Uhlfelder News

June 11, 2008.  Rocket left this morning.  It only took us a few hours at the cargo section of the airport to realize we were in the wrong office (after getting a call from the right office).  Then things went smoothly.  They were actually going smoothly anyway, but we assume Rocket would have gone no where.  It was all a very Spanish experience, with a touch of Catalan efficiency.   Anywho, he’ll be spending the night in Frankfort where, we assume, he’ll be fed frankforts and will likely drink beer. 

I went to what I thought was David’s last soccer practice and talked with Jose.  He said he’d miss me, which is something no one has ever said before.  It was nice that I had him to talk to.  I still can’t express myself in Spanish or understand everything that is said, but I’m better than when I came, so…

June 12, 2008.  It was finally a nice day today, and I went out on my bike intending to have an easy ride on some of the now-familiar roads that are pretty good next to Barcelona.  I ended up getting caught toward the end of one leg of my ride by a guy with all the pro gear (bike, color-coordinated shorts and jersey, shaved legs, etc…) who wasn’t a pro but looked like one.  We ended up riding and he showed me a greuling climb that I had not thought of.  It was a good chance to practice Spanish.  He asked me if I was Italian (maybe because of the bike, not the accent). 

Today was the boys’ school talent show.  Joshua jumped rope with four others.  Joshua organized that everyone wore red shirts and it was cute.  I took a video and Anne took some photos. 

June 13, 2008.  Friday.  We went to lunch for what is perhaps our last Barcelona lunch with our friends Dan and Amy at a very nice restaurant with great food and ran into at least two other parents from BFIS.  Our friend Shelly called to tell us Rocket arrived safely in Denver and was very happy (super happy) to have a yard to run around in.  He was jet lagged, I think.  Thanks Shelly!

Then picked up the kids at school and drove north about 1 and a half hours to the Costa Brava to complete the important task of seeing Cadaques, which is supposed to be one of the prettiest places around Spain and famous for Dali and other artists.  The closest hotel I could find, the Almadraba Park Hotel, is about 14 kilometers away in Roses, which is famous for being among the ugliest places in Spain (overbuilt, ugly properties, full of cheap English tourists, …).  In fact, Roses wasn’t that horrible and the hotel is fantastic.  The only problem is the weather, which is amazingly bad (another “beach” vacation) .  In fact, the drive here looked like we were driving into a tornado, and driving through it everyone slowed to 60 kilometers per hour (from 130 or so) so you know it was a hard rain.   Friday, the 13th.

June 14, 2008.  We had a reservation, required, to visit the Dali house in Port Lligat, near Cadaques, which is thought to be the cuttest place to visit, etc…  We drove over to Port Lligat after a sumptuous breakfast at our most excellent hotel and found the place, arrived 15 minutes, not 30 in advance.  We then waited and at 11:10 exactly entered the house with four others for a guided tour that included Dali’s studio, entry, bedroom, penis-shaped pool, and more.  Dali put a bunch of fishing cottages together to build the place and it’s pretty cool.  He built it for his wife and muse, Gala.  Here are some photos. 

We didn’t stick around after the tour and came back to the hotel over the mountain pass like winding 13 kilometer drive.  We were told that if you get car sick, you might.  Very exaggerated, at least for us backwoods mountain folk.  Anyway we were lucky since the weather improved enough for us to hit the fantastic beach next to our hotel.  There was also the 25 meter lap pool, but I opted for a 20-minute or so swim in the very cool mediteranean water.  Once I got over the initial shock, it was nice.  Anne swam in the pool.

June 15, 2008.  We drove back to Barcelona, about two hours, after having our luxurious breakfast and enjoying the beach a bit more before moving on.  Anne and I tried to get more packing done and prepared our eight boxes to be picked up by UPS tomorrow.  We are pretty much out, just a few final things but there are plenty of moving parts. 

June 16, 2008.  I keep forgetting things since there are so many things to coordinate.  I forgot my shaving brush over our week-end trip, and I went out the door with my bike forgetting my keys.  Luckily Anne was on the way to Tibidabo, where I planned to ride, at a going away pool party for Joshua’s class.  I stopped by in full biking regalia, and met the 8 or 10 moms who showed for the party and social hour.  No dads.  It looked like a nice event.   The pools here are not heated so the water was too cold for most of the kids.  Joshua jumped in and out right away, getting nice and cold. 

June 17, 2008.  The kids had “field day” this morning and luckily it didn’t rain.  Everybody keeps telling us how unusual the weather is this month, but as far as we see, it does rain in Spain.  Anyway, field day was just fine.  Then we met our Spanish friend Christina and her Novio, Todd (an American) for lunch at a wonderful place in the center of town.  I still have a lot to do tomorrow since we have an evening flight to Munich (after the boys are done with school) which should make for a LONG day.  Then two nights and one day in Munich.  Stay tuned.