There and Back Again

April 22, 2008 @ 7:30 pm | Filed under: Barcelona trip

Scott and I have just returned from a trip. I didn’t tell you I was going because I felt funny announcing to the world we were going to be away from our children for six nights. Actually I was in near-total denial about this trip during the two months leading up to our departure. We have never left our children for more than a night, EVER. And even that only twice (not counting the nights I’ve spent in the hospital having babies—even then I have only stayed away for one night). Last October we went to L.A. for a night to see Springsteen, and in July of 2005 we went to Greensboro, NC, for a night. To see Springsteen! Detect a theme?

This time, oh my goodness. Scott was asked to attend a comic book convention in Barcelona. The folks who invited him offered to pay for airfare, lodging, and meals not only for him, but for his wife. His wife relayed this generous offer to her mother. Her mother said, “Oh honey. I would hate to see you pass up a free trip to Spain.” Scott accepted the invitation.

My amazing, amazing parents flew out here to San Diego from Denver to stay with the children while we were away. We departed last Tuesday morning, the 15th of April. Tax day! We changed planes in Atlanta and arrived in Barcelona around noon on Wednesday the 16th. We spent six nights in the Barcelona Catalonia Plaza hotel. Flew home yesterday, Monday the 21st, departing Spain midday and arriving home around 9pm. My parents returned to Denver this afternoon. I am groggy with jet-lag, delirously happy to be with my children again, and on a massive high from having had the time of my life in that incredible, gorgeous, magical city.

We had the best time. Words fail me. And yet: I will be writing about this for weeks, months. It was a glorious experience. I had no idea what a jewel Barcelona is. While Scott worked (poor thing), I soaked myself in museums, architecture, Gaudi. Everywhere I turned there was art. Our evenings were spent in the company of some of the world’s best comic book artists and writers, and I thoroughly enjoyed the long and lively discussions that lasted until the wee hours of the night. We slept little and laughed much. I fell in love with La Sagrada Familia, Gaudi’s cathedral-in-progress. Really truly in love, in the way that means I will be carrying it around in my heart for the rest of my life. More about it later. More about all of it later, when I’m caught up on sleep.

I’ve been uploading pictures like mad to my Flickr account. Not all of them are labeled or tagged yet, but I’ve made a good start.

The kids had a great week with my parents. Rose and Jane kept me up to speed with newsy emails. Our internet access was spotty but we were able to send short bulletins once or twice a day. My dad emailed lots of pictures. Scott and I missed the kids like crazy, but we enjoyed ourselves to pieces just the same. I am savoring the memory of all the conversations, the discoveries, the new friendships, the ways leading on to way. You’re going to get sick of hearing me talk about it. There is so very much to tell!