarra's house ... it's like 2 hours or so drive south of barcelona just across the state line in valencia. according to ian, lonely planet suggests people not even stop in vinaros --- but i like it a lot .

both times we've been there have been for the festival of san juan --- which brings together loud fireworks late at night and traditional music and a parade of gigants (giants)

plus the kids can run free as ian and betsy's place is on the plaza and a few meters from the sea. when we were there seven years ago we rode this fun ride (above) at the carnival ... which we did again this time. the goal is to stay on the bull -- not so easy as it moves somehow in a circle and side to side. more pix of vinaroz here.