50 liters of water in 20 minutes.

Today we arrived home from helping a friend move to be bombarded with a downpour of biblical proportions. We were not alone from Central Catalonia to Barcelona. and the rain fell on our saturday night. it was much needed rain but maybe not so much in such a short time. 83 liters in barcelona 50 here and in a town less than 3 kilometers away 18 liters. I guess that is how it rains here. luckily our 'horts' (vegetable gardens) did not suffer too much damage some corn(plat de moro) was knocked over but all else was fine and needed the bath I think. i will be adding photos of the knocked over corn tomorrow after the sun comes up here.

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Day trip to Andorra from Barcelona

The Principality of Andorra or Andorra is a small landlocked country between France and Spain in western Europe.'Valls d'Andorra' was given to the Andorran people for fighting against the Morres by Charles the Great.It is not a member of The European Union and a tax haven for it's duty free status.The oficial language there is Catalan but French,Spanish and Portuguese are also spoken.



  Anytime of the year it makes for a great trip from skiing to shopping or to the hot springs which make for a lovely bath when the weather hits sub freezing temps in the winter. There is nothing like going for a nice dip in the warm thermal fed baths after a day at the slopes - and Andorra offers world class slopes from beginner slopes to death defying down hills it is what the Pyrenees have to offer-. If you are the snow boring type, I would also recommend a stop over at La Molina, the site of the 2010 World Snow Boarding Championships.

There is a lot to do in Andorra, from a luxurious day spa in the hot springs and skiing in the winter. With a trip to Andorra you can't go wrong and nothing beets a duty free bottle of the ffinestScotch. But be careful with what you bring back across the border. It may be worth to ask an attendant in a store about what you plan to bring back to Spain. I recommend that because the Spanish Civil Guard is at the border stopping cars returning to Catalonia randomly to check for if someone has been quite  glutinous and coming back with a stash of tobaccos and fine goods to feed an army. If you exceed the limit for your purchases, the Spanish Civil Guard will require you to pay the duties(taxes) on all your goods you have exceeded and it is just troublesome, so better not. 

As you can see, Andorra is the paradise for everyone - from people loving to ski, shopping, spending days at the thermal waters or just walking down its many roads, full of restaurants, cafes and shops. Even there is a paradise for children. Naturland is a thematic park that children will love - Other children's activities, like bowling will also be found there. Combining adult activities with some for children, will make a complete, funny and interesting holiday to this small country for all the members of the family. To see more activities that can be done in family in Andorra, do not hesitate to contact their tourist site and get there all the information available, which will help you to combine all the possibilities for an unforgettable trip.

DIRECTIONS

Andorra is about a 2 hour drive from Barcelona take Auto Pista de Valles/C-16/E-9 north/nord. E-9 is a partial toll road so be prepared to pay the toll on E-9.. Continue onto C-16 (signs for La Seu d'Urgell/Andorra)Keep left at the fork, follow signs for La Seu d'Urgell/Andorra and merge onto C-16/LP-4033.Continue to follow C-16.At the roundabout, take the 3rd exit onto the Carretera de Puigcerdá/N-260 ramp.Merge onto Carretera de Puigcerdá/N-260.Turn right onto Carretera de Puigcerdá/N-260/LP-4033.Turn right onto Carretera de Puigcerdá/N-260.Continue to follow N-260
Go through 1 roundabout.Take a slight right onto Eix Pirinenc.Continue onto Carrer de les Valls d'Andorra/N-145.Continue to follow N-145.Go through 1 roundabout, welcome to Andorra.

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Posted in: Andorra,barcelona,cheap flights,flights,ski resort,skiing,spa,spain,spas,tour guide,vacation

The Beautiful Catalan Country and Coastal Mountains.

Now We have came to the end of another week here in sunny Catalonia,and the weather is suppose to be great.




We still do not know what we may do this weekend. We will probably stay in and watch a movie and eat some popcorn. It sounds good to me and the beach may have to wait for the August vacation that we have  all been so patiently awaiting and now it seems like it will not come for an eternity. we can't wait for Mojitos in the sun and a little bit of fun. For now it will probably be by the pool to take in the sun. but at least there is a good view from inside the pool. we may take a road trip to the park and enjoy some site seeing on the Catalan country side. We went a couple a weeks ago for a drive through the country side and I had a moment to take some pics of the castle in Talamanca a mid-evil town near  Sant llorenç del Munt. It is a

Monastery and natural park the mountain its self sits 1100 meters(3,609 feet) above sea level. The drive through the Catalan country side is definitely worth it it is the part of the beauty of Catalonia and Barcelona is the scenery from one place to another. in Catalonia you can be swimming out in the Mediterranean and see the coastal mountains and the next day be looking at where you were swimming the day before on top of the mountain you were admiring from the sea below the day before. From Montserrat on a clear day you can see Mallorca. So the weather is great the sun is shinning and it is time for a Catalan vacation. when August arrives we will be with you there is nothing like the beach and siestas or migdiades followed by late night drinks. you won't be disappointed.

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Posted in: barcelona,beach,bikininis,camping,Catalonia,facebook,girls,google,hiking,holidays,mallorca,mojitos,plaja,playa,spain,vacation

Internet in Rural Catalonia, Spain.

If you plan on a romantic get away to the Pyrenees or have a vacation planed for the beach in rural Catalonia, and internet is a must for you  a Tablet PC with tethering capabilities would serve you well, as the 3g network here can be better than physical network access. Movistar is the main cell provider here and service plans are fairly resonable. you can choose from different options depending on your internet use.

In much of Spain the installation of fiber optic cable is lacking. So a trip to rural spain you may find a slower internet service however in most big cities you will have ample bandwidth. Though if you are a big fan of the Apple iPhone 4G  you may find that much of Spain lacks installation of 4g cell networks but all of Spain has 3g network and even in a lot of rural areas you have fine 3g coverage and for me the 3g service serves fine for my perposes for the moment, though a 4g internet contection on an awesome tablet like the Dell Streak 7 4G Android Tablet  would be killer but for now I am dreaming and have to settle for my 3g tablet from Movistar that I am pleased with and for now the service is fine and it works for me.  Rest assured your holidays to the Catalan Pyrenees do not have to lack the mdern spoils of everyday life unless you want it to.

Internet in ländlichen Katalonien, Spanien.
Wenn Sie planen einen romantischen Urlaub in den Pyrenäen oder einen Urlaub für den Strand in ländlichen Katalonien gehobelt, und Internet ist ein Muss für Sie ein Tablet PC mit Tethering-Funktionen würden Sie gut zu dienen, als das 3G-Netz hier kann besser sein als physische Netzwerk zugreifen. Movistar ist die wichtigste Zelle Anbieter hier und Service-Pläne sind ziemlich resonable. Sie können aus verschiedenen Möglichkeiten abhängig von Ihrer Internetverbindung verwenden möchten.
In weiten Teilen Spaniens die Installation von LWL-Kabel fehlt. So eine Reise nach Spanien ländlichen können Sie eine langsamere Internet-Service finden jedoch in den meisten großen Städten haben Sie ausreichend Bandbreite. Obwohl, wenn Sie ein großer Fan des Apple iPhone 4G sind, können Sie feststellen, dass viel von Spanien fehlt Installation von 4g Cell Networks, aber alle von Spanien hat 3G-Netz und auch in vielen ländlichen Gebieten haben Sie feine 3G-Abdeckung und für mich das 3g Service serviert feine für meine perposes für den Moment, wenn ein 4g internet contection auf einem ehrfürchtigen Tablette wie Dell Streak 7 4G Android Tablet Killer sein würde, aber für jetzt bin ich zu träumen und für mein 3g Tablette von Movistar zufrieden, dass ich zufrieden bin mit und für jetzt der Service ist gut und es funktioniert für mich. Seien Sie versichert, Ihren Urlaub in der katalanischen Pyrenäen müssen nicht den mdern Beute des täglichen Lebens fehlt, wenn Sie es wollen.

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Posted in: access,camping,catalan,english,hiking,holidays,hotspring,internet,iphone 4g,mountain retreat,movistar,network,Pyrenees,skiing,skis,spa,spain,summer,tablet pc,vacation

The End to Another Weekend.

It is Monday now, and the weekend has come to an end. On Friday we decided to go out to eat. we went to an American restaurant in Manresa. My review of that will be soon but for now my opinion is that I prefer Catalan cuisine here, though want you get for the money if good.

The beach has been postponed but I have pics from last year in memories of when I arrived here in Spain now going on a year. Hopefully soon we will get to visit the beach. we opted to stay home and go to the park and enjoy sun rays at home instead.

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Posted in: american,bitxos,catalan,english,food,latin,lessons,manresa,snakes,spain,speakers

I love you. to my dearest Nuria, I love you so much, muah!:

If a picture is worth a thousand words.

My love for you is worth a million.

You are the rock I lean on in hard times.

The one I confide in always.

Your beauty grows on me.

Like a vine climbing up an old tree.

Everyday we grow closer.

I feel embedded in you.

As the sun ripens my heart.

It is that grape in the sun.

And like fine wine.

It all gets better in time.

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Posted in: amor,beach,carinya,catala,grapes,in,love,molt,plaja,playa,poems,sol,spain,sun,t'estimo,wine

The weekend is here. Now, where do we go from here?

Hey, the weekend is here and I am just contemplating where to go from here. I was just listening to a radio theme from when I was young "The Five O'clock Whistle." from 96 rock an Atlanta radio station from when I was younger. It brings back memories of fun in the sun in hotlanta from when I was younger. So, now an obvious choice would be to go to the beach here in Spain.  TGIF (Thank Goodness It's Friday).

 When it comes to beaches here there is no lack in choices, In relatively little distances, there is a varieties of different beaches with different landscape, terrain, sand , and water. This is where we reach a dilemma. which beach should we go to. What features do we want to look for in our beach day trip. I would prefer a secluded beach with little to no people palm trees rock cliffs and nothing but the ocean sound to be with the love of my life, but wait..We are in Spain, to find a beach with less than 2,000 people in the heat of June is virtually impossible, OK, it maybe possible in the virtual world. Unfortunately we live in reality. That is in the real world beach in Spain are spectacular but full of everybody with the same beach idea. Thousands of people line the shoreline every morning to evening as a place opens for a towel it is quickly swiped up by the next beach goer who comes a  long. We will go to one about an hour from home, maybe a little more, since there are so many in close proximity. Though, this is going to narrow down our choices somewhat. Mataro, Vila Nova, Sitges, Canet de Mar, Sant Pol de Mar, Where do we go? Barceloneta is a deffinent no. I like mataro, the water drops of quick there and it has a strong current that eats at the stones and shells in the sea, and the sand there is a coarse grain and easy to rinse so I think it is where we will go. Plus it is not too difficult to find parking which is cool. so tomorrow we are off to the beach in Mataro about 30 minutes north of Barcelona.

Hey wait, wait, don't go! it's Friday! What will we do tonight? we may go for a walk and drink on Passeig,, Manresa. we do not know yet. sometimes I miss uninhibited youth with energy that goes on forever. I was thinking to myself today. What has happened to people? I look for things to do and every time it seems people do less. I remember my youth in Atlanta,, never having a lack of events and things to do. And now no matter where you go there is less. maybe it is the crisis or maybe i am just getting old. Who knows? But, I do not fell old yet, at 31. We will find something to do. b-ball and a movie and drinks on passeig sounds good to me. But, first unfortunately it is work as usual and later off to the hort (vegetable garden) to collect some zucchini and what else maybe ripe for the picking. Soon, the fun will  start then it is time to blow that 5 o'clock whistle, though here it will be a 6 o'clock whistle.

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