Making Nice

Sometimes what you are looking for is not that hard to find. 

Admittedly, our landing in Spain has been a bit rocky. In fact, if I'm honest I'd say Spain and I just didn't like each other THAT much in the first months. She's slow, I'm efficient. She's complicated, I'm simple. She's multi-linguist, I'm a floundering Spanish student. She's cultural and mod, I'm a homemaker and secret wanna be homesteader. 

Yesterday marked tres meses en España. At last with our home stocked with basics and our routines established these last few weeks I've had enough breathing room to explore our neighborhood. 

Many of the other families from Benjamin Franklin International School live within walking distance of the school and the heart of Barcelona and English speakers. We live out of the city in a suburban, very Catalan area. We rely heavily on our car to get around a lot of the time. I've found myself envious of those able to be footloose and fancy free in the city. However, taking the time to check out what is just around the corner from our house has afforded me the perspective to realize we've got it pretty good out here in the 'country' too. While I still can't wait to check out the Picasso museum and tour the Cathedrals my heart is full and thankful for what is just around the corner. 

These pics are a collection from a few explorations last week. What I lack in photographic quality I make up for in quantity... or something like that. 

Big kids, posing for me. They were such troopers and didn't complain (much) about all the walking.

It's a shame this house on the left is abandoned. It could be so amazing.

Pretty, unique architecture greets us at every turn.

Spanish tend to enjoy their privacy, so getting a glimpse of a traditional style house is not always possible.

Wish these flood lights weren't blocking the view. This is a beautiful, dilapidated church 5 minutes from our house.

Pure energy.

A beautiful antique church stained glass window.

Beautiful wrought iron fences, picturesque stonework everywhere.

Peeking through the gate of a house being renovated. So pretty.

If old houses could talk, I wonder what this one would say. Why did they leave her behind? 

The kids love drawing with sticks in the sand at the parks.

I wish I could trade up my modern entry for this lovely gate.

This mountain peeking behind looks truly majestic on clear days.

Two old friends, leaning on on another.

Catching a glimpse of an abandoned building.

For this Oregon born girl, these houses make me stop in gasp! 

The weather here in late November is something like September in Seattle. Crisp. Highlight of the walk was collecting beautiful fall leaves and hearing my son thank Jesus aloud for them. 

Love the palm trees.

DH calls this one the watch tower. They have super high privacy fences but you can see the tower daunting above. Maybe that's where the guards stand ready with big guns? 

Closer to the mountain the houses start looking more rural. 

Still can't believe I live right next to these houses. 

Gorgeous path up to...

... the clock tower on this building.  Every day on my way home I see it and I've been dying to find out what it was. 

Turns out it's an old farm, that the owners had to let go and agreed to give to the city for farming. Later when the 'crisis' (recession) subsides they intend to renovate it for some community purpose. 

 

A lovely little vineyard. 

And huge garden.

Authentically rustic, complete with obsolete farm equipment and old window panes leaning beside the building. 

Major cactus bushes decorate the back of the buildings. 

The path returning. 

A little further up the opposite road I discovered a hiking path.

I admit the first time I came alone I was quite scared. There are wild boars (ugly ones) that live in these parts. I realized I didn't have any identification on me or a cell phone. Good thing I had my running shoes one because when I heard a rustle in the woods I was running! 

A vista on the way up. 

Although the way was steep it was a short ten minutes before my eyes were blessed with this sight. 

It's called La Salut (Chapel of Health),  I couldn't believe this was here the whole time and I never knew it! 

It is made up of some pre-Roman and tenth century pieces. It's undergone several name changes but it's existence as a parish is documented from the late 9th century. It now serves as a warm greeting at the top of the mountain for hikers, mountain bikers and picnickers. Apparently it's open on local holidays and events take place on the grounds.

The view of Barcelona while standing atop the benches outside the church. You can hear the faint hum of the city far away...

 Beautiful door, DH says the lock would be easy to pick, maybe we'll sneak in sometime. How can it be wrong to want to be in God's house and worship him?

Sweet window. 

Spanish sky. 

Now that I've seen a bit more of her natural side and not so much of the bureaucratic side Spain and I are getting along quite nicely. After all, I'm okay skipping the tourist sites and finding my own jewels.