Berlin Part 1 - Berlinale

Got to love that German efficiency! The booth build out was a breeze... Dear HR please import some German talent for DTFF 2011. Thanks!

Patricia celebrated her Birthday one last time in Berlin with a much deserved pie. It was love at first bite. She's still in Berlin and I'm pretty sure her facebook status reads something like, "Patricia is 30 and in Berlin with bronchitis but totally ate Lemon Meringue Pie and Waffles so life is good..." that or, "Whiskey, Tea and Tylenol Cold are my new favorite friends!"

So it went, birthdays, reunions and business...

What about them screenings?! Waiting in ticket lines all morning was out of the question so, we dominated Berlinale's online ticketing (the system has a few kinks...) but fortunately after all the financing booklets were handed out, we even managed to see a few films...

• Shibuya Minoru Retrospective: Doctor's Day Off, Modern People, Righteousness and The Days of Evil Women
• Paula Markovitch's, El Premio (The Prize)
• Asghar Fahardi's, Nader and Simin, A Separation which went on to win this year's Golden Bear award.
• Miranda July's, The Future
• Vishal Bhardwaj's, 7 Sins Forgiven which sadly Patricia and I missed because our DHL truck was hijacked by another EFM booth.

Asian Cup Final

While Japan and Australia were competing for that #1 spot in the AFC Asian Cup, eager fans (including myself) were battling to get inside Khalifa Stadium.

Tickets in hand angry fans tried to rush the gates but nobody was getting in... riot police, dogs and even the cavalry were brought in to "manage" crowd control and the few rowdy Aussies with their blow up Kangaroos! Seats went unfilled as the game went into over time... too bad, so sad. Good Luck in 2022 Doha.

(sorry about the poor image quality on the videos, I'm still learning how to properly upload these things!)

North of Gracia, Park Guell & Casa Museu Gaudi

Gaudi's Barcelona - La Sagrada Familia

Unbelievable.

Calle Mozart #9, The Apartment

A little cold the first few nights but a great place to relax for an afternoon nap, eat some breakfast and plan our days in Barcelona.

On the Road to Barcelona

Braved the Barcelona streets and parking garage for a split second but we're back to being pedestrians.

Torro in the hills

our wheels...bye bye Picasso

A market ham stand spotted on our first walk home

and now to Aragon, Zaragoza

A new Puerto Rican "friend", history spanning civilizations–Roman, Islamic and Christian and narrow alley ways you couldn't help but walk too far along... and of course, more tasty treats.

Plaza del Pilar

La Seo

more Chocolate y Churros

Islamic Zaragoza, Aljaferia

Later additions by Christian rulers, Palacio Mudejar, also in Aljaferia