Should be doing the House Hunting International program. The ultimate job for me, my dream job.
You name the place, the country, the area you want to live in it and I will find you your dream property. I know, they are called real estate agents.

But I would do it worldwide. And even renovate it for you…oh, wouldn’t it be wonderful?

On Thursday night my boys went to see the Real Madrid -Barcelona game. Live, from their VIP seats. The only thing that kept popping into my mind was that in that crowd ( apparently this stadium can take up to 100.000 people) my son will get lost, I will never see him again. With his Dad spacing out while he is in search of an area where he can smoke, he will leave him behind…

I know, it is insane, I am a worrier but can’t help it. So to be on the safe side I made little notes with my name, phone number, hotel name and room number written on it, and I tucked one into his jeans pocket, another one into his jacket. Told him not to tell his Dad.

So off they went, and I went for my own walk on the beach. This time I didn’t get the sunset I was hoping for, but it was such a great feeling just to be able to walk right on the beach, feel the sand beneath your feet, hear the sound of the crashing waves.

Indian guys walking with a basket full of ready mojito glasses in one hand, a bottle of rum in the other. Young ones sitting with beers in their hands. A usual weekday evening.

They seem happy, the atmosphere is great. Not like home, where most of the people sit with their heads down on the metro, not ever smiling at each other. Did not even want to think about it. So just kept walking and walking, on the beach, then back to La Rambla, even saw parrots on the Judas trees,which seem to be profusely flowering everywhere. Yess, I did find some green places…not as many as I would have liked, but what the heck, after all this is a city.

Had a lonely dinner in our room while doing some research about the area around Barcelona, specifically Castelldefels and Sitges.

Both of them seemed pretty nice on the pictures. But one must go there to see it for herself.
Liked the location of Castelldefels, not too far from Barcelona, actually you can be in in half an hour by train.
The British School is located there,so that is definitely a plus,and the endless sandy beach. So is the Garraf Nature Park close by that is yet to be explored.

Not too small,but not too big either, with about 60.000 people residing currently. Armed with loads of info I was eager to go there in the weekend.

But first I had to get M. and his Dad home. Arrived just around midnight, tired but excited, it was something they have never done before. I don’t care much for football, but loved seeing how happy M. was. And quite happy too, because for some reason he is a Real Madrid fan and they won.

And he had two bags of popcorn and two Fanta. That is my son and his weird priorities.

Some days later…

Wish I could say that our drive to Castelldefels was uneventful,, but no. Our driver crashed into the car in front of us. Luckily we were fine, said a silent prayer and was thankful for having our seatbelt on .

Continued on with another taxi driver, while she remained behind to deal with the other car owner.

First impression: Great beach, sandy dunes, gorgeous yellow and purple flowers…very dreamy.
Still a bit cold,only15 C, while back home even in the mountain was over 25.
Walked around, then headed for the smaller streets.
One thing I must mention is the amount of dog poo we found there on the pavements, wonder why?
Back in Barcelona it was different. Dog owners were all walking around with little plastic bags to collect it if needed. There were dogs everywhere, even on the beach.

Here on the beach they had big signs forbidding dogs to go there. Why? The people who live there are different?

Since it was a Sunday, no shops were open, so I cannot honestly write about the quality of the shops, restaurants, services, whether they have a market or not. Yet to be discovered.

On our way home we took a detour to the mountains where the villas were. Less people, more private,with pine trees… quite nice. Too pricey perhaps.

My mind was going a mile a minute. The car was going a bit faster… we were back in no time at the Santa Catarina square. More walk, more market time. Seem to be obsessed with the Boqueria market. Bought some olives and tapenade. Wish I could have bought more, perhaps the whole of the market.
Had lunch right there, squids, shrimps,octopus…just seafood. Delicious cold white wine, and a golden retriever to pet at the next table.

Been house hunting online ever since.
Nothing so far.

Till then I will write about Gaudi…next.