Who's The Boss?

Christmas at Disneyland

To say that our weekend at Disneyland was magical is a complete understatement.  We had a phenomenal time.   The weather was unbelievable (high 70s!).   The lines were reasonable.  And Darius is just the perfect age to get caught up in the magic.   Watching him was THE HIGHLIGHT of my weekend.  To see him get so excited about riding Space Mountain or taking a photo with Pooh Bear... To see him love the things about Disneyland that I loved as a child, it was more than magical for me.

I've never been to Disneyland during the holidays and didn't know what to expect.  It surpassed my wildest dreams.  I'm telling you, a weekend in Disneyland decorated to the gills in Christmas themes will fill you with the spirit of season. 

It's a Small World had Christmas carols playing throughout.

 

We were serenaded by super-talented Disney singers in our hotel lobby.

 

But the best part was Santa

 

When Darius saw Santa headed our way in the Holiday Parade, he immediately stood up and started to frantically wave at him.  He was so excited to see the man in red.  When Santa got closer, Darius turned to me and said "I have to tell him what I want," and then shouted at the top of his lungs "SANTA, SANTA! I WANT A STAR WARS LEGO SET FOR CHRISTMAS."  He said it with such sincerity and passion.  So sweet.  Neville and I are still getting a laugh out of it. 

Good thing, I picked one up the day before.  Afterall, he has been a very good boy this year.

Photojournal: Lisbon, Portugal

Follow the Yellow Brick Road... to Lisbon

The sidewalks in Lisbon are amazing.  Each path has a different pattern.  It makes walking the streets in Lisbon a little dangerous - I'm too busy looking at what is beneath my feet instead of at the people who may be walking towards me.  The craftsmanship in a single sidewalk is breathtaking.

The unique sidewalks were commissioned during the 18th century when the city was rebuilt after a devastating earthquake.  It's probably what Lisbon is best known for - and I am thrilled that I got to see these works of art up close and personal.

I know absolutely nothing about Portuguese culture, the language, the food.  It's been a crash course.  Luckily for me, the people I have encountered having been incredibly sweet and patient.  It helps that, in addition to speaking Portguese, almost everyone speaks Spanish and English as well.

Can't wait to see where this path leads me.

These are a few of my favorite things (in Barcelona)

Tapas. 

My all time favorite is the olives.  You can get them everywhere.  These are "olivas primavera" - both green and black olives (with pits), pearl onions and little gherkins marinated in just olive oil.

The Picasso Tour.  If you are in Barcelona, go to the tourist office at Placa Catalunya and sign up for this 2-hr walking tour.  We walked all over to places that Picasso lived, partied, and painted during his many years in Barcelona. 

This is El Quatre Gats, a local hangout that was very popular with the artists in Picasso's early years. 

The Sagrada Familia (the Holy Family) church. It is an unfinished church made completely of carved stone. The outside of the church is amazing. While I typically find stone to be cold and unappealing, this stone work was so intricate that it exuded warmth. You can stare at the outside of the church for hours and still not see every little detail. A private foundation is working on completing the church.

La Mercat Boqueria. It's Europe's largest outdoor market. I've never seen anything like it before. It's like our local farmer's market on steroids. You can get everything here. Every. thing. Fresh fish, fruits and veggies, local eggs, fresh meat including things I've never seen before. Like skinned whole rabbits or lambs heads. Seriously. It was cool and creepy at the same time. Every item is displayed so delicately that the market felt like a giant piece of art.

What a Croc!

Our first full day in Barcelona was a wet one.  The city was thrilled to get water as they are in a water shortage right now.  The fountains have all been turned off and the government is looking into alternative ways to bring water to the city.  So the rain was muy importante to the Barcelonians.  Sissy and I decided that a little water wasn't going to stop us from enjoying the city. 

Five hours of walking in the rain in my tennis shoes wasn't so bad.  When we decided to go back to our hostel (downstairs in the same building as friends of ours who live in Barcelona), I changed my shoes to flip flops.  The rain was a warm rain but I couldn't bear to be in wet walking shoes for another minute.  My soggy feet needed a break.  We walked almost four hours with flip flops. 

When I awoke the next morning, I could barely walk.  My feet throbbed.  I must have damaged the heels and balls of my feet.  But the pain in my feet was nothing compared to the pain in my heart.  I was going to slow us down.  I was going to ruin the trip.  Walking to the bathroom hurt, how could I ever make it to Parc Guell (an intense uphill walk)?  Sissy was great about it.  She didn't seem to mind that every fourth step, I'd moan about my feet.

When I passed by a shoe store on our way out of a Metro station, I immediately walked in.  I needed a new pair of shoes.  My tennis shoes were still drenched.  My flip flops were slowly killing me.  The only other paid of shoes I had were an expense pair of flats - and no way was I taking those out during the rain.  I needed something that could heal my feet while still enabling me to walk the entire day. There was only one shoe in the store window that could do that. I swore before that I would never wear a pair of these hideous shoes.  I was desperate. 

I bought a pair of black crocs.

Good God, they are the ugliest shoes on the planet.  U-G-L-Y.

But they work, people.  The shoes work.  I immediately had a bounce in my step.  I could walk next to my friend pain free instead of being a royal pain in the ass.  I wore them the whole day and was in love.

The next morning, my tennis were dry and my feet were healed.  And I am now a converted croc lover. 

I've worn them a few times since on this trip.  Typically in the afternoon when my feet need a break.  Sissy and I are walking non-stop on our vacation of a lifetime.  And I don't plan on letting my feet get in the way. Now I know that they won't. 

Photojournal: Chinatown, San Francisco

Photojournal: Sacramento

Photo Journal: Tel Aviv, Day 3

Photo Journal: London, Day 2

I'm leaving on a jet plane

All my bags are packed I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin' it's early morn
The taxi's waitin' he's blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome I could die

Ok, so not quite.

My bag are packed, everyone else in the house is still sleeping, there isn't a taxi but my dad giving me a free lift to the airport, and I found out that CityMama and Crazedparent are on my flight.  We'll be causing girlie havoc in the airport fo' so'.

And..... I cashed in my frequent flyer miles so I'm going FIRST CLASS, baby.  I'm glad that the girls will be on the flight with me so that they can ensure that my Champagne ass makes it to the hotel.  And yes, my fair ladies, I'll be bringing some sugar back to you in Economy class.  Ok, I didn't mean that as a diss, but I can't get over how excited I am about going First class.