In Barcelona, Spain

 July 8-11 and July 24-27, 2011

     That empty airport carousel was a harbinger of the "adventure" in our first five days in Spain--sans luggage.  We met new friends, the Formans from SLC, and felt the Lord was mindful of us no matter where we were in the world. One of my favorite sculptures was this pop art work, Cap de Barcelona, by a familiar American artist, Roy Lichtenstein. Walking La Rambla for the first time, we passed garish mimes, tapas cafes, street vendors and peddlers of all kinds. On the double-decker bus tour, we rode around the city for hours for an overview of same famous sites, for example this view of the 1992 Olympic Torch. It seemed to me that Barcelona was most characterized by amazing architecture through time, and most recently influenced by the modernista style of Antoni Gaudi.

Best Dining near La Rambla:  Mediterranean at Les Quince Nits  and Catalan at Cafe de L'Academia both in the Barri Gotic.

The ultimate farmer's market, La Boqueria (AKA Mercat de Sant Josep), was bustling when we arrived to pick up fresh bread and fruit for lunch, but the stalls actually opened before dawn.

 To get more familiar with the Mediterannean Sea, we visited L'Aquarium de Barcelona at Port Vell on our return visit to Barcelona after the cruise.

The Monument a Colom at the waterfront was one of our first stops and the Maremagnum on the pier was one of our last.

La Sagrada Familia is Gaudi's most famous building, to which he dedicated four decades of his ambition.  He envisioned 12 spires to be built in the future to complete what he expected to be the world's largest cathedral, a project bequeathed to several future generations.

The interior pillars were designed in the form of trees.

The symbolism in his architectural form and his use of light were truly beautiful.

The exterior facade was densely packed with scenes of the Nativity and other Biblical elements. It was fascinating to me to note similarities and differences  between our religious perspectives.

  

     We saw many cathedrals but this "temple" by Gaudi was my favorite because of his extensive use of scriptures and symbolism, and the lack of sculpture dedicated to the remembrance and worship of popes and canonized saints. Every religious building we visited in Spain and Italy was dedicated to the worship of Mary, however, and it seemed to me that she was more prominently featured

 in paintings, sculptures, leaded glass, etc., than Jesus Christ.

Moving On

Standing out front of Kristi and Matt's new house.

Hillary and Andrea came to pitch in with the kids, painting and repairs, meals, and sometimes gave us essential helpful how to's like dealing with the heat and where to find In-n-Out.

Friendly Kitchen

 We were pretty amazed to see the rose bush in bloom in the patio.

Master Bedroom

Kid's Room

Anna's Kitchen is in a room under the stairs.

Next week, Kristi's internet service will be activated and we can check in on the Wold Family blog to see more and hear how it's going. We miss you!

Luke's Blessing Day

I think Jared has the idea that maybe he gets to spoil another grandchild. He had lots of time just holding this sweet boy. Luke hardly ever cries, he mostly just coos and squeaks and sleeps, all the while looking perfectly beautiful in smooth, pink skin and blue-gray eyes like his Daddy. 

 

Really, every time I see Luke it is surprising to me that he looks like a mini-Talmage. I don't think a boy could resemble his dad more thoroughly. His little nose does have a slight lift like Johanna, however, and some people say Luke has her mouth, but both Johanna and Talmage have shaped, expressive lips so I think we won't really know until he grows teeth. But maybe that's the daughter-of-a-dentist perspective.

The blessing ordinance was done June 26 at home after Stake Conference to accommodate our travel schedule. Talmage gave a beautiful prayer and Luke cooperated well, right up to the point where his pacifier plunked to the carpet. I was trying to be useful in the kitchen and don't have photos of everyone, but from Johanna's family the gathering happily included Debi though without Jared and the twins, Sarah with Cameron, Kristi and Matt with Anna and Scott, besides dad and me. 

Jared's Graduation from Columbia

Jared spoke at the graduation ceremony as a representative of his class of Orthodontic students, and I am totally objective and unbiased in my claim that his speech was the best given that day. And I also completely reveled in the introduction given to Jared by his program director, Margherita Santoro.  She said:

The next student is Jared Lee. Jared graduated from UCLA and already has an impressive track record of service in the dental profession, and has served in various capacities as a student representative of the ADA.

Jared is mature beyond his years. I'm not sure if being a caring husband, with a wonderful wife, and a father of two is the origin or the consequence of his maturity and high sense of social responsibility. One of the most ethical individuals I've ever met, Jared  has been an exemplary class president and student body representative, a father-like figure for his classmates in the rare event in which they did not  behave well, always trying to put some sense into the heads of his kids.

He's a gentleman, motivated,  hardworking and he will continue to be an asset to the orthodontic profession.  The world would be better off if there were more of Jareds around.

And his plan is to [relocate] in California, closer to his family, and we wish him all the best for his future career.  My sincere thanks to you, Jared, for your substantial help in the past three years.

Congratulations.

UC San Francisco Graduation

We attended Brian's Graduation from UCSF Dental School, even Jacob who managed to escape being photographed. Brian reserved Box V for us, so we felt like VIP and had a very pleasant place for the children to relax or wiggle around. The girls were great, but it was all too much for Jacob. 

Brian also received cards and gifts from the family: a box of ties, so we had a bit of fun sharing in that pleasure with him. Grandma Dot even found a card specifically congratulating him for graduating from Dental School, and that was really cool.

Scoping out Santa Paula

     Orchards and fields flowed past us for miles on the Santa Paula Freeway (126) and became a test of our Sabbath Day, and a Fast Sunday, stamina to NOT stop at one of the many enticing fruit stands along the way.  We expected a 2-hour drive, but got there in 90 minutes (and drove home in 75 minutes).

     A camera-on-the-road just doesn't capture some scenes: a wooded ravine and babbling brook which is traced for a time by Ojai Santa Paula Road; the surround of citrus-dotted foothills and scrubby mountains topped by bright blue sky and drifting clouds which sometimes touched down to mist the hills; the pleasure of the Santa Paula Ward members who love their community and mild weather.

     Church was at 9:30 and, as Sacrament Meeting concluded, waves of mainly geriatric ward members came to our pew to greet us and ask if, by chance, we were going to move there. After Sunday School we took a quick peek into the nursery: one toddler, actually a visitor, was attended to by two substitute teachers. Usually there are 4 children in the nursery.  A family with 3 boys was just moving in and they were beyond thrilled. We felt so welcomed, doted on, and frankly needed.
     For the rest of the day, we drove around the neighborhoods and schools, took photos, visited homes for rent and for sale, and just had a really great day together. Here are a few more photos.