When you start a vacation you look foreword to all the things that will happen and then when you are at the end of the vacation you remember all the things that have happened. As any good blogger I realize that there is so much more blogging I could have done on the trip if I hadn’t spent so much time procrastinating. However the beautiful thing about blogging is that you can go back in time and fill in some of the gaps. I guess that is what you do at the end of a trip; you fill in all the gaps of your time with stories about what happened so that when you get asked, (and you will get asked this many times) “How was your trip?” you have something to share.
One of those gaps that the blog failed to mention was our trip to Gaudi’s famous Parc Guell. Gaudi designed this park for a wealthy patron and it contains all his signature shapes and colours. The blue and white and green and yellow and purple tiles in endless combinations. The strange parabolic shapes and odd looking columns. Even though this is a tourist trap it is still something to see.
But as often happens it doesn’t take wandering to far off the well trodden tourist path to find something more authentic and unique. Don’t get me wrong I love the touristy stuff. Often it’s touristy because it’s good. But to much pre made, high calorie junk food and I a get hungry for something substantial. Well our little trek up one of the hills in Parc Guell gave us something good to savour. The spot we hiked up to overlooks Barcelona and its apex is marked by a rugged stone cross. It was up here that we were treated to some great French music and an impressive hoola hoop show. Enjoy.
Today I woke up to the suns rays shining through our bedroom window. My grandma has been nice enough to let Vanessa and I sleep in her bedroom so that we could sleep side by side and also have our own space. Having our own little space has been a real treat, especially when we are away from home for so long.
With only a week left we are heading up to Copenhagen for the day to see Nils for one last time before we head back to Canada. My grandma is going to a funeral for her sister in law from Norway so we are driving her up there and will pick her up afterwards. Nakskov (the place my grandma lives) is such a quiet place that it will be strange to be in the big city. We have spent the last 2 weeks here, which has been a welcomed change from the big cities of Krakow, Barcelona, Paris and Berlin. Being able to sit on the patio and hear the birds chirping or the wind blowing is something you miss when you are in the city. I am not sure how long we will last living in Vancouver although my parents place is peaceful.
A very old tree on one of our walks
The other enjoyable part of being in Naksov is taking in all the sites, sounds, smells and tastes. The other morning we had Te Birkets for breakfast, which are a Danish type pastry. Usually I bike up to the baker in the morning to get them. I don’t remember having them when I lived here before but they are a sweet elongated bun with honey in the centre. Talk about taste.
Spending our last 3 weeks in Nakskov has really allowed us to experience this place. Having to time to go for walks, have breakfast with my grandma, sit at home looking out the window and even doing everyday chores like cutting the hedges or cleaning out the dishwasher have been a joy. Of course we have missed Canada and long to be back which can sometimes get in the way of enjoying what is right in front of us but I think that overall this has been a time that we will treasure forever.
