Moltes gràcies!

Hola!

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MOLTES GRÀCIES PER ACOMPANYAR-NOS!!!!

El casament va ser emotiu i divertit alhora, i les dues coses no haurien estat possibles sense la vostra presència, ajuda i suport.

Moltes gràcies també per les contribucions pel viatge que ens heu fet arribar: menjarem molta pasta i beurem molts expressos a la vostra salut!

Si pengeu les fotos a internet (Flickr, Picasa o similars), ja ens fareu arribar l’adreça. Crec que es van fer prou fotos per muntar uns quants àlbums...

Marxem a Venècia el dimecres molt relaxats i contents. Us explicarem les nostres aventures en tornar!

Fins aviat!
Steve i Rosa

The benefit of having great family and friends

It's a little before midday, and I've only recently got up. I feel like I have a bit of jet lag - it's been a while since I stayed up so late :-) We got to bed a little before 4am, then of course I couldn't sleep. My head was buzzing with the event of the day, and I realised how much of that was down to the family and friends that attended our wedding celebration. Of course it was OUR day, and I have to say I rather liked being centre of attention....it doesn't happen very often. But the day would not have gone so brilliantly had you not been there, or shared in our enjoyment.

You're all wonderful, and thank you so much for your kind words, appreciation and gifts. It's a day that we shall never forget.

I think I like most Gareth (from 4 Weddings and a Funeral) observation that Marriage is a way out of an embarrassing pause in conversation. "People spend time together and then they run out of things to say. They get married, then they have something to talk about for the rest of their lives". The definitive ice breaker!

Enjoy Barcelona, travel safely and see you all again soon.

With much love and best wishes....

Logística, o com arribar al casament i tornar...

Aixó és el que recomanem:


-Per arribar a La Mercè: recomanem, a ser possible, que hi aneu en taxi o transport públic(Metro: Drassanes o Jaume I. Bus: 14, 59...). Si veniu en cotxe, l'aparcament està molt difícil al carrer. Hi ha un parking municipal al Moll de la Fusta, i tres de petits al llarg de C/Ample-Josep Anselm Clavé. Nota: si voleu un mapa en pdf, aviseu i us l'enviem.

-De La Mercè al Restaurant: Posarem un autobus entre un lloc i l'altre. Si aneu en cotxe, Google maps recomana aixó. El Xalet no té parking propi, però en general a Montjuic s'aparca molt bé. Localització del Xalet, segons Sant Google maps. La direcció oficial és Av. Miramar 31 (la seva web), i per entendren's, és entre la Fundació Miró i les Piscines Olímpiques (les de salts, no les Picornell).

-Del restaurant a casa: pels que volgueu un taxi, no patiu, aneu a la sortida (pujant les escales), i demaneu al porter que us en demani un. El restaurant hi està molt acostumat.

Logistics, or how to get to the wedding and come back

That's what we recommend:


-From your hotel/home to La Mercè: get a taxi. Tell the taxi-driver to take you to Iglesia de la Merce. See the place on Google Maps. By the way, Google maps has things slightly wrong. Put it to satellite, the church is the building with the round cupola. In front there is a small square. It's probable the taxi leaves you in Passeig Colon (on the right, by the sea). Look for the cupola, that has a madonna statue on top... .
If the hotel does not book you a taxi, this company speaks English: Autotaxi Mercedes + 34 93 307 07 07. Yes, they run on Mercedes but they do not cost more.


-From La Mercè to El Xalet: we have a coach ready for you. It's Autocares Fuentes, but several of Rosa's friends will take care of you. This is roughly the route.


-From El Xalet to your hotel/home: Go to the main entrance of El Xalet (up the stairs), and tell the porter to call a taxi for you. El Xalet on Google maps: on satellite, it's the small brown building on the left, not the two blue squares on the right (that are the Olympic diving pools).

About eating

Previous post was about drinking, this one will have some general indications about eating.

Rule 1: never, ever, eat at the Ramblas (this advice extends to drinking there, too). By the Ramblas we mean the boulevard between Plaza Catalunya and the sea, the other Rambla, Rambla Catalunya is, on the contrary, recommended. If you eat/drink there (on Las Ramblas) you will be swindled. If you just walk some meters inside any street each side of Las Ramblas, you'll find much better places. So, go on, be daring - eat well and still have some money in your pocket.

Rule 2: never eat in a restaurant that has to fish for customers in the street, however sweetly they talk to you. Never eat a paella in a restaurant that has a "palleador" sign at the front. In general, restaurants with pictures of the food are for tourists. And as a general rule (with some exceptions) good tapas restaurants never have the word "tapa" in the name (avoid Taller de tapas and similars).

Rule 3: Follow recommendations from your guidebook, in general they are good, and the ones in LonelyPlanet excellent. If the guide recommends to book, it's better to book in advance. It is also advisable to book for Friday and Saturday night. Ask your hotel, they'll be delighted to help. If you are in the street, check if the restaurant has local customers. If it has only tourists, beware. This advice is problematic because... (see next rule).

Rule 4: Spanish crazy eating timetables. Breakfast is from 8-10 (reasonable), but lunch is from 2-4 pm (crazy) and dinner from 9pm, a good hour being 10pm or even later. So, a restaurant is good if full by 3 and 10 pm, not earlier. Also bear in mind that according to Spanish law, restaurants must close one day to give personnel a rest. Many choose either Monday or Sunday, because with locals these are the weakest days for eating out.

Rule 5: Some local specialties that can lead to culture shock... or not

• Salads can be served without dressing, in this case, use the oil, vinegar, salt and pepper that will be present in every table.
• Spain is a country of compulsive fish-eaters. Many species will be unknown to you, if you are unsure, stick to known ones. Local curiosities will be boquerones en vinagre (marinated anchovies), pescadito frito (usually you can eat it whole, spine and head included)... In question of shell-fish, it's even worse (or better, depending on your taste).
• Cod (bacalao), unless advertized as "fresco" (fresh), will be dried, salted and dessalted before cooking. That was necessary before fridges, but now is done just for the taste. It is considered better than the fresh version, as jamon is better than pork chops, but it is a acquired taste. Sometimes is not even cooked, like in Esqueixada (marinated cod salad) or when served in carpaccio.
• Vegetables are plentiful and very good, but Spain is not vegetarian-friendly, and vegan even less. Even in "vegetable" dishes there can be some jamon, or the base for a vegetable soup can be a meat stock.
• Fresh fruit is excelent, but not common as a desert in restaurants, excepting in the form of macedonia (fruit salad). But you can buy it in any grocery or market.
  
• We have a penchant for infanticide: we like veal, baby goat, baby lamb and even baby squid.
• The casqueria (offal) is still very popular and even making a comeback. Higado encebollado (liver with onions), callos (tripe in sauce), pies de cerdo (pig trotters), carrillera or galta (cheek)...
  
• Embutidos (sausages, dried or not) are quintessentially Spanish. Sometimes you can ask for "tablas", of cheeses, embutidos and jamon. Large dishes that are meant to be shared.
• Contrary to stereotype, garlic is not widespread. Olive oil, onion and tomato are the real base of local cooking.
  

Rule 6: ethnic food is widespread, but not in the same proportion thant in London. And with some differences. For instance, it's difficult to find a good curry house, but Japanese restaurants are plentiful and is chosen with care, very good.

Rule 7: tipping is a reward for good service, because service is always included. Usually the change or some euro coins will be ok. With extremely good service, go for 10%. If the service is extremely bad, local people make an statement and leave nothing. Up to you! Also it is uncommon to tip taxi drivers.

Rule 8: if you want names and directions, email us. It's difficult to make a short selection here.

What to drink in Barcelona (including the healthy options)

A little bit of cultural data is never wrong...

Coffee

First warning: the Spanish believe that, in coffee, they are only second to the Italians. So, prepare for very strong coffee and a general disliking of Starbucks. Every bar or restaurant in Barcelona, however humble, will have an expresso machine and will serve you excellent coffee. Some slang:

• Cafe solo (or just solo): very strong expresso, served in a very little cup.
• Cafe americano: the same that above, but with more water, generally looked down by the locals.
• Cortado: literally, "cut coffee", alike to a macchiato with more milk. Served in a slightly bigger cup or a very small glass.
• Con leche: like to a cafe latte, served in a bigger cup, but always smaller than the Starbucks or Costa Coffee equivalents. Warning: while any kind of coffee will be served all day long, "con leche" is considered a breakfast coffee, it's unlikely to be drunk after midday, and asking for one after dinner is the mark of the "guiri" (the Northern European tourist).
• Cafe con hielo (pronounced "yellow"): perhaps it will be a little early for it, it's a typical summer coffee. If you ask for it, they will serve you a "solo" and a glass with icecubes. The idea it that you put sugar in the coffee, and pour it over the icecubs, drink quick before the ice melts...
• Descafeinado: decaf, do not be ashamed to ask. Spanish coffee is strong, and after 6pm decaf is recommended to people who tend to sleep light. You can be greeted with the question "de maquina o de sobre", so either machine decaf (recommended) or nescafe (yuk!)
• Carajillo: this one was typical of old gentlemen, but I am told it is making a comeback. It is just a solo with a shot of strong liquor, brandy or rhum being the favourites.
  

Local soft drinks

The universal coke (ask for coca cola), schweppes, soda, etc are available everywhere. But there are some local specialities, some of them not always liked by the foreigners:

• Cacaolat: cocoa drink, served hot in winter and cold in summer. Do not mistake it for the chocolate a la taza or deshecho, a hot chocolate cream/drink that is a dessert in its own right (It's like the chocolate sauce you add to ice cream)
  
• Granizado: local version of granita or slush puppy, but without the childish implications. If you see in a bar, on the counter, a machine that moves ice and a yellowish drink, you can ask for a granizado de limon (other flavours are orange, or even coffee). Quintessential summer favourite, it's perfect in a very hot day.
  
• Orchata: very sweet vegetal milk that foreign people tend not to appreciate, but you can have a try...

Beers

Spanish beers are very good, typically a little bit stronger than British ones, and always served chilled. In fact, the idea of a warm beer is a joke here. Una canya is a half pint, and the popular local brands are Damm, Estrella, Mahou... Coronita or Sol, Mexican beers, are also very popular, but regarded as "for girls". In general the choice of beers will be quite limited, except in some bars.

A clara, will be the local equivalent of a shandy. It's very popular in summer to have one in a terrace, with some olives and crisps.

Wines

Spain is a land of wines, and if you will check in your luggage, it's the perfect souvenir. In restaurants, the price of wine will not be as inflated as in British ones, so enjoy! Wine bars where you can taste them by the cup are increasingly popular. We encourage you to search beyond the usual Riojas (however good). Some very big and good DO (Denominacion de origen) are Ribera del Duero, Penedes, Somontano or Priorat. Some very small DO are emerging, with great success: Montsant, Costers del Segre, Jumilla, Toro, Albarinho, Emporda, Campo de Borja, etc, etc. Lately the dessert wines are making a comeback and good reataurants will have a selection by the glass in their cartas.

Liquors

As with wines, liquor prices are very good because of lower taxes. This is reflected in the cocktails. If you ask for a gin tonic, the waiter will pour down the gin until you say "stop", or nearly. So be careful.

Local liquors are anis (local version of ouzo or Marie Brizard, but stronger) or orujo (firewater).

Happy drinking!

PS: We will have "free bar" at the wedding reception.

Instructions for singles - Avís per solters/es

We remind our singles friends that boyfriends, girlfriends, partners, "that special friend", and significant others are welcome to the wedding. We only need to know in advance.

Recordem als solters/es convidats, que xicots, xicotes, amics especials i ligues amb futur estan plenament convidats al casament. Només necessitem que ens ho aviseu.