Posts Tagged ‘friends’
A Trip Up Mount Tibidabo
Posted on: March 25, 2018
- In: Spain | Travel
- 64 Comments
There are just so many things to see and do in Barcelona that it’s impossible to see everything in one visit. Every time I go, I discover something new and exciting. I took my out-of-town guests to this fascinating city last summer where we visited Mount Tibidabo, the highest point in Barcelona, and loved it!
The charming blue tram
Getting there was part of the fun. We first took a bus, then a pleasant ride on a quaint blue tram with a friendly driver that took us through Barcelona’s most affluent residential area. The well-loved blue tram has been in operation since 1901 and still has that old world charm with dark wood seats and ceiling.
Beautiful homes from the window of the tram. Note the gorgeous wrought iron fence and gate.
The tram only took us halfway up the mountain. To reach the top we had to board a vintage funicular. We entered the colourful contraption with trepidation but decided that if it had been pulling folks up to the top of the mountain for 116 years, it must be OK.
Dubious funicular to the top of the mountain
Once safely delivered to the top of Mount Tibidabo, we were greeted by a classic amusement park built in 1889. Overlooking the vintage rides and fast food kiosks, the impressive Temple of Tibidabo built in 1902, stands proud. Also known as the Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, it is adorned with a golden bronze statue of Jesus with outstretched arms as if giving a benediction to all of Barcelona.
We had a quick look at the old Ferris wheel, merry-go-round and other childhood rides but decided not to go on them. Our prime interest was the church.
The interior of the church was impressive with many works of art, murals, statues, mosaics and stained glass windows.
Many awesome icons inside the church including a Black Madonna and Child.
I loved the details like this iron door infront of a private chapel
Mosaic floor depicting the story of the loaves and fishes
An elevator took us up to the terrace offering amazing panoramic views of the city, port and coastline. As we walked around the entire circumference we enjoyed close-up views of large stone statues depicting the twelve Apostles posted at intervals, ornate bell towers and intricate carvings.
An ornate bell tower on the terrace
One of the twelve Apostles overlooking the city
Another apostle, with a fabulous view.
Stone stairs took us to more levels until we reached the top under the golden statue of Jesus. It was amazing. The wind blew, the sun shone and we were delighted to have had this experience.
We worked our way to the top via the spiral stone staircases.
More intriguing details. In the foreground is the top of a gate made to look like a flowering plant.
After enjoying a nice lunch, I had yummy deep-fried artichokes with aioli dip and an iced coffee, we bought a few souvenirs and took the funicular, tram, and bus trip back to our hotel in time for another exciting outing.
Visiting Mount Tibidabo with good friends made it all the more enjoyable!
- In: friends | People
- 90 Comments
You may have read on a previous post that one of the items on my personal “bucket list” was to meet my blogging friends in person. I am excited to say that I have met three recently.
During my last trip to Canada, a blogging friend showed up at my presentation at a Calgary Library. I was delighted to meet Sue Slaght from Travel Tales of Life. She is as delightful in person as she is on her blog. A prairie girl like I am, she enjoys travel too. Her blog provides excellent articles written with a great sense of humour and filled with interesting details and pictures. She is game to try anything and have it videoed by her patient, eye-rolling husband. Check out her blog. It’s laugh-out-loud funny and the stunning pictures will entice you to visit the many locations she writes about. I am so glad to have met Sue in person.
With blogging buddy Sue Slaght in Calgary, Alberta
Another blogging friend I met recently is Fatima Rosales Naya. I have been following her blog, Saysell Travels, for a few years now. She writes about her travels with her husband and cute dog, Beano, around France and Spain in their motorhome. They find the coolest places to stop and explore and writes about them. They happened to be near Alicante recently so we arranged a meetup. It was like seeing a best friend at long last and we chatted nonstop for two hours. I’m sure we were sisters in another life. Check out her blog, with fabulous pictures here.
With long-time blogging friend, Fatima in Alicante, Spain
While in Liverpool I had a coffee with Alison Sandilands of Seemytravels.com who lives there. We had met once before when she spent six months in Canada five years ago and made a stop on the west coast. I wrote about it in an earlier blog here. After a coffee, snack, and catch-up, she took me to a historic church and gave me great ideas of things to do while in Liverpool. She was the one who suggested I stop by that fabulous library. It was so wonderful to see her again, especially as now she has a sweet little girl. Her blog is a mixture of travel and lifestyle articles.
With Alison and her baby in Liverpool, UK.
There are those who question whether blogging friends are real friends? I for one have always felt they are real friends and meeting some of them in person, makes them even more real. It is so great to have friends scattered all over the world. You can never have too many friends!
Have you had the opportunity to meet a blogging friend?
Grateful For Awesome Friends
Posted on: October 1, 2017
- In: friends | quotes | Travel
- 23 Comments
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” -Marcel Proust
I was fortunate to see many of my awesome friends when I was in Canada. Some gave me a place to stay, some drove me around and everyone fed me so well. They have all been such huge supporters in whatever I do. Here are a few of them.
It was great that these good friends from Trinidad were in Canada at the same time.
A picnic with friends at English Bay before a Bard on the Beach performance
A special Bard Buddy who organized the day.
Always fun to be part of the cast with another special Bard Buddy
A longtime Calgary friend and travel buddy who drove me around, gave me a place to stay and fed me well.
A wonderful supportive Vancouver friend who gave me rides and attended events.
A special relative/friend!
A dear friend who provides me with a great place to stay and feeds me well.
A lovely mother and daughter team who gave me a comfy room to stay during my first week in Vancouver, fed me well and gave me tons of support.
Travel writer/photographer friend who took my profile picture and designed my bookmarks. Treated me to a lovely lunch overlooking a golf course.
A supportive writer friend who treated me to a lovely picnic and a Monet exhibition at the Vancouver Art Gallery.
A former coworker and her daughter who came to a book signing
My longtime friend who provides me with a comfy place to stay in Medicine Hat, a garden to relax in and delicious meals
As you can see I was well looked after. It was so wonderful to be able to spend time with these friends and many others. I am truly blessed.
“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.”
― Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey
“You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes.”
― A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh
Special Visitors from Abroad
Posted on: June 29, 2017
- In: Family | People | Spain | Travel
- 36 Comments
I haven’t been spending much time on my blog lately but there is a very good reason. I’ve been entertaining overseas guests and showing them around my part of Spain. The three of us come from the same place originally and have been buddies since we were children. One is related, one isn’t, one now lives in Arizona and one in Alberta. I can´t tell you how wonderful it has been having them here in Spain with me.
So far we have explored medieval castles, cathedrals, museums, a Roman fortress, an amphitheatre, and a sanctuary built into the side of a mountain, shopped the markets, shared tapas and watched a flamenco dancer to name a few of the many fun things we’ve been doing. I’ll write more about these events and sites later but in the meantime here are a few pictures to show what we’ve been up to.
At the Sanctuary of the Virgin of Esperanza
Happy to have my friends here in Spain with me.
With a friendly sailor in Cartagena
Enjoying the amphitheatre in Cartagena
On stage at the amphitheatre ready to give a performance
A Roman Senator lost his head over us!
At the top of the castle in Guadalest
Beautiful Guadalest
We did not fight over the knight in shining armour
Someone bought a new hat at the market and is very happy!
Resting in a cute courtyard in Cordoba.
At the Alcazar in Cordoba with King Alfonso
Look who we found at the top of Santa Barbara Castle in Alicante
The three amigas together again, ready for adventure.
There are many more pictures and stories to share but you will have to wait.
Note – pictures from a collection taken by all three of us.
Fun with Bob and Jayne!
Posted on: October 16, 2016
- In: People | Spain
- 42 Comments
As much fun as we are having here in Spain, we do miss our friends and family back in Canada. So when friends come to visit, it is pretty special. We were delighted when my bestie Jayne, and her hubby, Bob, came to spend a week with us in September. We had so much fun together, as we always do, and did lots of catching up. There was beach time and shopping time, as well as visits to historic sites and a Roman and Carthaginian festival. We hung out with gladiators and ate tapas, paella and much more delicious Spanish food. My hubby was happy to drive us to many interesting places.
Jayne at the market, stopping to smell the flowers
Jayne and Bob enjoying the Mediterranean.
An evening walk on the beach.
Hanging out with gladiators at the Roman Fiesta
Romans and archers
by a mural in Cartagena
The amazing church at Novelda, designed by a student of Gaudi.
Old friends in Spain
Coffee at the mall after serious shopping
Relaxing by the sea in Torrevieja
Ice cream in Torrevieja. That was the small size!
Of course, Dot loved Jayne
Jayne is an English girl from Nottingham who has lived in Canada for a long time. She was the first friend I made when I moved to Vancouver in 1989. We have done some fun things together over the years. I am so glad she came to visit me in Spain. Jayne and her husband had a great time and loved our new relaxed life.
Jayne is having surgery on October 18. She is such a positive individual, I know she will be fine. But I would like to ask you to please send some positive thoughts and prayers her way.
Jayne in Spain
Isn´t it great to get together with a long time friend!
Time with Family and Friends
Posted on: July 14, 2015
- In: Family | People | Travel
- 24 Comments
I just returned from a trip home to Alberta, Canada, where I attended my grandson´s graduation and a large family reunion, visited many friends and relatives and spent quality time with mom, my son and his family. Needless to say I had a wonderful time. I´ll let the pictures tell the story.
Proud Grandma
Proud parents and brother
I did it!
So glad I could be there for this important occasion.
Long time Calgary buddies
Catching up with a childhood friend I haven´t seen for many years
We worked together 35 years ago. Where does the time go?
Dinner with the grandsons
My sweet great granddaughter
With my other sweet great granddaughter at the family reunion
Giving her great great grandmother a ride in the garden
With Mom and her sister at the family reunion
I saw many relatives I hadn´t seen for some time, including my 91 year old great aunt and her husband in Calgary, my dad´s 90 year old brother and my 86 year old great uncle in Medicine Hat. Always good to see them and hear their wonderful stories, some of which I plan to share on this blog.
I´ll write more about the family reunion which deserves its own post.
Summer With Friends
Posted on: August 26, 2014
- In: People
- 25 Comments
We are blessed with so many good friends and this past while we have had the pleasure of spending time with many of them. I’d like to share some pictures with you.
We have lived in this area for fourteen years and only just discovered a wonderful place called the Riverhouse Restaurant. It is so lovely to sit on the patio, watch the sunset over the marina, and share a delicious meal with good friends.
Dinner with friends at the Riverhouse Restuarant
Outside the Riverhouse Restaurant
Watching the sun set as we eat
A romantic table for two
We enjoyed a fabulous barbeque at our friend’s acreage. We were greeted with a welcoming sign which I believe means “Home Forever More” as we pulled in the driveway. It was a lovely day with boccie ball, lawn darts and croquette organized, plenty of interesting people to chat with and an amazing display of food all in a picturesque setting.
A welcome sign to greet us.
Beautiful flowers everywhere
Even an owl to oversee things
A mare and her filly in the pasture
A civilized game of croquette
Great food!
Making sure everyone goes the right way!
Another fiend invited us to a salmon barbeque in her lovely back yard.
A beautiful backyard
Opening the sparkling wine
Dinner under the pergola
We have been so lucky this summer; plenty of good food, good weather and great friends!
