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UA900 lifted off on time, leaving behind unseasonably hot temps in San Francisco. Phones switched safely into airplane mode, severing the stream of email notifications, Facebook updates, and general life-ness…at least for a while. Nine+ hours en route to Frankfurt provided us with ample time to stop thinking about that one shirt we should have packed, and focus on the excitement of three weeks of total newness. Our first visit to Barcelona. Our first taste of Africa. Getting lost in Marrakech. Our first camel? So much to think about…to get excited about.


Must sleep. Well…one more quick glass of wine. Then sleep. Definitely.


An early morning transfer in Frankfurt, but not so early that the airport wasn’t bustling. Back and forth thru tunnels. Watching well-off business travelers in a way-too-hot business lounge, crowding around stainless steel trays of frankfurters and meatloaf (Munich style…which I think is meatloaf made from hotdogs…or something the consistency of hotdogs).


A relatively short hop to Barcelona over the Alps skirting over Marseilles before approaching from the Mediterranean…a flat blue expanse, still in the late afternoon air. For the record, BCN is a beautiful, efficient airport. Take notes, SFO…they know how to move luggage quickly!


Checked into our apartment, perfectly situated in the heart of town. A bubbly young woman from DestinationBCN greeted us and gave us the nickel tour. Fourth floor bay window with a peaceful breeze and comfy chairs in which to sit and blog. But first, a long over due shower.


Fresh and riding a second or third wind, we took an afternoon stroll along Las Ramblas…THE quintessential walk in Barcelona. An arrow-straight cobblestone street, lined with shops. Las Ramblas took us on a gentle slope down to the water and the Port just in time to catch the towering statue honoring Christopher Columbus in a warm sunset backlight.


From the Port, we headed into the winding, historic Gothic quarter which immediately transported us to our favorite European cities steeped in history layered in graffiti and gelato. Stopped for dinner on the Plaça Reial. La Terrasa del DO didn’t disappoint: a wonderfully creative version of patatas bravas and a fantastic dish of crispy potatoes layered with egg and chorizo. Afterwords, we grabbed a plaça-side seat for a raspberry mojito and a view of the craziness. Shirtless tumblers, romantic guitarists, and origami artists all vied the eye of any woman (or the Euros of the woman’s boyfriend to end the performance).


We slowly walked off dinner as we wound thru the Gothic quarter back to our apartment. We are already infatuated by this charming city.

Before we jet off, I wanted to dust off my virtual keyboard, snap a quick photo, and just make sure those pesky Internet pipes are clear.


Looking forward to a nice long break.

Continuing in my posts from Spain, here are my shots from Cordoba, our second stop. The influences and layers of Moorish, Christian, and Jewish cultures dominate these images.

Its not often (fortunately) that my flights involve segments on propeller planes. But this afternoon, I hopped a short flight from LAX to Inyokern in Eastern California. Clearly the propellers intrigued me. My favorite shot is the last one. I noticed how the iPhone sensor transformed the four rotating blades into oddly-twisted wings, lifting us skyward. Quite other-worldly.

Yesterday, Keegan, Jeff, and I stumbled upon a tiny, tucked-away park in the hills above Mill Valley. The actual “falls” at Cascade Falls are a pleasant splash at this time of year, but the sound of water and deep smell of the surrounding redwoods made for a relaxing 20 minute break from our drive.