Alert - Geek Post

...and for those of you wondering how all this geeky blogging is all possible... This little device has been worth it's wait in gold. A USB modem that plugs into a small router that allows 5 connections kept this iFamily surfing the net and posting photos of the trip... See you back in Anchorage!!

Headed home

Here we are at the Barcelona airport starting our journey home. 2 hrs to Frankfurt, 9.5 hrs to Anchorage. And amazingly we get to Anchorage 1/2 hour before we leave Frankfurt. (on the clock anyway).

Evening Stroll

After dinner walk down the beach ends at the iconic Sitges Church.

Narrow Streets

Here is another example of the very narrow streets in the heart of just about every town in Spain.

McDonald's

Ducking into McDonald's to access their free internet to locate a store, we had to take a picture of their hi-tech ordering system.  Punch in your order on the screen and walk over to the counter and pick it up.  Even fast food workers are losing their jobs to technology. (We didn't order a beer, but it was on the menu.)

Streets of Barcelona

Really... Roger is happier than he looks to be in Barcelona.

Cathedral

Walking down "Las Ramblas" we decided to veer off onto on of the narrow streets and quite unexpectedly ran into this cathedral.

Plaza Catalunya

Today we took the train in to Barcelona and spent the day shopping and taking in the sights.  The fountains in Plaza Catalunya were enticing as it was a tad hot for us Alaskan boys.

Exploring Montserrat

Photo ops around the grounds at Montserrat.

Views around Montserrat

Montserrat offers many amazing views and trails for hiking and exploring.  Given just an hour and a half from our tour we were able to see quite a lot, but this awe inspiring setting calls for at least a full day to fully appreciate. Perhaps staying here at the 80 room hotel located on the grounds are in order some day.

Montserrat Basillica

The Basillica at Montserrat where the crowd gathers to hear the boys choir sing their daily song offering.

Road to Montserrat

Here we are approaching Montserrat.  Montserrat began as a Benedictine Monastery in the 16th Century and has grown into a very popular tourist attraction. In 1987 the area was declared a Natural Park as has miles and miles of nature trails to explore.

Adios a Vilarnau

After picking up a bottle of this vineyard's wine for our own private tasting on our deck back in Sitges with some cheese and grapes, we are on our way to Montserrat

Tasting

Uncorking three bottles of this vineyard's fine cavas was a highlight of today's adventure. Bottle number 1, aged at least 30 months, was the most dry without added sugars - called Cava Natural. Bottle number 2, aged at least 24 months, and with a second fermentation of more sugars was sweeter and called extra brut. Bottle number 3, aged at least 18 months, also with a second fermentation process was a rose Cava.  It was the sweetest of the three and made with different a extraction technique to get the red color from the grape skin.

Harvesting and storage

We were lucky enough to be there as the grapes were being funneled into a pressurized chamber for extraction and later storage (second photo) which will then turn into million bottles of world famous Cava (Spanish champagne)

Wine tasting at Vilarnau

With the second harvest about to take place in a few weeks, there were still a few grapes on the vines for us to pick and taste.

Full Moon

Great view of the full moon with the Church hidden behind the palm trees along the "paseo".

Sand Castle

Artists create a new work of art each evening along the beach boardwalk (or as they say in Spain, the beach paseo).

Sunset

A view of the sunset from our balcony.

More Catalonia Day

Catalonia Day

Today the Catalonia flags are out marking the celebration of Catalonia Day.

Street Signs

Even though some of the street signs in Sitges are graphical and meant to be universal, we still have no idea what this one means.

Nice day at the beach!

Nice day at the beach today... Us white Alaskans mostly hide out in the shade, but a few dips in the Mediterranean gave a refreshing reprieve to the heat from the Sitges sun.

View from our window

This is the view from our apartment in Sitges.

Streets of Sitges

Taking a look in some shops before heading off to dinner.

The Heart of Sitges

One of the most beautiful corners in the heart of Sitges just happens to have an optical store at it's base.  Why is this important you might ask... Well, when one drops his sunglasses and bends the frame, a quick trip to an optical shop was just the ticket.

Fresh Markets

About a block from our apartment you can get freshly prepared dishes or the catch of the day.

Mmmm Fresh...

Always a beautiful display of fresh baked goods greats you each morning.

Arrived in Spain!

2nd only to a short nap on our list of priorities was heading out on the town our first night here for some Spanish Tapas.

Over the top

9.5 hours direct from Anchorage to Frankfurt. Sunset somewhere over Greenland.

And away we go

20 beers on tap at Humpy's at the airport... Nice way to start the vacation.