Blue Skies, Butcher Shops and Baby Pirates

Today, Barcelona is warm, sunny, and there is not a cloud in the sky. Everything is so clear it looks as if an artist has outlined the intricate domes of the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya, the mountains spilling down from Tibidabo, and the steeples of La Sagrada Familia with a fine tipped black marker.
Charlotte and I went for a leisurely afternoon walk into Parc Montjuic where I have been running lately. As we basked in the sun we came across some climbers ascending some steep rocks near the rugby field and discovered a tunnel that had been converted into a free climbing gym. Charlotte says she has found her new playground!
This week was the beginning of Carnival here in Spain and all across the country people are enjoying one of the countries largest celebrations with parades, costumes, music and masks. Starting last Friday, we have seen people in costume everywhere much like we celebrate Halloween in the States. One day when Charlotte and I were walking down our street I saw a mother pushing her infant around in a stroller. I did a double take because there was something strange about the baby's appearance. When I got a better look at the child, who appeared to be no older than 6 months, I realized that the little bundle was a baby pirate! Yes, the baby (napping to prepare for the evenings festivities) was decked out in a red bandanna and a moustache that had been drawn onto its upper lip in black marker! This baby pirate and its mother made me fall a little bit more in love with Spain and its people.
Accomplishing daily tasks such as grocery shopping and going to the estanco or the post office to ask for stamps is forcing our Spanish along. Many times hand gestures, doodles, mini interpretive dances, and big smiles are prerequisites for any sort of communication progress. Thankfully we haven't pissed anyone off in the neighborhood yet…at least as far as we can tell! In the past week we have braved the butcher shop to get some meat for dinner and taken a pair of pants to the seamstress downstairs to ask for repairs and have survived both instances! Tonight there is talk of conquering the fish market!
It’s challenging and exciting to be here. I learn something new about Spain, Spanish, culture, people, and myself everyday! Sometimes these lessons come easily and other times not so easily but at the end of the day, I love it!