April and May 2006 involved trips to Spain and Italy.
There is only so much rain and cloudy weather one can
take in England before the desire to experience some sunshine
tempers the soul. Alas, a short trip to Barcelona to visit
our friends, Richard and Andrea who relocated there recently,
was called for. Barcelona is a classy city, with great
weather and with plenty to do and see. The first picture
below says it all. ‘Loving it’ sums up life
in Barcelona and the relaxed atmosphere by the waterfront,
with its yachts and contemporary sculptures. We particularly
liked the big fish you can see in the picture also below.
All
photos by Valeria Lo Iacono & Paul Symonds - 2006
A quite unusual picture below (left): As we wait
for an air show to begin above Barcelona beach, Valeria
is shown with Andrea, Richard and a friend of Andrea’s.
The interesting thing is the way the sunlight appears
to show her aura with the green light visible on Andrea's
friend's chest - such is the way the light shines
down. In the photo on the right, our friend Richard
chills out in a Spanish bar as we arrive in Barcelona,
from Girona. The Spanish pace of life is totally different,
much more relaxed and the warm climate makes a big
difference.
The weekend we were in Barcelona, there were two
big events in the city. One was the Flamenco festival
(Flamenco a dance dedicated to the Spanish region
of Andalusia) whilst the other one was the Red Bull
Air Race World, which takes place in 9 countries.
In the photos we took below: an airplane performs
a vertical climb and people as they wait beach side,
for the racing to start.
In the pictures below two lucky shots: below a picture
of a plane diving as a bird simultaneously flies
by, without a care in the world. In the other picture
a cluster of helicopters as they fly various formations.
Well, it was exciting at the time?
Below a performance at the Flamenco Festival. There
were many stands and many different tents, each with
its own performances and with many people visiting also
choosing to stand up and dance. Unfortunately I had
left my dancing shoes in England. The festival went
on well into the night but we left at about 1.30 am.
Also below a picture of one of the stalls, which sells
Jamon Spanish style.
Valeria went to Catania, Sicily for one week without
me, to see her family. In the picture on the left,
Valeria with Annarita, one of Valeria’s childhood
friends. On the right Annarita with her husband Filippo:
They got married last year (2005) and they live in
Catania.
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Below, two generations of Sicilian
women: Valeria’s mother, 'Tecla' and Valeria’s
grandmother 'Agata'. On the right the medieval walls
surrounding Girona, a very nice and classy town
about one hour and thirty minutes north of Barcelona,
which we visited for 2 days before going to Barcelona.
Two final photos for this monthly newsletter.
A picture of myself (Paul) as I walk down the
steps of the city wall in Girona and a photo of
us (Paul and Valeria) at the Flamenco festival
(notice the entrance to the canopy which is designed
as a pair of legs) belonging to a Flamenco dancer.
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