Farewell Barcelona

We are sailing away today from Barcelona to the Balaeric island of Mallorca. We have loved our time here but are also anxious and ready to escape to the quiet, peaceful life of anchoring out in little coves around the islands.

Our last night in Barcelona we ate at our favorite little restaurant (pic included) and then went to the Club Havana where we drank Mojitos and watched everyone "salsa the night away". Unfortunately, we realize we have so forgotten our salsa lessons we learned a few years ago so in San Miguel. Something fun to relearn back in Tucson this winter.

A few closing thoughts on Barcelona:
We are amazed at how over the last couple of hundred years the innovative and creative styles of art and architecture have evolved to form such a rich and diversified city full of variety and beauty.
Art everywhere---just for art's sake,for no other reason than just "celebration".
A city made for the common, everyday person to enjoy.
We have been thrilled with the fantastic food, tapas and quality of wine. Such fun to shop daily at he local market for our fruit and veggies. Lucky for our waistlines, we have walked miles and miles everyday.....
A few quirky oddities such as the little old man walking amidst the crowds with nothing on except his bathing trunks..... tattooed on.
And the wheelchair bound old man who was playing rapturously with his anatomically correct life-sized, naked blow up doll.
Just to stroll along "La Ramblas" and be entertained by all of the street musicians and street performers for free....
We feel so blessed that English has been generally chosen as the language of commerce in the non-english speaking world as our spanish is "muy piquito".
Overall, such kindness and friendliness shared by everyone to us---the spanish as well as the helpful english and charming frenchmen we have met.

We were also lucky enough to see a 5 story tall, 450ft.long motor luxury yacht owned by Larry Ellison and David Geffen. (Rising Sun) It appeared to be the ultimate in conspicuous consumption, but it was incredibly elegant.

Barcelona has become one of "our cities" and we are thankful for the time we have lived here.

It is a city alive with "Spontaneous Exuberance", an attitude we value and aspire to in our own lives.

We have come to realize that we are not "on vacation" but we "live" here. Wherever "here is" .......
Our home is EcstaSea and wherever she is, we are at home.

And now, we sail away..........................

Barcelona, Spain

This is the harbor EcstaSea is resting in with Barcelona close in the background.

After and uneventful 2 1/2 day cruise up the coast of Spain we arrived in Barcelona. After 2 nights of sailing Willow became much more comfortable with the mystery of sailing in the dark and relying on radar, so we are confident that longer passages will be easeful.

Barcelona is everything we had hoped for and heard about. Beauty, sculptures, fountains, art (just for arts sake), music everywhere---LIFE abounds......



We've done the usual touristy things but now feel that this is "our" city as we have lived here the last week and a half and know it really well. We spent a day riding the tourist bus which took us all over the city, giving us the history and overview. We toured the Sagrada Familia, the Antoni Gaudi temple cathedral which still isn't finished. We rode the tram high over the harbor and city up to the mountain called Montjuicc with it's castle at the top and the gardens and Olympic area.

We've had awesome food and in fact, have not had a bad meal at all. We have enjoyed Spanish wine and of course, Sangria. We visit and shop at the local market and we walk in the Squares in the evening listening to all of the street musicians.

Life is sweet here in Barcelona........

Worm Vending Machine

Here in Port Almerimar this is the most interesting thing......
Vending machines that sell WORMS!!!!
Richard was really happy when he saw that the Americano worms were by far the biggest and fattest....Men, go figure!!!

Another interesting paradox here is that most of the fruits and vegetables grown in Spain are from this area, but they are not for sale locally and a good salad is not to be found.

Happy to be leaving and heading to Barcelona.................

Sailing Away

Here we are back in the Mediterranean on our beloved EcstaSea. She wintered well here in the Port of Almerimar on the southern coast of Spain. After settling in here the last 2 weeks we are anxious to sail up the coast tomorrow towards Barcelona.

Once again we are reminded to "be with what is while creating what can be" as we are adjusting to the newness of everything around us. A lot of changeable wind here to mirror our everchanging lifestyle aboard a home that is in constant movement. Our backyard is the ocean-- how wild and wonderful is that!!!!

So, we are off to play in our backyard---talk to you later......

We Did It !!!!!!!!!!!!!

On April 18th we walked through the mist to our most magical, mystical and magnificent wedding on the Big Sur coast.

Let the journey begin..........

Wedding Proposal Montage

Here we are still in our desert home here in Tucson as we prepare for our April 18th wedding in Big Sur, California. Love and Life flow sweetly and smoothly as we enjoy the planning of our celebration. We have just been blessed with a beautiful montage of pictures of our proposal back in August by Richard's wonderful sister, Vicki. How awesome for us to share that special time with all of you as we near our wedding day. Here is the link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lf9z9v1k-4M

We trust that life and love are fulfilling each of you as you journey along.......

Much love,
Willow and Richard

Living on Terra Firma

Well, here we are back in Tucson adjusting to life without much movement, living on Terra Firma again.

Why is the bed not moving?
Where is the sound of the waves? (oh yeah, turn on the sound wave machine Willow)
Shouldn't we check the anchor?
Why are we wearing all of these clothes?

Questions and a little confusion as we adjust to re-entry!!!!

Seriously, we are thankful to be back in our beautiful desert home in Tucson. What gorgeous weather here in the winter and we can enjoy the majesty of the Catalina mountains and Richard is enjoying the greens of the golf course.

We left EcstaSea in a safe harbor on the southern coast of Spain in good hands and know she will be waiting for us next summer. We had a safe passage from the islands to the coast and Willow became comfortable with the sailing at night ---soooo peaceful under the multitude of stars and the light of Mother Moon.

We were only back in Tucson a few weeks and took a road trip over to the California coast to begin plans for our wedding there at Big Sur. Traveled back to Tucson on Thanksgiving and are now settling in for a little while as we hope to reconnect with our friends here.

Wishing everyone Peace, Love and Joy throughout the holidays.
Much Love.....
Willow and R