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

The Running of the Bulls, Pamplona

Our quick day trip to Pamplona included a bathroom break and cup of tea at Cafe Iruna, one of the city's most famous and popular watering holes frequented by Hemingway, a walk along the frantic bull's path and a quick photo in the main Plaza.

Hello Hemingway

SanSe, San Sebastian

A Film Festival, Beaches and GREAT eats! We missed the Film Festival by a month or so, it was too cold and rainy for the beach so... we ate, oh, how we ate! : )

Chocolate y Churros - need I say more?

Astelena has such great pintxos we broke the rules and ate there TWICE!

So Sweet, Saint Jean de Luz

Spend an afternoon in this seaside town and you're bound to feel like you're in a French story book... the manicured town square and the fishing boats are nearly too perfect. A walk along the pedestrian cobblestone streets and you'll happen upon the historic Eglise St-Jean Baptiste, the largest Basque church where Louis the 14th sealed the deal and the door...!

We had a hard time finding a restaurant open to serve us lunch so late in the day but a visit to Maison du Kanouga and we had more than enough varieties of marzipan and macaroons to last us till Spain. Favourite treat: pistachio macaroon, no doubt!

Jamie's interpretation of Louis the 14th in front of what once was the church's Southern door

The coast, Guethary and Biarritz

...while November is not the time of year to make the most of these beach towns it was fun to visit nonetheless, not to mention, you get to enjoy the pastries and moules & frites guilt free! After taking the country back roads to Guethary and summoning the angry waters crashing around the Vierge Blanche statue (White Virgin) in Biarritz, we headed to Bayonne for a late afternoon lunch followed by the best cup of chocolate and cream with Jamie and Victoria - sadly, no pictures were taken there.

Guethary

View looking back from the Rocher de la Vierge (Rock of the Virgin)

Summoning the seas, Biarritz

Bienvenue au Pays Basque, Sare

Thanks to Victoria and Jamie our wonderful hosts for a warm house, delicious home cooked meals, great company on our day trips and of course, the Wasp!

The Capital City, Vitoria

A great city with quaint streets just for walking (we only drove on it once!), moving sidewalks to help peds get up the steeper streets, an art gallery with weird hours but a great temporary video art installation, and a kitsch and quirky hotel... what's not to love? Maybe the questionable but, perfectly located public urinal!