Synchronized roller skating...a sleeper sport destined for greatness?

You decide. Hot new sports trend or crazy Spanish TV program?

Gorefest at La Boqueria

I love watching Anthony Bourdain and Andrew Zimmerman on the Travel Channel. They're always going somewhere exotic, shopping in the local markets and trying native delicacies. In Barcelona there's a large outdoor market called La Boqueria where they sell things like gourmet ham, candied fruit and fresh ground spices......



But they also sell exotic seafood.....


......and entrails of animals.


We enjoyed trying various foods there, but I couldn't help but feel like becoming vegetarian after seeing the rows of skinned bunnies (complete with eyes) or the piles of skinned lamb heads (complete with eyes and teeth). I know it's a delicacy in some cultures but I guess I don't like thinking about what my hamburger used to look like. Ick! I know, I know. I'm a hypocrite.

Las Ramblas in Barcelona

When I graduated from high school, my Spanish teacher Señora Romero gave me a book of the sights of Barcelona and inscribed it with a note that said she hoped that I would see the city someday and that I'd continue with my Spanish until I mastered it. I got her wishes 3/4 right. Let's just say that my Spanish is a bit rusty, but as long as I can speak in the present tense, I'm ok :-)




In Barcelona there's a wide street called Las Ramblas, which meanders its way down to the port and the waterfront area. It's a popular place for a stroll with lots to see, like these street performers - but the most interesting (and distressing) part for me to see is the pet shops.



They're in the open air and they sell pretty much every animal around, like:

Turtles


Baby Chicks (scooped up by the handful)


And teeny tiny bunnies.


As an animal lover, I just wanted them to all have happy homes.

Chocolate Cheetos

Brett and I spent the weekend in Barcelona. In addition to having fantastic 70 degree sun (as opposed to the typical 40 degree Amsterdam drizzle) - we also enjoyed eating tasty tapas and going to El Corte Ingles, which is a HUGE 7 story department store that sells everything from car tires to gourmet truffles. We spotted these chocolate breakfast Cheetos and decided to give them a try. They were kind of like Nutella meets a non-cheesy Cheeto triangle. Do they have these in the US?

In the mood for a more savory Cheeto? Try the ham version.

Crispy Seaweed Snacks

If you have an Asian grocery store nearby, and you like sushi, I highly recommend these little crispy seaweed snacks. They're slightly salty and very crunchy. Yummy.

Cactus on a keychain

At the Peugot store in Paris last week I saw these Cactus keychains. They were cute, but I still can't figure out what they have to do with a car company.

New meaning to the phrase "you're driving me up a wall"

Well strolling the Champs-Élysées in Paris we noticed that most major European car companies had brand experience stores there. At the Peugot store they had a car that appeared as if it was driving up a wall. Now THAT is a technology I'd like to see in a car. Imagine all the spidey-like manuevers you could do with that. Traffic jam? Not on my watch!