Random adventures around town

We are constantly taking pictures as we explore Barcelona (we are such tourists).  However, sometimes we haven't done enough to warrant a whole blog post.  So, this post is a collection of random adventures that we have had over the past few weeks. We hope you enjoy.

Every once in a while Tabitha gets cravings for hamburgers!  So, we went online to find the best (and most authentic) burgers in Barcelona.  We found Pim Pam Burger.  The burgers are delicious (although not quite as good as Five Guys) and pretty authentic.  However, there was one thing that just didn't make sense to us...

American style?
Then why is it imported from Germany?
And why does it have a French name?
And why have we never seen it before?

We have also ventured away from our traditional American cuisine, trying our hand at cooking dishes like rabbit Catalán style!  However, for months we have been hearing about calçots, a traditional Catalán food.  They are a type of green onion that gets grilled, usually at a cook-out called a calçotada, and then dipped into a delicious Romesco sauce. They are pretty messy to eat and when you order them you are given a bib and gloves! How to eat calçots.

Calçots grilling.

Dave and Jorge getting ready to eat.

He likes it!

In addition to eating delicious food we also try to experience a little bit of culture.  We have visited the Picasso Museum and the MACBA (Museu d'Art Contemporani de Barcelona).  When we entered the MACBA we saw a mime troop performing their version of L'Abric d'Alfred Casas (The overcoat), a story by Nikolai V. Gógol.  It was mesmerizing to watch the performance.

The mimes

and the coats

The MACBA

And finally, some beautiful pictures of parrots.

Parrots in a tree

Parrots on the grass

Barça!

We decided it was about time that we go to a Barça game.  They are the best football team in the world and all.  We bought some tickets online with our friend Jorge, for seats that were cheap and really really high up in the stadium.  We then waited and hoped that the tickets would arrive on time.  Fortunately they did.  We headed off to the stadium and, of course, visited the Barça store before the game.

Away jerseys.

Puyol is shorter and has redder hair than I remember...

Puyol! Tabitha's favorite Barça player.
Unfortunately he was injured and didn't get to play.

Dave supports Guardiola.

Once we had our fill of all the Barça merchandise we headed off to find our seats.  We walked through the gate for our tickets and then started walking down!?!  And then through the door for our section, and basically onto the field.  Even though we were convinced we were in the wrong spot, the usher assured us that we were right.  We were sitting in the second row between the goal and the corner!

Let the game begin!

Abidal playing left back.

Getting ready for a corner.

Great save by Pinto.

Dave and Jorge

Tabitha had camera envy.

Messi down

Gooooooooooo...

...oooooooooaaaaaaaaaa....

...aaaaaaaalllllllllllllllllll...

...llllllllllllllllllll!!!!!

Messi celebrates his goal.

Dave and Tabitha celebrate Messi's goal

Corner

Xavi and Iniesta!

Barça wins!

Game over.

Barcelona to the MAX

Woof Woof.  Max here.  I want two rite blog post bout Barcelona 2 me.  Mommy an Daddy teach me rite adn type good.  Here my post.  Woof.

ChillMaxiIn'

No dogs aloud

View at Parc Güell pretty

I got the Tramp part down.  Where is Lady?

Praktising my Spañish

Yum yum. I like bravas and beer.

Attak!

Bohemian Rhapsody (Part II)

Prague

After Dave's conference in Pilsen, we met up in Prague for a long weekend.  Prague is a beautiful city with a rich history, and we really enjoyed our short stay there.

On the first night we took a walk over the Charles Bridge
to see Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral.

There are many statues lining the Charles Bridge.

Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral
looked really impressive at night,
but unfortunately we were too late to go inside.

So we walked back toward our hotel,
 and ran into Dave's old friend Svejk!
(From the classic of Czech literature
The Good Soldier Svejk)

When you gotta go, you gotta go...

The next morning we attempted Prague Castle again...

And this time we were able to take a tour.

A beautiful stained-glass
window in the Cathedral.

The impressive organ.

The back of the cathedral was as impressive as the front.

Inside the Rosenburg Palace.

Dave has been reading too much Don Quixote...

A view of Prague from near the castle.

St. George's Bridge, from afar.

The super-cool astronomical clock.
Supposedly they poked out the
clock maker's eyes after he was
finished to ensure he wouldn't make
one for a different city!

Is Tabitha in Disney World?
(This is one of the two buildings
that were the inspiration for
Cinderella's castle.)

We really enjoyed the Czech food.  And the company...

  Notice Freud hanging onto the pole.

We went on a tour to learn about the history of
Prague during the time of Communism.
This balcony, in the Old Square, was
where the rise and fall of Communism were announced.

During the tour we visited a
nuclear fall out shelter.
Dave is now ready for the coming
Zombie apocalypse.

Finally we visited St. ♪♫ Wenceslas ♪♫ Square