We’re back from Spain and an entire week into November, which means I better get this post written before it’s too late. Thankfully, jet lag and the time change fall right in line with November’s challenge. In January I made it my goal to be in bed by 11pm and I’m still struggling with sleep. It’s amazing how much does and doesn’t change in 11 months.

I’m still chasing the elusive consistent sleepy time that seems to baffle parents of young children. When I have gotten some consistency I found that, like many toddlers, Porter’s day starts between 6-7am. I know that many adults also start their days at this time, I was one of them when I had a “regular job”. Since I don’t go into work however, I expect to sleep at least until the sun comes up or 8am, whichever comes later. Ha ha ha! Silly mama.

Something in my schedule had to change, so I tried to get to bed earlier (again). This lead to many nights of laying in bed with my eyes closed and checking my clock every 2-7 minutes. Even though I was in bed with the lights out, my mind and body wouldn’t shut down until past 11:30pm. Old habits die hard. Then I read a story from Nancy, a sleep specialist, about how she had a medical condition which got her off her own sleep routine. I think she mentioned Downton Abby in there too, which has kept me up many a night as well. To recover, she enforced a strict bedtime routine and within a few weeks she was sleeping like a baby  regularly.

And that, friends, brings me to my November challenge: establish a sleep routine and make it to bed by 10-10:30pm. This will hopefully get me 7.5+ hours a night and alleviate the desire for naps. That is, if Porter resumes sleeping through the night after our international excursion. Don’t feel too bad for me though, it was totally worth it. Here’s the kicker, I’ve been so exhausted upon our return that I crawl into bed before 10 and promptly fall asleep. Hopefully by the end of this week we’ll be back on track and will get Porter back to sleeping through the night. Oh joy, sleep training for all. Stay tuned!

Playing airport.

Submarine made of wood.

Christopher Columbus at the top of this pole, pointing in the direction of North America. The crazy part of this statue is the Native American that’s kneeling at the feet of a Friar who has his hand adoringly on the Native’s head. It’s a slightly different perspective than the one I have from back home.

Marbella was beautiful and I can’t wait to return. Barcelona, however, is a whole different experience. On the personal side, it’s been great for getting Porter onto a regular napping and sleep schedule, albeit a Spanish one that involves a 10:30pm bedtime. On the tourist level, it’s been absolutely wonderful staying on La Rambla. I haven’t had to go beyond a few blocks to find new places, people and experiences. On the other hand, I’ve been a bad tourist and not gone to see the famous Barcelona spots or taken many photos. Not yet anyway. It’s just too easy to be swept up in the current of people and to disappear down the small side streets.

Today we took Porter to the aquarium, which he loved, and then Luke found us the best Chocolate and Churros in Barcelona. And it was! All of Barcelona was there waiting in line. I also went with my dad to set up our booth at the EACTS trade show, which is why we’re in Spain to begin with. That trip ended with the purchase of a beautiful new leather bag from the beautiful leather bag shop. Despite Spain’s current economic “crisis” I have found the people friendly and the culture vibrant. Come to Spain, it’s awesome.

Family portrait at La Xina (China) dinner. Porter is the lovey-est boy I know.

We did hugs and kisses for at least 5 minutes.

Mini honus, the size of a silver dollar, for sale on La Rambla.

I got video of this experience, it’s really cute. I’ll post it (and more) tomorrow, I promise.

Walking down La Rambla Friday night. It’s this busy all the time. Except at  7am. I really need to do a fashion post, because people here are into it and I’ve got a really good idea now that I’m an expert people watcher.

The booth, pre game.

Blowing up the mannequin.

Me and my new friend.

Line for chocolate and churros.

Granja Xocolateria only moments from our hotel!!

Pile ‘o churros bathing in sugar.

Before

Churro spa treatment in whipped cream

Beneath the huge pile of cream is the pudding like dark chocolate.

Heaven

oh my god, yes

It’s super thick. My husband loves me, and I know this because he brings me to chocolate and churros. It was the only thing I wanted to do in Spain. Now I can go home happy. Maybe I’ll have more before we leave first.

Being green goes way back. Respecteu els animals i les plantes. “Respect the animals and the plants.”

I had a request for more videos, so here they are. I’ll try to do more in our future trips. Do you want videos of places or Porter? Probably both, right?

 

Today Luke and I took a trip, with our friendly tour guide Peter of Indigo Travel & Events, to the lovely city of Granada, home of the Alhambra. And no, it’s not bottled water. Granada is a lovely city, with marble sidewalks and a vibrant student community of the young and fashionable. It’s also home to the Alhambra, which is what I would compare the the Getty Museum in LA, only a thousand years older. Get ready for pictures, cause this is a photo worthy location. There are many photos of all our travels that haven’t made it onto blogs, so when we return and I have use of our regular computer I plan on a follow up post with those and accompanying videos.

I finally got my hands on some churros!

Walking through the city.

Shout out to King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain! You know, of the Columbus days?  Laid for their eternal rest in this very church.

Spices and dried fruits

Herbs to cure what ails you.

Amazing dried fruit, mmm fresas.

Peter and Luke at the entrance of the park below the Alhambra.

On of 36 look out towers.

The ground.

More ground designs.

The ceiling. Individual pieces of wood held together with tension and no glue, and this was just the first room.

Floor holds up after 1,000 years.

Hand cut tile. Like there was any other way back then, I suppose.

Some of the scripture, in Arabic, was poured into casts and adhered to the walls.

These photos do NO JUSTICE to the absolutely amazing details on every surface of this place.

Wanna see the emperor? Clean your feet first.

View of old Granada.

The Arabic fountains are so much more elegant, and quiet, than the more modern European fountains.

My  next kitchen back splash perhaps?

Wood puzzle ceiling.

In most museums you can’t touch anything, here you can touch EVERYTHING.

My most favorite part is the ceiling in the emperor’s seating room that looks like stars (again made of thousands of hand cut pieces of wood). I repeat, this photo does it no justice whatsoever. You’ll just have to visit for yourself to truly understand the magnificence.

It’s a lion fountain!

This is where they would hang out and look good.

Garden view from the room of one of the emperor’s many wives.

Skylights

The ground here is made of smooth pebbles, like all the other photos of the ground design. And it’s only for walking on.

Pomegranates, the fruit of Granada. Get it??

The most literal translation they could have come up with.

Welcome to the gardens, where the ground is designed in the shapes of flowers, of course.

Water, from 6 km away in the original Sierra Nevada mountain range, rushing down the hand rail of the steps.

If I had the time and correct camera there could be a thousand photos of the Alhambra. It’s an amazing place to visit, and if you’re ever in the south of Spain, take the time to go there and see it for yourself. The details and artwork are breathtaking and very very old. It’s age makes it that much more beautiful. So incredibly beautiful.

Today Luke and my parents took a trip to Cordoba while Porter and I had a day at the beach. There aren’t a whole lot of photos since I was playing with Porter at the beach, taking naps and watching Donald Duck. It was a perfect day together. Tomorrow Granada!