No rain in Spain

Well all is well in Barcelona.  The time has gone by quickly.  We got a decent hostel that is located near the trains and all the good stuff to do.  Of course we have spent a lot of time walking La Rambla, including one stop for paella.

Highlights:
Gaudy walking tour.  His architecture is truly bizarre and fun to stare at.  Yet another cranky, eccentric architect that becomes much more revered after his death.  La Sagrada Familia is still being finished and won't be completed for another twenty-five years!  It looks like it's melting from afar but up close it's a whole narrative as you traverse the side of the building

Flamenco.  We actually just went to a half-hour show designed for tourists, but we were mesmerized.  Tonight we see a show at what is considered the best theater in town, and we can't wait!

Jazz music.  Dara found this cool club called Jamboree, and we have visited there three nights for some great jazz.  First was Eva Cortes, a smooth, tight combo with whom Dara has already made friends on Facebook.  Then we saw Xangao, playing interesting jazz/hip-hop fusion, and last night we went to the "WTF Jam Session".  All week we've been commenting that the name of the event was unnecessarily...crass.  Then we saw the show, the first part of which certainly lived up to the title.  Some great visiting musicians sat in later, including a drummer from New York who looked like Harvey Weinstein.

Olympic pool.  Up above the city, in Montjuic Park, we found the Olympic stadium and pool.  We made a commitment right then and there to come up and swim the following day.  I'm no Matt Biondi, but we had a great afternoon.

Skyride.  From that same park, we took a cable car across the coastline of Barcelona, arriving at the beach. Beautiful views were at risk of being overtaken by a British lad who like to query his father with things like "What if we were to climb up that (scaffolding) and fall off.  Wouldn't that be scary?".  Once we landed at the beautiful beach, we pledged to come back and we will shoot for that this afternoon.

As always, all good things must come to an end, but we want more time in Barcelona!

Unique Dubrovnik

Ah, this is nice...

St. Petersburg was a treat - great entertainments and hangings out.  However, we are just thrilled to be in Dubrovnik.  The beaches are really nice, and walking the old city walls is an enjoyable hour followed by forty-five minutes of ˝it´s too hot up here!  Get me off!˝  In any case, we really enjoyed sitting outside the Troubador Jazz Cafe listening to local musicians light it up!  Today we intend to relax on the beach, and tomorrow we head to Mostar, Bosnia on a day trip.  Lots to learn and see!  Take care, all...

St. Pete's

A quick note, because I have to give up the computer.  We've had a great time in St. Petersburg.  It was very welcome after a gloomy, but interesting, experience in Moscow.  St. Pete's is much more cosmopolitan - we've had a couple nice meals sitting outside watching people and looking at the beautiful Church of the Spilled Blood, which looks like candy.  The Hermitage has just too much art, but you must try the midnight boat tour.  Russian guys in front of us turned around and asked us "Do you like cognac?".  Today we will see Peter and Paul Fortress and the ballet.  Tomorrow Croatia!

From Russia...

ahem.  Here we are in (hack) (wheeze) Mosc (cough) ow (snort)(gulp)(gack)

Turkish Delight, but I'm almost out of Jetons

So far, so good in Istanbul with one day to go before we move on to Moscow's  100+ degree temperatures.

Highlights:

-The Blue Mosque.  An obvious choice, but it is really amazing walking in to the structure.  And the outside is already beautiful so that's saying something.

-Drinking banana tea and playing checkers with Dara at one of the nargileh places.  Some guys' jobs is to walk around and get dormant water pipes going strong again.  They exhale so much smoke that their head is totally surrounded in a cherry-flavored cloud.

-The Ayasofia.  It has many layers, literally and historically.  Now a museum, as you walk in you can see the foundations of its early incarnations as a church under the Byzantines.  Once you go in, you see many beautiful Christian-themed mosaics that, ironically, are well preserved because they were plastered over when the Ottomans converted it to a mosque.  Justinian, Constantine, Jesus, Mary, the whole crew is in the house.  In addition, the requisite Arabic postings of Allah, mohamed, and the four other important guys.  There's a hole you can put your thumb in and try to twist it all the way around for good luck, but it didn't seem like it was worth waiting for a mob of grinning tourists to get the photo of your inevitable fail.

-The Basilica Cisterns.  A great way to cool off on a hot afternoon was visiting this underground water storage and distribution system.  It's got fish in it and two statues of Medusa.

-Food - I have found that anything I tried here that also existed in Greece, it was better here.  Take a hike, Athens moussaka!  Now there's something tastier!

-Whirling Dervish show - Five men dressed in white go on a spiritual journey right before your eyes for fifty Euros.  How can you beat that? Really quite amazing to see - they looked so relaxed.

-more to come: we're not done yet!

Four great things about India

It took me awhile, but here were some enjoyable moments from a truly unique country:

• 
  
  Fire restaurant in New Delhi, especially the appetizer platter
• Fatehpur Sikri, Agra Fort, and of course the Taj Mahal - all beautiful structures with great patterns and great stories within.  Once in a lifetime.
• Tere Bin Laden - check this movie out if you get a chance, although I bet it's hard to find in the states. Enjoy seating in the Ebony section, with recliners!
• Jaipur - a pleasant town with castles and elephants

Ready to gobble up some Turkey food!

Well we've had a great week in Greece, including:

-A great day trip to Hydra with beautiful clear, deep, cool waters for swimming.
-Wonderful views of the Acropolis, including the Parthenon and surrounding buildings being fortified for posterity's sake.  They are humbling views, both up close, from nearby rooftops, and down in the city's streets
-Great walks through Plaka, including some decent food
-A super day trip to the beach near Athens - calm waters and a sunbed!
-Mythos!
-Rooftop movies - the great atmosphere totally makes up for a weird flick: "The Last Station".  An odd way to end your life, Leo!

Now we are on to Istanbul this evening.  Hopefully we'll catch up with you there!  Thanks for following and commenting - it's great to hear from you.