December 12, 2007. I can’t believe this is week 17. It really feels like we’ve only been here four months. I’m thinking I’d like to get a white German Shepard when we get back since Rocket needs a friend and our house is probably trashed anyway.
December 13, 2007. Anne’s Birthday. She’s 34. How time flies. Why it seems like only 13 years ago we were married.
It’s hard to think of what someone who wants not
hing and scoffs at material things (unless they are polyester) can be given as a gift. I thought, we’re in Spain, how about one of those pig legs that last a few months in the kitchen stinking up the place — you know, go native. Funny, but ultimately a waste of money and too many unwanted side effects. We’re been buying sweets and chocolate like they are going out of style, so that seemed like it had been done. Flowers, definitely and check (over a douzen). So, what did I come up with: some really nice cheeses from Cataluna and some Iberic gournet ham. What a romantic!
The boys had their school play tonight which was very nice, with grades k through 5 each singing a few songs with the older kids giving us the history of each song. It was held in a large auditorium and we said hello to everyone we know (like two people).
December 14, 2007. David had another game (soccer) this evening. Anne went and his team won 6-3, their first win since the first game and against a team that beat them 8-0 a few weeks ago. Revenge is sweet.
December 15, 2007. Started planning our trip to the south of Spain. Anne and the kids went to the ice rink, which was reported to be incredibly crowded and thick with people. Not fun, but Barcelona city ice skating. It’s getting pretty Christmassy around here, even though they don’t celebrate Christmas the way many Americans do (with gifts and Santa) and in fact call our version, which they are beginning to adopt as a result of too much TV, Navidad Americana. There are Santas hanging from ladders, balconies, and lots of other places. The Spanish don’t even give gifts until January 5, the Tres Reyes holiday. Christmas is some sort of religious holiday — more on that as I find out.
December 16 and 17, 2007. I have a very nice hair cutter, Josep, who loves to travel in France. He told me about some good places to visit and thinks the French are great in that they love a good conspiracy, especially if it is really old. Examples are Opus Dey, which most people know from the movie The DeVinchi Code.
We had lunch today with Dan and Amy at the Four Cats. After we visited the fair in that neighborhood next to the Cathedral of Barcelona outside the Cathedral, in Plaça de la Seu and Plaça Nova which featured all sorts of people selling typical Catalan stuff for Christmas. Then it got interesting. Apparently, there is a contest among Spaniards to have the biggest and best creches. That means, you start with the baby Jesus and go from there and there are NO limits. After they add the traditional figures, they add a figure called the Caganer. This is a person taking a dump — I kid you not. The theoretical reason is this is a way the person fertilizes the soil (I think they soil the place, but…). This is usually a little porcelain gnome-like figure with his trousers down, defecating somewhere in the nativity scene. Children enjoy looking for the little guy, who is often hidden among the more traditional items. Nice. I’ll take some photos.
If this isn’t enough, Tio de Nadal or Caga Tió is a log, painted with a smiley face and cared for from after El Dia de Inmaculada, which is December 8. Then, either on Christmas Day or Christmas Eve (it varies), the children beat the log (and throw him into the fire, if they have one) and sing songs enticing it to ‘shit some presents’. Spanish speakers among you should note that ‘Caga Tió’ does not mean ‘Shit Uncle’ – ‘tió’ is Catalan for ‘log’. Again, nice.
December 18, 2007. I went out on the bike today and was pretty cool but it was good to get out and spin. The roads were moist so I was extra careful. We’re off to take some photos for the above stuff…
1 response so far ↓
1 Peltz Family // Dec 17, 2007 at 1:09 am
Hola Uhlfelders! Como son todos?
Took us a while to get on the new and improved blog due to techincal password (password) difficulties. Sounds like all is well – Happy birthday Joshua and Anne!
Planning visits to Aspen and Barcelona. Unfortunately, you won’t be there! Please leave the door unlocked in both places and milk in the fridge. Skiing in Feb with the guys. And Ally will be attending a summer program in Barcelona in July, and Jen and I will visit.
Prospero ano nuevo!