Barcelona, Spain

After bidding adieu to Oktoberfest and beer-loving visitors, but before welcoming birthday-boy loving visitors, we decided to take our one weekend break and travel on down to Barcelona, Spain. It was easily the most memorable city I visited when I backpacked Europe 10 years ago, and I was excited to introduce my two boys to this vibrant town.

The travel gods did all they could to snuff out any fun in our Barcelona endeavor -- 1. Delayed flight; 2. Near airport shuttle accident resulting in 3 throbbing welts on Sarah's shins; 3. Over-zealous security locking us behind the aiport gate after de-planing in Barcelona; 4. Hotel-provided map that directed to a destination 3 km from our actual hotel, resulting in a 12:30 a.m. bedtime for all three of us -- and that was just the first 5 hours!!! Thank goodness Barcelona is such a fabuloso city, all our silly travelnous just faded to the background.

We got our 3-day weekend started off right by going to the heart of Barcelona's sights-to-be-seen: La Sagrada Familia designed by Barcelona's golden-boy, Antonio Gaudi.

* This blog is brought to you by the letter 'G' for Gaudi! * For his amazing vision, talent, and architecture is all over the city.


The Zabel 3 in front of Sagrada Familia

The pearly-white wing over Jeff's right shoulder has been built in the last decade.

Both Will and I were amazed by the church's interior. No buttresses support the building, only tree-like pillars. Construction was in full swing on our Saturday visit, for they were readying themselves for the Pope's visit and blessing in less than a month.

Once we had finished touring Gaudi's best masterpiece, we meandered (up way too many steps with a stroller) to Park Guell, another Gaudi gift.

Fun Park Guell walkways

Beautiful tile work at Park Guell

The last stop on our Saturday stroll was La Rambla. We had fun walking down this shopping/artist haven pedestrian mall on our way to the water where we found a great tapas restaurant to finish out our day.

The next morning we boarded a city tour bus to get us to the rest of the sites we didn't see the day before. As you can see, Will didn't enjoy it at all.

One of our first stops was the Gothic Quarter and the Picasso Museum. This museum is a definite must-see. Picasso's artwork is arranged in chronological order and accompanied with personal history. It is quite interesting to see his evolution as an artist and also how life influences impacted his artwork. Here are Jeff and William in one of the beautiful courtyards in the museum.

Another few bus stops brought us to Plaza Espanya.


The National Art Museum at Plaza Espanya

I especially wanted to visit Plaza Espanya to see the fountain water and light show. With the water basins flanking both sides of the street and running all the way up to the museum itself, it was going to be spectacular . . .

if it wasn't all under construction. Here Will and I are, picturing it all in our head.

Our last day in Barcelona gave us just enough time to catch one last Gaudi landmark: La Pedera, a privately-commissioned apartment building. This building is unique in its smooth lines, natural light in every room in the building, and its famed rooftop.

Here's one of my favorite photos of Will and me waiting in line.

My boys on the La Pedera rooftop.

All in all, Barcelona was a city filled with art and wonderful people. Although, Jeff will note they have no food there. We ate tapas all weekend long, and I loved every minute of it, but unfortunately they weren't filling enough for Jeff! Ha!

We're back!

After the last post and then the long hiatus, we expect many of you may assume we have been recovering from our crazy Oktoberfest, which is mostly true. That and we have been busy with a few guests, a first birthday and three trips. Yep, we have been busy. So keep tuned as we slowly update all of you on our past month.

But first, a little humor still from Oktoberfest. Of all the great beer halls, food stands and rides at Oktoberfest, one of our favorites is a ride called Toboggan. This ride has been a fixture at the Oktoberfest for over 75 years. The ride itself is quite simple, grab a slab of carpet (your Toboggan) and slide down the contraption. However, the fun is how you get to the slide.

A liability in the states and lawsuits would have ruined this innovative ride before you could say, "Prost!"  The ride starts with a fast moving conveyor-belt that wisks you up to the top platform. You just jump on the belt, go from standing to 15mph in 0 seconds and off you go. Easy, right?!

Well, the biggest laughs come from watching people (with a few beers) attempt this feat. Of course, everyone thinks the video of me rolling twice on my way up is hilarious (especially Sarah and most likely Will once he understands it). So bookmark this one when you need a good laugh (or two)!

Jeff, Chris and Steven attempt the impossible:



Sarah and David show everyone how it is done!



And finally, a little redemption.

Some October Statistics For You

William and I just got home from his U6, also known as his one-year doctor check up.

Here are his latest stats:

80 cm / 31.5 inches tall (95 percentile)
9600 g / 21 lbs (25 percentile)
47 cm / 18.5 inches head circumference (75 percentile)

The doctor even noted in his Kinder-Untersuchungsheft that William 'Gedeiht gut' or 'Grows well'. I'm such a proud mom!

Interestingly enough, the statistics for this year's Oktoberfest were also posted today.

Here are 2010's stats:

6.4 million visitors
7 million liters of beer consumed (a new record high)
530,000 Hendls (chickens)
117 Ochsen (ox)
59 Kälber (calves)
950 million euro spent

and just for fun . . .

Zabel Oktoberfest stats:
29 mass bier
9 Halb-hendls (half-chickens)
4 cones of Mandeln (sugar-roasted almonds)
1 Schwienhaxe sandwich (pig knuckle sandwich)
1 Zuckerwatte (cotton candy or according to my British friend Rachel, Candyfloss)
1 Kaiserschwarm (a heavenly dessert the entire world needs to know about)
1 Doughnut thingy (interestingly enough, called a doughnut thingy in both languages)
1 stuck Chocolat Erdbeer (chocolate-covered strawberries)
3 Brezen
1 jar Kürbris mit Reis (pumpkin with Rice)
1 serving Brokkoli (Broccoli)
1 serving Pfirsich mit Gerste (Peaches with barley)
2 bottles milk
22 hours of babysitting
1 Gym Membership (Jeff claims he is getting one as well, so maybe 2?)
. . .
Once-in-a-lifetime Oktoberfest experience? Priceless.

Hanging with my uncles

Okay, okay, so the uncle visit wasn't entirely spent at Oktoberfest. (Although at times we sure felt like it was.) We had some fun around the old homestead as well.


Playing with my Uncle David and my drumsticks

A kitchen jam session with Uncle Steve

Showing off my sick piano skills

Just being silly

It was so special having my Uncles out here! I can't wait for more fun times with them in California!

Oktoberfest - Sieben

After a day off from Oktoberfest festivities on Saturday, we mustered the remainder of our energies, arteries, and livers and decided to indulge in one more afternoon in a beer garten. I mean, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, right? Knowing the last Sunday of Oktoberfest is notoriously underpopulated because all the out-of-towners are gone and the locals are exhausted, we decided we'd bring Mr. William for one last hurrah. However, the last hurrah was on us. Mother Nature decided to shine on Munich and EVERYONE came out for one last Bavarian hurrah.

Just a few more people than we expected . . .
(Thanks, Chris, for this pic of the last Sunday of Oktoberfest!)



Thankfully four of us went early to scout for a table while Will was napping at home. We found a great location and when Super Dad and Super Will finally forged their way to the festivities, our little guy ended our Oktoberfest experience with a bang.

My little Münchener Kindl.
Yes, those are the same purple tights from our Ireland pics. I promise I'll find some new colors for this winter!
Sorry if your purple tights embarrass you, Will. It can't be any more embarrassing than me having to wear the same outfit SEVEN times in two weeks. This clothing goddess was dying!

Crowds? What crowds? William was the life of the beer garten!

Oktoberfest - Fünf und Sechs

Our fifth and sixth visits to Oktoberfest were a party to waiting to happen, for we had my brothers Steven and David plus our friend Chris all in town from California! Wooohooooo!
We all know they all really came to see Will, but man, they sure have impeccable timing as to Munich events. What dumb luck! ;)


Yes, yes, this Oktoberfest outing was ohne William. The kiddo had already been three times, so he asked to play with a babysitter instead.

Chris dove head-first into the fun by picking up his own lederhosen ensemble that morning.

One of the many 'Prost!'s we shared during our Wednesday and Friday Oktoberfest visits.